He Chose The Nails

Rating:
Summary: It wasn't the nails...
Review: ...that held Christ to the cross, but His love for you and me. That point is made very clear in the book. One of the things I have always liked about Mr. Lucado is his chatty style of writing and his ability to take what you didn't see and show it to you with clarity. In his book, "Just Like Jesus" he did a very good job of this, and "He Chose the Nails" remains true to that form; however, I don't agree with other reviewers who overlook the theological errors. They are many, and it seems a product of carelessness. For example, while it appears that Lucado buys into the idea of our total depravity (Chapter 2), our unconditional election seems to him more of a human choice rather than divine intercession (Chapter 6). Foresaking truth for a convenient metaphor is not in anyones best interest. I like the stories, the personal touches and the chatty style, but please Max, don't run rough over sound theology. You are talented enough to achieve the light-touch along with being rooted in sound Biblical truth.

Rating:
Summary: A Serious Look at Max Lucado
Review:

My review will not likely be popular as I am the only reviewer thus far to give Lucado's work such a low rating. I invite you, however, to be patient with me and allow me to explain my reasons for this. I have tried to be as fair to Mr. Lucado as possible and I hope it shows. I consistently quote from his book, 'He Chose the Nails,' providing corresponding page numbers for referencing.

I think that the most important place to begin is with Lucado's view of GOD's chief end in regards to mankind. According to Lucado, GOD desires above all else it seems to save the entirety of the human race without exception. 'Would you offer the life of your child for someone else? I wouldn't . . . .ask me to make a list of those for whom I would kill my daughter. . . . The sheet will be blank. I don't need a pencil. The list has no names. But God's list contains the name of every person who ever lived. For this is the scope of his love. And this is the reason for the cross' (p. 114).

This view (known as 'unlimited atonement' in theological circles) is the guiding light for the rest of the work and it influences the rest of Lucado's theology. He attempts to consistently apply the implications of this view and man, as he is the center of all GOD's striving, becomes in the hands of Lucado a creature that GOD is dependent upon and cannot live without. In pondering the question as to why Christ did not resist being nailed to the cross, Lucado answers, 'What kept him from resisting? . . . He knew the price of those sins was death. He knew the source of those sins was you, and since he couldn't bear the thought of eternity without you, he chose the nails' (p. 34) In this, GOD is seen to be utterly in need of man, apparently unable to bear an eternity without us. GOD is, therefore, rendered incomplete without His creatures, for, as Lucado continually repeats throughout this work, 'He did this just for you.'

Man becomes an end-in-himself and that is why Lucado can suggest many times that Christ died for us because there was so much that is beautiful and good in mankind. Why was Christ willing to go to the cross? Lucado teaches that it was because 'he sees the beauty within the beast' (p. 20). This is a message he adopts throughout the book and it further affects his view of the nature of sin, for man cannot be 'totally depraved,' thoroughly wicked, while yet retaining a beauty that Christ could not live without. Lucado views humanity, rather, as a victim of the 'beast within.'

In a personal aside, Lucado describes a moment when 'the ugly part' of him 'showed his beastly face' (p. 14). Notice that he refers to this 'side' of himself in third person, as though he were not responsible for his actions but is simply doomed to struggle with someone else inside of him, who is not the real Max Lucado. Lucado offers the same excuse for his readers, whom he includes among those who have surely 'wrestled the beast within' (p. 15). He urges us to just 'accept the fact that there is something beastly within each and every one of us. Something beastly that makes us do things that surprise even us' (p. 17). I leave the reader to judge whether this is Scriptural.

Not only, according to Lucado, are we a victim of a 'beast' within us but we appear to be also victims of a sort of moral clumsiness. For Lucado, the 'sins' we commit are seen merely as a lifetime of 'mistakes' (p. 141) and, among the 'mistakes' we make, Lucado lists 'lusts,' 'lies,' 'greedy moments,' (34) and also includes 'drinking too much,' 'cheating at marriage', 'cheating at work' and 'mismanaging money' (141). These are all 'mistakes,' which implies that we do not really mean to do such things. This implies that we are perhaps victims of ignorance rather than truly wicked.

As sin is not given a very serious treatment by Lucado, seeing it as little more than a mistake, it is just as easily forgiven. The result is a view of GOD's attitude toward man's sin that is superficial as well. Lucado portrays GOD as having no anger toward man in the least. As Christ has already paid for the sins of 'every person who ever lived' (p. 114), GOD has wiped clean all our sins already so that Lucado feels secure in promising his readers that 'God isn't angry with you. He has already dealt with your mistake.' (p. 85) Again, is this Scriptural? What is Lucado promising his readers and what would be the result of believing this doctrine? What responsibility does a pastor of a church have in regards to teaching the Word of GOD honestly? Lucado did make use of the phrase 'totally depraved' once early on in the book, yet he defined it as merely a 'tendency to sin' (p. 18) and went on to reject the usual definition of the term, as can be seen above.

There is much more that might be commented upon, including Lucado's particular understanding of 'free will,' his struggle with the problem of evil and suffering in chapter six, his strange view of inspiration (dictation) on pages 42-44, his perversion of the character of Christ and the contradiction of his views on sin with man's rejection of a God who 'woos' us. I am very sorry to say that I could not find a single doctrine in the entire work that is not distorted to some degree. All of them lead to serious ramifications about what Scripture is teaching in the passion of Christ.

I had honestly expected to find a very different book when I approached 'He Chose the Nails.' It has received good reviews by many. Yet, I cannot agree with certain reviewers who have pointed out Lucado's distortions but dismissed them as 'not the point of his book.' The book is meant to teach and to guide and to enlighten. If the teaching is not an honest guide nor one that enlightens us as to the contents of Scripture, then what purpose does it serve? If it makes us feel good about ourselves and our struggles at the expense of what GOD has said to us about our own nature and relationship to Him, then shall we not do as Scripture commands and let GOD be true and every man a liar, even if that man is Max Lucado?

Again, there may be those who read the quotes I have given and who do not see anything wrong with them. I encourage you to look into these matters further and I appreciate your patience. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Rating:
Summary: To be read with the heart
Review: As a voracious reader of Christian books, it is somewhat surprising that I had not read a book by this extremely popular Christian author until now. Max Lucado is very gifted in taking what a more casual reader of the Bible might regard as incidental aspects of the crucifixion (the sign on the cross is three languages, the wine-soaked sponge, etc.) and extracting deep meaning out of each detail. He has an engaging way with words that touches the heart, using illustrations from his own life to drive home his points. Unfortunately, at least once or twice he sacrifices sound theology to make a dramatic point. But theological precision is not the point of this book. This is a book to be read with the heart more than the head, to touch the soul more than the intellect. At this the book succeeds admirably.

Rating:
Summary: Nicely Done
Review: As I understand it, this book is a composition of a sermon series that Lucado delivered to his church. I think this would have been quite a sermon series to listen to live.

Lucado does a good job of combining everyday examples of life with the imagery of the cross to paint a compelling picture of God's love as demonstrated by sending the perfect lamb of Jesus Christ to live among sinful beings and to die on their behalf only to conquer the grave and be physically resurrected for the world to see. When I first started reading this book, I was frankly a bit skeptical of Lucado's premise - that the individual components of the cross themselves have meaning in terms of comprehending God's love. But this book got me thinking about this premise, and reminded me and reenforced within me a timeless truth. In all creation, God's perfection, beauty, love, and omnipresence are evident if we take the time to look. The Creator is distinct from the creation, but the creation reflects the Creator. And while reading Lucado's book, it dawned on me that if we accept this premise, then why can't the nails, wood, thorns, etc of the crucifixion provide insights into God's character if the rest of creation does? The answer I came to is that Lucado's premise makes sense, and the ideas he puts forth are very compelling within that context.

Whether Lucado's ideas in and of themselves can be regarded as theological truth is somewhat open to interpretation. But in my view, his ideas taken as a whole most definitely support and reenforce a long held theological truth - that God's love knows no competition because it far surpasses anything that human beings are capable of expressing. God's love can be imperfectly emulated, but it cannot be duplicated. Lucado's book eloquently speaks to this truth, and provides great comfort for those of us who have recognized His love by accepting Christ. And the book provides compelling reasons for those who haven't yet accepted Christ to seriously contemplate the love and forgiveness that is waiting for them to experience by coming to faith in Christ. A very good book.

Rating:
Summary: He Chose The Nails by Max Lucado
Review: Before you go any further, please take a moment to ask God to bless and protect Max and his family. Max has, and continues to allow God to use his writing to reveal His Heart to millions of believers. Satan must have Max at the top of his list. Max has stated that each of us must stand at the foot of His cross before we can truly give ourselves to Christ. This book will put you there.

Rating:
Summary: He Chose The Nails
Review: Every Lucado book I read is the best one yet. This book is no exception! Insightful and inspiring! I could not get enough of this one. One minutes you're laughing, in awe the next. God is good.

Rating:
Summary: Always Outstanding!!!!
Review: I just finished reading this book and Max Lucado, as always, has written another outstanding book. He analyzes the symbolism of the three crosses, the nails and the actual crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. His use of imagery in the book is second to none as you feel as if you were actually present during the actual event. I have walked away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for what God chose to do for me (and you) because of His love. You MUST read this book!

Rating:
Summary: What God Did to Win Your Heart
Review: Lucado takes the reader to the foot of the Cross to see for ourselves what God did to win our hearts. God's promises of the ancient prophecy are revealed in the tools of torture and shame. Every instrument was a gift of love and redemption. Could you do what He did in your place to ransom you from Sin and Death? If we all stood in a line waiting for our time to linger in sacrifice for the atonement could you do it? Imagine what it would be like to have nails driven in your hands with 6-inch spikes and feel scratching and stabbing of thorns on your brow. Instead God sent His Son Jesus to die in your place. That's why 'He Chose the Nails.' No other god would come from Heaven to redeem the lost, like Jesus did. To let you know He Loved you. Jesus sacrified His Life and shed His blood as a Sin Offering-Pure, Sinless and Full of Grace. For our sake He was made Sin, who knew no Sin. So that in Him we might become the righteousness of God [2 Corithians 5: 21].

Lucado examines each tool of torture to tell that beautiful, loving story of atonement and redemption. He invites you to listen to each one tell you what God did to win your heart. When the soldiers spat on Him, He bore your dark side of sin. By the gifts from the Crown of Thorns, the Nails, between the two crosses He beared His own Cross that He become one of us, he forgave, he gave you a choice for freedom and He promised to Love you Forever. The greatest Love He gave was demonstrated on the Cross. As it was written on Romans 5: 8...that God demonstrated His Love for us in this, while we were sinners. Christ died for us. We couldn't do what He did alone. Only He could do it for us. The price of sin was paid-in-full. What we all can offer is our lives to Him, and leave our troubles and sorrows at the foot of the Cross. All the tools of torture were His gift to you. From the Trial and Mockery to the Cross of His Broken Body of Torn Flesh and Blood. The day of Victory-the Empty Tomb. He gave us Freedom and Life Forever More. Max Lucado has created an audio CD version of this LIVE 'He Chose the Nails' performance. It includes names of popular, Dove award artists on one CD. Maybe you caught the LIVE TV performance on TBN at Easter 2003 this comes from the TV version. You got to hear it for yourself to be convinced that Jesus gave you His Heart.

Rating:
Summary: A Heart Felt - Easy Read
Review: Max Lucado turns out Christian books like Stephen King writes novels - often. It is no wonder that he could arguably be one of the most proliftic Christian writers in the last few years. I am not really a fan of Lucado's work. Not becasue he isn't a skilled writer, but instead, because I enjoy more apologetic type material (if and when I'm not reading my deeply moving and insightful Batman comics). This new book, "He Chose The Nails", is probably his best work since "In The Grip of Grace."

This book is heart felt and honest. In writing it, Max often refers to the lessons he has learned in life, and then makes a great parable for the reader. This is always his strength - his ability to communicate to just about anyone who is willing to listen. His points and lessons are well made. He is funny, honest, as well as hopeful and sad. In a quick two hours, the reader, approaching this material in a spirit of openness, will expierence many emotions: hope, loss, joy, sadness, laughter, and peace.

This book is an outstanding read. Pastor Lucado's style is easy, yet, insightful. He gets right to the point and draws on a vast-array of expierence and stories to guide the reader to his conclusions. No mis-interpretation about the thesis or conclusion here. The opening, middle and end-game are skillfully woven into a heart felt, deeply moving read.

Rating:
Summary: Jesus' Wonderful Choice For All People
Review: Max Lucado, a wonderful writer and teacher, brings it on home to us again in another one of his easily explained books.
In HE CHOSE THE NAILS, Mr. Lucado elucidates on every detail of the promises of the cross and the symbols pertaining to the crucifixion.
When you as a person are in physical pain or mental agony or abuse, or even when you feel as though the world has turned it's back on you, let me invite you to witness the sufferings and insults which our Saviour bore, highlighted in this book. His humiliations, physical pain, and shame are paramount,when we compare them with how we whine about our little aches, complaints and oppression in this world. May Jesus reign supreme....our only hope......our comfort and SALVATION. For us, HE CHOSE THE NAILS
This is a wonderful gift for Fathers Day. Go for it.

Nutface
May 30th, 2002