Book Review For "I Love Mormons" by David Rowe

    David Rowe (Ph.D.) lives in the heart of Mormon territory, Salt Lake City, Utah. Because he lives in the heart of Mormon territory, which he compares to the Vatican or the Mecca (pg. 30), he noticed that the conventional way of sharing the Good New of Jesus with them has taken a turn for the worst. Christians have engaged in what he calls "Bible Bashing" in which Christians just attack their faith using scripture and doctrinal differences. The main argument in this book is, he wants of offer is an alternate way of sharing with those of the mormon faith.

    His argument can be summed like this "Impressive attitudes eclipsed impressive arguments. Incarnation eclipsed information." (pg. 21). He argues that in order for them to KNOW the Good News of Christ we must first SHOW the Good News of Christ.

In chapter 1, Rowe talks about how "Bible Bashing" just does not work with the Mormons.

In chapter 2, Rowe makes the argument that Mormons have their own "culture"

In chapters 3 and 4, Rowe gets into the history and theology of Mormonism. He talks about their roots in Joseph Smith, their early persecutions, their journey to the west, and changes in doctrine. In the theology, He talks about who Mormons sing the "same song" but the words have different meanings.  

In chapter 5, he gets practical and gives some guide lines in how to share with Mormons.

In chapters 6-10, he shares stories that give an example of how to share with them in a way that is not offensive or "bible bashing".

    Overall, the book was very informative, it difinitly conveys the message the author wants you to learn. He also challenges you to really examine your own faith in Jesus Christ. Are you just going through the motions? Are you trying to live up to something? What are your motivations in sharing? David Rowe does a good job of tearing down the idea of "bible bashing" in order to argue a more loving way of sharing with Mormons. If you are wanting to understand Mormon doctrine on a basic level this book will give some insight.  

In conclusion, I want to end with a lengthy quote from the book.

"Among other things, our growth in godly (or Christlike) character means knowledge becomes the handmaiden of our love for people. Knowledge that "bears the beams of love" to people can be truely redemptive. God forbid our knowledge becomes a puffy display of our wit and expertise to our Mormon friends, instead of a means by which we genuinely love them and minister God's grace to them so they can find and know the God of the Bible! The internal issue then, concerns how we hold the knowledge we have, and this, our spirituality of knowledge will become the greatest determinant of how we use it in our relationships with others. If we hold it masterfully, like a debater all studied up to win the argument, well, we may indeed win the argument, but that's all. Forget about winning the person to Christ. If we hold it patronizingly, like a grade-school grammar teacher drilling people we regard as ignorant until they "get it right" we'll probably foster irritation, resentment, and even anger or listeners. If we hold it ashamedly, though, as timid people who fear offending our Mormon friends by telling them the truth of the Bible (especially when we know it might differ from their beliefs), we will be in authentic to ourselves and unfaithful to our Lord as well unhelpful to any who really do need some divine light in their darkness. If, on the other hand, we hold our theological knowledge (the "divine light" we've been given so far) humble, gently respectfully, lovingly, and graciouly, as the Scriptures mentioned before tell us to do, we'll embody a measure of spirital growth in Christlikeness and no doubt find ourselves using that knowledge redemptively! In short, ourt internal spiritality will shape the external outworking of how we relate to the Mormon people God puts in our lives" (pg. 71)