The Thrill of Orthodoxy - by Trevin Kyle Wax & Trevin Wax (Hardcover)

About the Book

Every generation faces the temptation to wander from Christian teaching, and so every generation must be awakened again to the thrill of orthodoxy. Returning to the church's creeds, Trevin Wax beckons us away from the broad yet ultimately boring road of heresy and toward the path of orthodoxy where true adventures can be found.

Book Synopsis

Christianity Today Book Award of Merit--Popular Theology

The Gospel Coaltion Award of Distinction--Popular Theology

Every generation faces the temptation to wander from orthodoxy--to seek out the jolt that comes with false teaching, and to drift with cultural currents. And so every generation must be awakened again to the thrill of orthodoxy, and experience the astonishment that comes from stumbling afresh upon the electrifying paradoxes at the heart of the Christian faith.

In The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Trevin Wax turns the tables on those who believe Christian teaching is narrow and outdated. Returning to the church's creeds, he explains what orthodoxy is and why we can have proper confidence in it, and lays out common ways we can stray from it. By showing how heresies are always actually narrower than orthodoxy--taking one aspect of the truth and wielding it as a weapon against others--Wax shows us that false teaching ultimately proves bland and boring, and that orthodoxy is where true adventure can be found.

Review Quotes

"The Thrill of Orthodoxy is an evangelical road map out of the greatest dangers facing the church today: the aimlessness of doctrinal deconstruction and the emptiness of religious fundamentalism, the despair of cultural retreat and the lureof political power, the impulse to detract from Christianity's gospel of grace, and the temptation to dismiss Christianity's moral claims. The foundations of the faith 'once for all delivered to the saints' are but a generation away from erosion among those who presuppose orthodoxy. Trevin beckons us back to the consuming wonder of discovering this treasure of truth."

Katie McCoy, director of women's ministry for Texas Baptists

"As the culture has become decadent, the church in the modern West has often followed suit, dull to the things of God and often worked up about pursuits that in the end are 'wood, hay or straw' (1 Cor. 3:12). Like the Corinthian church of old, we've become fleshly in our divisions and fixated on peripheral squabbles. If we're honest, we've become bored by the things 'of first importance' (1 Cor. 15:3)--we lose sight of the gospel and forget God. In The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Trevin Wax argues that the church faces her biggest challenge not when new errors start to win but when old truths fail to wow. With Chestertonian wit, joy, and incisiveness, he invites us into the great adventure of orthodoxy. If you're wavering in your faith or seeking a renewed wonder in the Christian life, then let Wax be your guide."

Ivan Mesa, editorial director, The Gospel Coalition

"In a culture where most believe that truth is relative and words like orthodoxy evoke yawns and eye rolls, Trevin Wax gives a clarion call back to the historic Christian faith as taught in Scripture and summarized in the three ecumenical creeds. Trevin shows that it is actually Christian orthodoxy that is thrilling, not the individualized backwaters of relativistic heresy. This is a needed book for the new believer and mature Christian alike."

Matthew Y. Emerson, dean of theology, arts, and humanities at Oklahoma Baptist University and author of "He Descended to the Dead"

"Obviously, we're not the first Christians. Nor did our generation invent Christian thought. We are the recipients of a long line of Christians' insights, mistakes, and ways of speaking about God and the Christian faith. Trevin celebrates the treasures of the Christian faith and sound doctrine. Being dazzled by the old truths is the best means to deepen our understanding of the Christian faith, increase our dependence on God's revelation in Jesus Christ and Holy Scriptures, fuel our worship of God, increase our love for each other, and motivate mission to the world."

Justin S. Holcomb, seminary professor, Episcopal minister, and author of Know the Creeds and Councils

"The orthodox Christian faith is more than just a set of beliefs or a code of behavior. In this wonderful book, Trevin Wax calls us to pilgrimage and adventure, a journey toward that city with God-laid foundations, a place called home. A great gift to the church in the best tradition of G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis!"

Timothy George, distinguished professor at Beeson Divinity School and general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture

"Trevin Wax shows that 'orthodox thrill' is not an oxymoron. He explains with clear metaphors why Christian doctrine is important: imagine 'a football field where no one measured the yards.' He proposes neither cultural retreat nor accommodation and shows why pitting 'love' against doctrine or deeds against creeds is folly. The Thrill of Orthodoxy is an excellent overview for all who want their churches to be both hospitals for sinners and schools for saints."

Marvin Olasky, senior fellow, Discovery Institute

"Trevin Wax shows that traditional orthodox Christianity might not be as glossy and glamorous as Christianity gone worldly, but it is ancient, majestic, global, and glorious. It is a tried and tested alternative to the faddish and fragmentary fakes that masquerade as Christianity in some places. Trevin is not pushing dry doctrine but passing on fresh fire that is thousands of years old."

Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia

"Wax presents a great case for orthodoxy over politics, orthodoxy against heresy, orthodoxy for our spiritual nourishment, orthodoxy for the benefit of the world, and orthodoxy for the glory of God. In our time, deconstructing faith is a big, sexy trend, and Christian nationalism is making a comeback. As an antidote to those temptations, I hope Wax's celebration of historic orthodoxy gets a wide hearing."

Michael F. Bird, Christianity Today, October 2022

"What bursts forth when Chesterton, Lewis, Sayers, and Tozer all meet together in one place? Trevin Wax's masterpiece The Thrill of Orthodoxy! With wise enthusiasm, Wax shows the weary, world-worn, or simply disinterested pilgrim how right belief has laid a path through the darkness into bright adventure ahead. Conforming our souls to the holy proves the most wildly nonconformist and yet fulfilling thing we can do. Read here why 'adventure' starts with 'advent.' For indeed, as Wax reminds us, by trusting the true yet unplumbable mysteries of God, yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!"

Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford

About the Author

Trevin Wax (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is vice president of research and resource development at the North American Mission Board and a visiting professor of theology at Cedarville University. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin is a regular columnist at The Gospel Coalition and has contributed to The Washington Post, Religion News Service, World, and Christianity Today. He has served as general editor for The Gospel Project and has taught courses on mission and ministry at Wheaton College. He is the author of several books, including The Multi-Directional Leader, Rethink Your Self, This Is Our Time, Eschatological Discipleship, and Gospel CenteredTeaching. He lives in middle Tennessee with his wife, Corina, and their three children.

Kevin J. Vanhoozer (PhD, Cambridge University) is Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is the author of many works, including First Theology, The Drama of Doctrine and is coauthor with Daniel Treier of Theology and the Mirror of Scripture.