{"id":31852,"date":"2008-01-11T00:30:29","date_gmt":"2008-01-11T03:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/?p=31852"},"modified":"2019-10-21T10:46:51","modified_gmt":"2019-10-21T13:46:51","slug":"book-review-in-but-not-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianfighterpilot.com\/blog\/2008\/01\/11\/book-review-in-but-not-of\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: In, But Not Of"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Hugh Hewitt
\nThomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2003.
\nTopic: Ambition<\/p>\n

Even though “In” is only 25% of the title, it makes up more than 90% of the book. There are only one or two of 48 chapters dedicated to a Christian topic, and the implied motivation of those chapters is still questionable. (For example, there is a chapter on making sure you attend a church, but the implied purpose is to have a \u201cguardrail\u201d to your conscience\u2014something to keep you honest while you\u2019re working in the world.) All other chapters are simply about how to succeed, with a sentence or caveat at the end of the chapter about how a Christian shouldn\u2019t have pride (which is apparently the only vice \u201cof the world\u201d the author is concerned with).<\/p>\n

The book primarily focuses on living in the right place, going to big name schools, understanding a professional sport, and looking good to your boss. In civilian terms, Mr. Hewitt states that politicking is a legitimate means of endearing yourself to the appropriate people for their favor: \u201cPeople rise in the world because they attract the attention and approval of powerful people\u201d (p50). He accurately asserts that \u201cauthority requires credentials,\u201d and lists Paul\u2019s resume\u2019 in Philippians 3:5-6 as a Biblical example, which takes it somewhat out of context, particularly since Paul\u2019s credentials were all prior to his conversion. Mr. Hewitt asserts that one cannot be both a pastor and influential in the world (Chapter 11) because \u201ca preacher has next to zero credibility on any issue of politics or public policy…\u201d (p62).<\/p>\n

Mr. Hewitt\u2019s brand of \u201cin but not of\u201d suggests a paradigm of cloaking Christianity in order to succeed; he seems to think that using a Christian phrase might torpedo someone\u2019s perceptions of you and thus your potential to advance professionally.<\/p>\n

\"\"Not recommended<\/strong><\/span>. The book is predominantly about how to advance yourself, not dealing with Christian ambition.<\/p>\n

This book is available from Christian Book Distributors<\/a> and Amazon<\/a>. (This site is an Amazon Associate and may earn from qualifying purchases made through Amazon referrals.)<\/em><\/p>\n

ADVERTISEMENT<\/strong><\/p>\n

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