Why Hafemann’s essay alone is worth more than the price of the book

Crossway recently published For the Fame of God’s Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper.  It’s over 500 pages long and filled with good material.  The people in my church will probably find some of it to be very challenging reading (for instance the chapter by Mark Talbot).  But, the risks of mining notwithstanding, it’s worth the effort to dig for treasure.

We cannot expect that we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds if we only scratch about in the loose gravel on the surface.

I have insisted in the title of this post, your money would be well if only to read the chapter by Scott Hafemann.  Now I am a pastor in the rural Midwest.  I come from a long line of frugal (“tight-wadish”) farmers.  I understand that $22 is a fair amount for a book.  But the reason that I so highly recommend Hafemann’s chapter is that he outlines the big picture of what existence is all about.

In only 17 pages, Dr. Hafemann surveys Scripture to show that:

God’s mission is to glorify himself by creating a people who obey the commands of God their King and thereby exercise a dominion characterized by dependence on God himself.

You might initially respond, “Well, that doesn’t seem incredibly profound or compelling.”

If that’s your response, then you especially need to fork out the $22!  Here’s the thing. Beginning with this thesis, Hafemann shows us how Genesis, Original Sin, the call of Abraham, John the Baptist, and our Lord Himself demonstrate that existence must be about glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

Indeed, if you read Hafemann’s essay, and really digest it, then you will more clearly see what Scripture and life are all about: $22.74 well spent.

See also posts on biblical theology.