Contend

Defending the Faith in a Fallen World

Aaron Armstrong

Cruciform Press | October, 2012

For Andrew, Chris, Noel, and Norm, pastors who model contending for the faith to the glory of God—and for Emily, who pushes me to do likewise.

- Aaron Armstrong

© 2012 by Aaron Armstrong. All rights reserved.

CruciformPress.com | info@CruciformPress.com

“Contend, by one of evangelicalism’s most promising young writers and thinkers, is exactly the kind of book the church needs in our moment. We are tempted today on every side to be meek as a mouse. Christianity is many things, but it is not—it cannot be—anodyne. Armstrong’s gospel-saturated writing, coupled with deeply instructive practical examples, will equip the church to be as bold as a lion, and to roar as Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, and Machen before us.”

Owen Strachan, Assistant Professor of Christian Theology and Church History, Boyce College; coauthor, Essential Edwards Collection

“At a time of great theological confusion and emotional calls to content-less ‘unity,’ a time of politically-correct ‘can’t-we-all-get-alongism,’ here is a balanced and passionate appeal especially to young believers from a young author, Aaron Armstrong, to take seriously their commitment to Jesus in all areas of life, both individually and in community, contending for the Faith, using both their minds and their hearts in defense of the Truth, in the manner laid out by the apostle Jude. May this call be heard far and wide.”

Dr. Peter Jones, Executive Director, truthXchange, Scholar-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor, Westminster Seminary in California

“Contend is a fine combination of concise biblical exposition, down-to-earth examples, contemporary illustrations, and challenging practical application. I’ve already made a list of people I want to give this to…as well as another list of areas to work on in my own life and ministry. It’s not only an ideal book for discipling a new believer, but also for shaking the more mature out of dangerous complacency and passivity.”

Dr. David P. Murray, Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

“Some church leaders like myself get a queasy stomach when faced with theological conflicts. Others relish the fights and want to convene a church council over the number of Adam’s hairs. Aaron presents a third way between avoidance and division: the biblical model of earnest, charitable contending for the faith. This is a book the Church desperately needs, for it matters not merely that we contend, but also how we contend and that we contend for the right cause: namely the name of Christ. Contend not only calls us to defend orthodoxy, but gives us a biblical blueprint for doing it. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to pastors, seminarians, bloggers, and teachers.”

Daniel Darling, Senior Pastor, Gages Lake Bible Church; Author, Real: Owning Your Christian Faith

“The very idea of contending is contentious. But the costs of not contending for ...