Review: The Seven Laws of the Learner

The Seven Laws of the Learner by Bruce H. Wilkinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read about three books each month, and this has to be one of the most impactful and convicting for the year 2015. (The other book that had such a profound impact on my life and worldview would be Clowney's Unfolding Mystery - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...)

I had taken on an attitude that it is not my problem to motivate the unmotivated student, be it in secular or Christian circles. I’ll just find those who are interested in having God’s will done in their lives, and then we’ll take it from there.

Chapter after chapter, I am compelled to reconsider many of my perceptions (most of them had been cast in stone after extensive teaching experience). I have caught a little of his seemingly bottomless passion to see students walk life face-to-face with the living God. The impartation of knowledge is simply the vehicle to see about revival.

In the religious-persecution-free society in Singapore, believers often feel no need for God or his commands. It is painful to see Christians and churches engage in self-sustaining and consumeristic practices. The only time we want to follow in his ways, is when we demand that he answers our prayers and solve our problems. As I closed the book, tears welled up in my eyes and my heart was overwhelmed with a desire for revival - to be part of a gospel community of continually repented and loving believers. The catalyst would have to start with me, because having counted the cost, it would be crazy not to give up my life for such a cause as this.

For this to be a balanced review, I have to discuss what was not so fantastic.

There were some theological references that I was uncomfortable with. For example, his refer to the parable of the talents is tricky because in his parable Jesus used 'talents' in the context of money, not to refer to a person's giftedness (p408-409). He also has to explain (p420-432) in what way is the prophet Nathan like a teacher before he can use that as a starting base for the section on revival. Thankfully these theological ambiguity came toward the end of the book and not at the beginning, otherwise students who are hermeneutically wired may be quickly (and wrongly) dismiss that the book is filled with eisegetical assertions.

These errors do not subtract from the message Wilkinson is trying to impart to us readers. We receive from what he is gifted in, and that is teaching. For a more meaty theological diet, one can simply read this book in conjunction with a more scholarly and biblical title.

On the topic of teaching, this has to be one of the first I would recommend to teachers.

View all my reviews