The Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press contained the following report on 30th July:
June saw the publication of a new book entitled "Written on the Heart" by Stranraer minister Rev. Stephen Steele. The book is part of the Grassmarket Press series, named after the spot in Edinburgh where many Covenanters were executed in the seventeenth century. Grassmarket books aim at introducing key Christian doctrines to the ordinary person. Other books in the series cover topics such as love, generosity, the worship of God, the church, etc. Steele's contribution seeks to introduce the law of God. He told the Free Press: "The law of God is a topic that many Christians are confused about. There are some laws in the Bible that almost all Christians agree no longer apply — but how do we know which do and which don't? The new Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has accused Christians of picking and choosing which laws to follow. Is that the case? The New Testament can be very positive about the ongoing role of the Old Testament law, but also says 'we are not under law, but under grace'. My book seeks to show that it is possible to avoid legalism — trying to obey the law to earn salvation — but still have a high regard for God's law, as lived out perfectly by Jesus Christ." Copies of the book are available from Galilee Books in Glasgow, Covenanter Books in Belfast, or the author. It is also available as an ebook on Amazon Kindle.
(American readers can buy direct from Crown & Covenant)
The following review appeared in the July/August Covenanter Witness:
Grassmarket Press has provided many timely and helpful volumes. The trend continues with Written on the Heart. Rev. Stephen Steele has been writing regular blog posts and journal articles for many years and his accessible and persuasive style is very much to the fore in this, his first book. He deals with a crucially important subject: the question of a Christian's relationship to the Law of God. Recent decades have seen a great deal of debate and confusion on this subject. Many Christians, whilst perhaps vaguely persuaded of the need to observe nine of the Ten Commandments, nonetheless claim there are reasons to discount the Fourth Commandment altogether. Others seem determined to impose various codes of conduct on the Church for which there is no biblical requirement.
Stephen has provided us with a wonderful resource to navigate this tricky terrain. The first chapter - Road Map' - traces the importance of God's Law throughout the "big story' of the Bible, from creation to consummation. Further chapters outline why Reformed, confessional Christians hold to the "Threefold Division of the Law”, seeing the ongoing significance of the Ten Commandments whilst understanding the ceremonial and judicial laws of the Old Testament as having served their purpose. A right understanding of the relationship between Law and Gospel is also laid out, as well as very concise, applicable chapters on Legalism and the Lord's Day.
Few subjects need to be so urgently addressed in the Church today as this one. Stephen has done so with clarity, readability and enthusiasm. His breadth of study is evident in a strikingly wide variety of authors cited, from the Early Church Fathers, to Covenanters, Puritans and modern-day theologians. Yet he also includes plenty of relatable illustrations to bring home his arguments.
This is a book to be read thoughtfully, one that will help disciples of Christ to love him, and his Law, more than we did
The same issue contained the following interview with Stephen:
You can read a review by Daniel Sturgeon, pastor of Stranraer Baptist Church, here.