Hope Ain’t a Hustle: Persevering by Faith in a Wearying World

Reviewed by:

Sarah Hoffman from Rolling Meadows, IL, a Communication student at Taylor University in Upland, IN.

Title:

Hope Ain’t a Hustle: Persevering by Faith in a Wearying World

Author:

Irwyn L. Ince Jr.

Publisher:

InterVarsity Press

http://InterVarsity Press

Publication Date:

February 6, 2024

Format:

Print book

Length:

193 pages

OVERVIEW

Hope can be elusive. When the world around us seems to crumble amidst political, racial, social, and religious division, it can be far too easy to fall away from God.

But we do have hope. In Hope Ain’t a Hustle, Dr. Irywn L. Ince Jr., pastor and author, takes his readers through an in-depth analysis of the book of Hebrews. He shows us the true definition of Christian hope and how we can hold onto that hope even in the midst of adversity.

Christian hope has a different definition than regular, worldly hope. Ince reveals that Christian hope is not equated to mere desire. We don’t just want God’s promises to be fulfilled but don’t know if they will be. We know he will provide, though it can be easy to lose sight of.

Our hope is distinctive because it is placed in One who is eternal and perfect. The basis of Christian hope is Jesus Christ—perfect God become perfect man. By placing our confidence in Christ we can enter into his rest, which is a rest like no other. With Jesus’s aid and in community with other believers, we can endure the suffering and turmoil of our current reality.

Our knowledge of Christ should change how we live our lives. When we know God, we live for him, and this life looks drastically different from the lives of nonbelievers. It is a life of joy and rest, of peace and perseverance—a life that is not elusive, but in fact attainable.

In this book, Ince moves chronologically through Hebrews, discussing the theme of hope and referencing relevant biblical passages. However, though his material was good, I wasn’t a big fan of his writing style. He incorporated various lengthy stories that at first glance didn’t appear relevant to his content. However, he always connected them well to the point he was making; it just took a bit longer than I would prefer. In addition, some paragraphs were poorly structured, with multiple consecutive sentences of identical structure. My biggest objection, though, has to do with the various “author’s translations” of the Bible. With no indication of any translation credentials, how do I know I can trust one person’s translation of the Bible?

That said, the book’s content makes up for any shortcomings of style. I do recommend a prior familiarization with Hebrews and keeping an open Bible while you read, as I often found myself flipping back a page or so to remember what verse Ince was referencing.

Regardless, Ince makes his point well and keeps the focus on Jesus, making this little book an excellent study into Hebrews and the concept of Christian hope.

ASSESSMENT

Rating:

4 out of 5

Suggested Audience

Hope Ain’t a Hustle is a great read for Christians at nearly any stage of their walk with Christ. While certain concepts or references may not be as readily understood by a brand-new follower of Christ, this book has much to teach to Christians both young and old. Anyone feeling like Christian hope is unreasonable or elusive, particularly in the face of the divisiveness of our world today, may just find that hope through reading this book.

Christian Impact

Throughout the book, Ince adheres closely to the Bible. He doesn’t shy away from the fact that God never promises ease or comfort. Though this is a hard truth, it is a biblical truth that should not be ignored. Facing that difficulty, Ince elucidates how the Christian can have hope, peace, and endurance no matter what goes on in the world around—something that God does promise to those who follow him.

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