The Good Name: The Power of Words to Heal

The Good Name by Samuel T. Logan, Jr. encourages readers to see the dangers of “false witness” among Christians, especially when dealing with disagreements, which can cause damage to individuals, the church, and the good name of Jesus.

By exploring what it means to be a true witness in the Bible and the Christian church, Logan emphasizes the power of words—both divine and human—and explains how our Christian responsibility is to honor others in truth and respect, especially when we disagree.

This powerful book draws on Scripture and historical evidence of all the damage that verbal nastiness of Christians has done to the cause of Christ.

Christians often disagree with one another and, because they are Christians, they tend to hold their beliefs very strongly. This sometimes leads us to speak harshly to and about one another. But the Bible has more to say about the way we speak than it does about almost anything else, and The Good Name examines how we may express our disagreements in a way that honors Jesus.

Logan provides biblical wisdom and practical help through specific examples of how to talk to and about those with whom we disagree on “hot button issues,” such as abortion, evolution, same-sex marriage, the place of women in ministry leadership, and so on.

While encouraging readers to honor the good name of Jesus and love their neighbors, Logan also explores how Christians have undermined the gospel throughout church history. But words have the power to heal, not just hurt, and this resource outlines how to be winsome and respectful in all conversations, especially disagreements.

192 pages

"Dr Logan's analysis of the ninth commandment is a salutary reminder of the importance of a good name, and how easily Christians ignore the teaching of Scripture in bearing false witness, either maliciously or unintentionally. That Dr. Logan's study emanated from his own self-confessed breach of the ninth commandment heightens the awareness of the reader's need to reflect upon the use of his or her own tongue, as it did for me. This study contains theological and historical reflections, but is also full of wise advice as to how we should engage in discourse, especially when discussing controversial issues, so that our speech might always be gracious, protecting others' good name, as we seek to glorify God."

Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of the Province of New South Wales in the Anglican Church of Australia; member of the following boards: The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, The Global Anglican Relief & Development Board, and The Gafcon Primates Council

"We live in a culture of contempt, where slander and many other sins of speech damage reputations and destroy relationships. The Good Name deploys the surprisingly vast resources of the ninth commandment to confront this contemporary crisis in the way we communicate. Drawing on hard-won lessons from his own life and ministry—as well as the teaching of Scripture and traditions of Reformation theology—Dr. Samuel Logan gives practical guidance to help us learn the language of love and unleash the power of our words for good instead of evil."

Philip Ryken, President, Wheaton College; member of the Council of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals; author of more than thirty books; former senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia; former member of the board of trustees, Westminster Theological Seminary

"Sam Logan's The Good Name begins with a startlingly candid confession of personal wrongdoing that makes unmistakable his commitment to the subject of the book: the importance of truth-telling to meet Christ’s standards and accomplish his purposes. The book unfolds biblical principles and Confessional statements that should bring most of us to repentance for the unthinking, uncharitable, and unrighteous labels we put on others' (and our own) activities, and it also prepares us to deal 'Christianly' with the hot button issues of our times. This book is exceedingly contemporary, exceedingly challenging, and intentionally healing for the advancement of Christ’s cause."

Bryan Chapell, President Emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary; senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA), Peoria, Illinois; council member, The Gospel Coalition