Approach to evangelism that uses the 10 commandments. Heavy on Truth, light on Grace-but still insightful & effective. ( )

A genuinely excellent book that only misses getting five stars because it doesn't touch upon a few questions I have or that might come up. That and sometimes that Comfort tends to repeat himself every other chapter or so. The crux of his argument is that Christian converts have failed over the last century because evangelizers talk about how good life can be with Jesus. Comfort shows that this is unbiblical and not the way the Master (Jesus, that is) did it in the gospels. Once life for one of these false-converts becomes tough they become ex-converts, if not openly hostile to Christianity. Basically, you need to show the sinner the error of his ways, starting with the Decalogue, and then explain to him that without accepting Jesus as savior you are going to Hell. Numerous examples of such evangelizing are given, and Comfort excels at illustrating by example. This is a good and scripturally accurate message, one which needs to be listened to. I have always felt that a good preacher always includes a little fire and brimstone and fear and THEN the Lord (then read Job if you think life should be a cakewalk if you're religious). The gist: Law before Gospel.

A few problems I had. First, I totally understand the point of adding Kirk Cameron's "commentary" to the book. He is somewhat famous. However, his additions are repetitive and intrusive, merely serving to feebly parrot what Comfort has already said in the text proper. Comfort does fail to tell you what to do if you encounter am athiest who doesn't believe in God and thus doesn't worry about Hell. (I would recommend Pascal's Wager, which I have seen him use on his show from time to time.) At one point (p. 173) there is a hint of replacement theology, which I think is un-biblical. The major drawback (and here we fall into the contentious debate about the nature and purpose of grace) is that Comfort seems to intimate that after you accept Jesus you magically sin no more - this, of course, is patently untrue. (Notice I said "seems" and "intimate," this is what I got out of it, it may not be what Comfort meant). But then again, this is not meant to be a weighty tome on theology, it is about the proper way to evangelize. A good book to counter the "Jesus will make you happy" churches and beliefs (I'm talking to you Osteen, etc.). ( )