First, the Kindle version of the book is now available. Also, the Look Inside features are now active on Amazon for those wanting to peek inside the book.
Currently, the book is struggling to stay in stock at Amazon, so if you want the book more quickly as of this writing your best bet remains ordering directly from the publisher Wipf & Stock here.
I have not been sent complementary copies for those wanting to review the book, but if you'd like to get a copy to review (for your website, journal or newsletter) please contact Wipf & Stock and share your platform and plans with them.
Speaking of reviews, Dr. Peter Leithart recently published a nice review of the book. After summarizing the themes of the book Peter writes:
Beckās book is splendid in many ways. His focus on death as the source of sin is convincing, and, as he says, sidesteps some of the theological challenges of the Augustinian notion of inherited guilt. His psychological discussions are penetrating.Peter goes on to raise three concerns about the book: 1) I marginalize the notion of God's wrath in the atonement, 2) I don't say a whole lot about supernatural empowerment or life after death in dealing with our mortal and moral limitations, and 3) I'm hard on institutions.
I have, however, several criticisms of the book...
None of those criticisms are particularly surprising if you know me. And Peter graciously allowed me to respond to the concerns he raised here.
Also, Peter shared on his blog at First Things a wedding sermon he recently delivered based largely on The Slavery of Death. That wedding sermon is a wonderful pastoral synopsis of the book. The conclusion of the sermon:
You practice resurrection when you leave it to God to defend your life and your self, your significance and reputation, when youāre convinced that your life cannot be touched by Death, by the disapproval of others, or by your own failures: You died, and your life is now hid with Christ in God. In baptism, you died to the reign of Death, the death-self that Death produces in you, and in that baptismal death you died to the works of the flesh, which are the works of the devil. The gospel breaks all the chains of Death-anxiety, and opens up to the possibility of love.
You practice resurrection when you thank God for your very self, when you remember that your life is not an achievement but a gift. You practice resurrection by a life of prayer, trusting your good Father to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. You practice resurrection when you make music in your hearts, inspired by the Spirit, because āSinging is the exorcism of fearā (Richard Beck).
You wanted practical, so hereās practical: Begin each day of your marriage with thanksgiving, acknowledging that your life is a gift from your heavenly Father and thanking God that He has given you to one another. Pray without ceasing. Sing. Keep reminding yourself of the gospel. Remind each other every day that you died to Death through the death of Jesus, that Death no longer rules you, and that you walk, even now in the flesh, in the newness of endless life.