I would submit most believers are familiar with 2 Timothy 3:16, a passage that declares all of Scripture is God-breathed and thus profitable in the life of the believer and for the proclamation of the gospel. Yet, we have to admit there are some parts of the Bible that make us blush, cause us to squirm in our seat, are hard to understand, and thus are avoided, or that fly in the face of the modern day view of what we think life should look like. If all Scripture is God-breathed, we have to ask ourselves if we really are engaging Scripture cover to cover or whether we simply gravitate towards the more comfortable portions.
Dr. Brian Cosby in his latest book Uncensored: Daring to Embrace the Entire Bible, has provided a helpful reminder for why we must interact and utilize all of Scripture. Furthermore, he tackles some of the common thorny sections of God’s Word, walking the reader through why such sections should not be avoided, how to approach them in concert with the overall message of Scripture, along with providing talking points and additional food for thought at the conclusion of each chapter.
There is much to enjoy in this book. Now Dr. Cosby does not go into the minute details for instance on matters such as the creation/evolution debate although he does touch on the overarching important elements found in Scripture. He does not elaborate on every single piece of manuscript evidence available for his arguments concerning why we can trust the transmission of the Scriptures down through the years. There are certainly many books available that get into those specifics. The intent of this book by Dr. Cosby is to present some basic yet essential reasons why believers in particular need not shy away from any aspect of Scripture regardless of the pressures we often encounter to do so.
I want to hone in one section of this book I found to be the real gem of this book and that is Dr. Cosby’s exhortation for Christian parents to be godly parents. I am a parent of a teenage daughter, specifically an adopted teenage daughter. Raising a child, let alone a teenager presents a variety of minefields we must maneuver as parents. It is tempting to find some relief from the daily grind of parenting by “dumping” our kids off once or twice a week at church so someone else can take on the chore of raising our child in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Regrettably, for some children, that twice a week exposure to 15 minutes of the Bible is all the interaction with God’s Word they will receive. Dr. Cosby saliently reminds the reader to avoid the temptation to outsource parenting. God has given parents the responsibility of rearing their children and this involves showering them with His Word. Dr. Cosby aptly notes, “The greatest thing your child needs from you is the love for and worship of God. Before we teach these things to our children, they need to be in our hearts.” This obviously take a great deal of effort; however, it is a must. Just as in the same manner we put effort into understanding why God commanded Israel to wipe out the pagan nations in the Land of Promise, so too must we put in the effort to read, understand, and live out the truth found in Scripture and to teach those truths to our children. This chapter on parenting was a wonderful capstone message to wrap up the solid information provided by Dr. Cosby in his book.
I highly recommend Uncensored by Dr. Brian Cosby. It is a helpful tool and a vital reminder of the need to embrace all of Scripture. In a time when God’s Word continually comes under assault, it is high time we dig deep into its pages so we can through the work of the Holy Spirit understand and apply its truths. Dr. Cosby’s book will go a long way to helping people work through some of the more challenging passages and more importantly, to see God’s Word as a coherent whole with a coherent message.
I received this book for free from David C. Cook and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Michael lives in Belleville, IL, a suburb of St. Louis, MO with his wife Erica, adopted daughter Alissa, two cats Molly and Sweetie Pie and horse Beckham. After spending eight years in the United States Navy as a Yeoman, he has been employed for the past ten years by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where he oversees advanced educational programs. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Religion (Biblical Studies) from Liberty University and is currently closing in on completing a Master of Arts in Religion (Biblical Studies) from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an avid reader and blogger.
