The Defense Never Rests - Second Edition

by Craig A Parton

Overview

This powerful critique of American Christianity chronicles the spiritual pilgrimage of one man and provides a defense of the pure Gospel.

In the first half of the book, Parton explains his spiritual autobiography. Follow his journey from unbelief to American Evangelicalism and Campus Crusade staff work, to his discovery of the Lutheran church. In the chapters after his arrival at an understanding of Lutheranism, he presents a hard-hitting critique of shallow, pop-style worship and theology. Readers will also appreciate Parton's honest, systematic approach to apologetics that tackles the tough questions of how to explain the Christian faith in a way that always points back to Christ's work.

This new edition features sections dealing with the challenges of New Atheism, Bart Ehrman, and the new wave of biblical criticism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780758650429
Publisher:	Concordia Publishing House
Publication date:	06/09/2015
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction: Whatever Happened to the Gospel? 13

1 The Gospel in Four Laws: A Gold Booklet for Black Pagans 19

2 The Grandeur of American Evangelicalism 27

3 The Joy of Rediscovering Sin 41

4 Evangelicalism: A Movement in Need of a Confession 55

5 A Lutheran Defense of the Biblical Gospel 63

6 Law, Lawyers, Lutheranism, and the Legal Defense of the Biblical Gospel 85

7 A Lawyer's Case for Christianity: An Apologetic for the Tough-Minded 99

8 Lawyers and Resurrections 119

9 A Lawyer among the Artists: An Apologetic for the Tender-Minded 133

10 Lutherans Imitating Evangelicals 153

Conclusion: Which Way for Lutheranism? 161

Appendix A A Narrative Commentary on the Divine Service 165

Appendix B For Further Study 171

Editorial Reviews

"When Peter calls us to 'be prepared to give a defense, ' he has in mind the sort of case that a lawyer makes in court. As a distinguished lawyer and apologist, Craig Parton brings Peter's instruction to life. This is a gold-mine for our witness to Christ. But more than that, it fills our own sails with confidence that the gospel is more than wishful thinking. Resources like this don't come along very often. Grab the chance to be better prepared!"

-Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Theology, Westminster Seminary California; co-host of the White Horse Inn

"Mr. Parton's positive presentation of the treasures of classical Christian theology and his fact-based defense for the truth of the Gospel are stunning."

- Professor Rod Rosenbladt, Concordia University, Irvine, California

"Using his skills as a trial lawyer, Craig Parton presents the evidence that corroborates the New Testament's central focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ. But the book offers even more. Parton was well-known in American Evangelical circles that often, as he insightfully points out, fixate on sanctification at the expense of justification. Thus, his book not only skillfully defends what C. S. Lewis called 'mere Christianity, ' but it also shows how Lutheran theology differs from today's 'Evangelicalism' in a number of significant ways."

-Dr. Alvin J. Schmidt, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois

From the Publisher