As the Crowe Flies

Book Reviews
by Donald D. Crowe, Ph.D.
By the bible alone!
John Owens Puritan Teology
for Todays Church
D
r. Westcott is an English Reformed theo-
logian serving as Professor and Doctoral
Committee Chairman of Reformation Interna-
tional Teological Seminary. (Of which Geof-
frey Donnan is President). Dr. Westcott is the
translator of John Owens original Latin work
Biblical Teology.
Te 17
th
century was a time of some great
theologians. One could think particularly of the
brilliant and inuential pair of Francis Turretin
on the continent and John Own of England. John
Owen confronts us with 21 or so thick volumes,
an overwhelming array.
To get a handle on Owens thought, several individual works of Owen have
been published as Puritan paperbacks. Some works have been produced as abridge-
ments; some are even available as e-books.
Stephen Westcott has produced a real treasury of introduction to Owens
breadth and depth of theological and biblical thought. Te book is divided into
seven major sections as follows:
Book I concerning the life and ministry of Owen
Book II on true conversion and the gospel student
Donald D. Crowe Ph.D.
25 Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 2011
As the Crowe Flies: Book Reviews by Don Crowe
Book III surveys his controversial works in opposition to Roman Ca-
tholicism, Socinianism, and Arminianism.
Book IV deals with Owens expositions, notably his 7 volume commen-
tary on Hebrews and his Biblical Teology.
Book V gives us Owen on Scripture, Text & Transmission, as well as
Biblical Ecclesiology.
Book VI is Owen on Practical Issues: Assurance, Baptism, Communion,
Divorce & Remarriage, Eschatology, preaching and worship.
Book VII draws conclusions: Should Owen be considered a scholastic
theologian? Tere are also chapters on the development of Owens theol-
ogy and its continuing importance for today and tomorrow.
Te book consists of brief introductions to each section by Westcott, followed by
the longer section of selected quotations from Owens works. Te Owen selections
have been conservatively modernized and occasionally abridged. Tere is a clear
distinction maintained between the words of Westcott and the words of Owen.
Tis is an excellent introduction to John Owen. As one surveys the lay of the
land, he will surely discover places where he wants to dig deeper to nd more of
Owens biblical treasure whether it be for you an interest in his defense of the Re-
formed faith against Arminianism, his Biblical Teology, his views on the church
and its government, or one of his discussions on the issues still controversial like
divorce and remarriage, eschatology, worship and psalmody.
What type of theology will we nd in Owen? Owen would remind us that in
studying theology we are dealing with a holy God. In his Holy Scriptures God
speaks to the sinner no less directly than if he chose to employ a voice resounding
from the heavens.
Unlike many modern scholars, John Owen, although exceptionally brilliant,
is always humble before the word of the living God.
Everyone will nd much of value in this survey of Owens works. Having tasted
the appetizer, you will want to get the whole meal. Walking with the giants is a
good way to grow in Christ, and John Owen is one of those giants.
Dr. Stephen Westcott
Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 2011
26
As the Crowe Flies: Book Reviews by Don Crowe
Brave Boys of Derry
Or No Surrender!
by W.S. Martin
(Nordskog Publishing, 2010 [69 pages/hardback]
T
his is one of a series of books designed for young
readers. It is an inspiring look at how the Boys of
Derry defended Londonderry, Northern Ireland
in 1689. Tis is of the same genre as the G.A. Henty series,
but briefer and more simply written. In addition, the boys
in this account are not ctional boys added to the histori-
cal events, but were actually involved in the historic event.
So this book is history rather than an historical novel.
Te villain of the story is James II, the last of the Stu-
art monarchs. Fleeing from England when William of Or-
ange claimed the throne, James still plotted with France
to regain the throne and displace Protestantism with Ro-
manism. If he could take control of Ireland, it would be a
back door entrance into England. He felt that the largely Roman Catholic popula-
tion of Ireland could easily be turned against the Protestants; he was correct in this
opinion. He also thought Londonderry would surrender at the sight of his army; he
was very mistaken in this opinion.
AS the leadership wavered, some wanted to open the gates to the army of
James with its French ocers. But 13 young apprentices locked the gates while
shouting No surrender! Te city was ill prepared for a siege: its wall were not
strong, its provisions too meager, the treacherous enemy within, and the ravages
of disease. Could the townsfolk defend the city against the hordes of professional
soldiers? Tey had faith in God, earnest prayer, and a liberty loving bold pastor-
governor Walker.
History comes alive in this great short story. It helps our young men appreci-
ate our heritage by this heroic example of the Brave Boys of Derry, No Surrender.
How determined they were to preserve and defend Te liberty to serve his God,
the freedom of his creed.
27 Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 2011
As the Crowe Flies: Book Reviews by Don Crowe
Worship not the
creature, animal rights
and the Bible
by J.Y. Jones
(Nordskog Publishing, 2009 [276 pages/hardback]
D
r. Jones is a physician and avid hunter
who is committed to the authority and
inerrancy of Scripture. His goals in
writing this book were to expose the radical
political agenda of the animal rights move-
ment, show that the movement is both unbibli-
cal and unscientic, and has serious harmful
consequences.
Te book begins with a personal note on
the authors fall from faith struggles with
college evolutionary propaganda. Dissatised
with typical Christian compromises, he be-
gan to nd that there were many weaknesses
in the evolutionary view. Te key discovery is
that evolution presupposes a naturalistic phi-
losophy, and the Christian must presuppose an
inerrant Scripture. Creationist literature was
vital to his rethinking.
Tere can be no doubt that the animal rights view is at odds with the Bible.
Tis is a non-technical work that succeeds in showing how unbiblical the animal
rights view is. Dr. Jones does overstate his case a few times. On page 22 he states
that the Hebrew word day means a 24 hour day everywhere else. Day can refer
to the daylight portion of a day, or in an indenite form simply time or when.
But day never means anything close to the millions of years needed for compro-
mise Christian theories to work. On page 32 we read the Bible states unequivo-
cally that there had never been rain before Noah entered the ark. Tis is a com-
Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 2011
28
As the Crowe Flies: Book Reviews by Don Crowe
mon belief but not necessarily true. Gen
2.5 tells us that the siach [a shrub of the
eld] is a category which likely includes
wild growing non-food bushes such a
thorns and nettles (as in Job 30:7 where
they are in parallel). Te point is that
the siach will not spring up until there
is rain. But Gen 3.18 tells us that the
thorn bushes and thistles WILL plague
Adam in his work. Since the thorns and
shrubs would not spring up until there
was rain, and since thorns were present
after the Fallwe conclude that there
was rain after the Fall of man.
I should say that these possible in-
accuracies do not aect the validity of
Dr. Jones case in a popularly written
book. Te unbiblical nature of animal
rights is shown by several consider-
ations. God Himself allowed the eating
of clean animals, after the Flood. God
also appointed a sacricial system in
which animals were killed and oered
as sacrices. No human being has the
right to say that what God both allowed
and commanded is wrong. In addition
the Bible approves of use of animals
for skins, meat, and to do useful farm-
ing work. Te honorable profession of
tent making, as with the apostle Paul,
involved not modern canvas but ani-
mal skins. Dr. Jones does a good job of
showing these points extensively and
conclusively.
As an example, God threatened the
use of wild predatory animals as instru-
ments of judgment upon a disobedi-
ent people. In contrast to this, animal
rights people are zealous to protect
wolves, cougars and other predators
despite the threat to domestic animals
and humans. Also, the God-ordained
Passover required the killing, roasting,
and eating of a lamb by each family.
Dr. Jones points out some medical
problems with strict vegetarian diets.
Enforcing veganism would result in
widespread starvation and malnutri-
tion. Te evolutionary assumptions of
the animal rights movement serve to
cheapen human life, refusing to recog-
nize man as the sole image bearer. Tus
the radical groups have committed acts
of vandalism and endangered human
life in the name of protecting animals.
Organizations such as Humane Society
take in millions of dollars and most of
the money is spent in further fundrais-
ing and big salaries, and promoting rad-
ical political agendas. Te more radical
PETA actually kills 97% of the dogs in
their shelters. PETAs vice president
has said: IF we really believe that ani-
mals have the same right to be free from
pain and suering at our hands, then of
course were going to be blowing things
up and smashing windows.
Pete Singer, father of the animal
rights movements (and professor at
Princeton University!) has said: Chris-
tianity is our foe. If animal rights is to
succeed, we must destroy the Judeo-
Christian religious tradition.
Te animal rights agenda is clearly
not only unbiblical, but anti-Christian.
It is not at all compatible with Christi-
anity; but even among the severely mor-
ally corrupt animal rights sentiments
are heard.
29 Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 2011
As the Crowe Flies: Book Reviews by Don Crowe
Hitlers Luftwae commander Go-
ering professed to care so much about
animals that threatened to commit to
concentration camps those who still
think they can continue to treat animals
as inanimate property. Joseph Goebbels
opined that meat eating is a perversion
in our human nature. So they did not
mind the torture and cruelty inicted
on human beings!
No matter how depraved the fallen
sinner, he can always nd a way to show
that he is a good person superior [in
his own mind] to other people because
he doesnt eat meat, advocates animal
rights, and is saving the planet. Te
biblical view of the issue is stewardship
of animals, not a return to the wild.
Te reader will nd a good case set
forth in Dr. Jones book. Te publishers
notice at the front of the book has a
disclaimer that they do not agree with
Jones dispensational premillennial es-
chatology. I was still surprised to nd
out how often the presumption of such
eschatology is treated as an important
point in his case. Tis is something of a
distraction since it brings up issues that
are controversial and not at all neces-
sary to establish the main thesis.
Te alliance of the animal rights
movements with other radical groups
shows a common hostility to Christi-
anity and the adoption of the evolu-
tionary worldview that cares neither
for man or beast.
Peter Singer
J.Y. Jones