Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Book Review: Ruth By J. Vernon McGee

The book had some good insights into the lives of Ruth, Naomi and Boaz but I wouldn't recommend this book. McGee tells a fascinating story, but much of the storyline he tells is his imagination, not taken from the text. I appreciate a book that puts you into the narrative and could have overlooked the storyline he proposed had it not been for the doctrinal error. This book is very arminian and very universal invisible church in its teaching. I was a surprised how quickly the book turned arminian, especially when he dealt with God's providence in Ruth ending up in Bethlehem and when she "happened" to find Boaz's field. He showed how it was that Ruth and Boaz had to meet, had to be in Bethlehem because of the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is sovereign in Ruth finding Boaz's field, but not sovereign in salvation? If God is sovereign in Ruth coming to Boaz, how could He not also be sovereign in the sinner coming to Christ? Boaz was a kinsmen redeemer. He showed Ruth love before she loved Him. He bought her, stood in her stead, loved her, blessed her, protected her, provided for her as he was her near kinsmen. When the other family member would not (could not) redeem her, Boaz did because he wanted to, because he loved her.
Too much bad theology. Skip it.

Ruth - By J. Vernon McGee:

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