Veritas et Lux

GOSPEL DEEPS: Reveling in the Excellencies of Jesus – Jared Wilson (2012)

Jared Wilson continues to swing for the fences in his latest book, Gospel Deeps. Wilson adds yet another chapter to the growing list of books that focus on the gospel. Indeed, his thesis is: “the gospel is deep with grace abounding because Jesus is deep with grace abounding.”

In many ways, Gospel Deeps in the natural (or supernatural) extensive of his previous release Gospel Wakefulness, a book that in my mind was one of the most important releases of 2012.

In Gospel Deeps, the author skillfully weaves the realities of the gospel into the fabric of the book. He glories in the penal substitutionary death of Christ and his glorious resurrection. He delights in sin that is forgiven all because of Christ’s work on the cross. And he celebrates the gospel that has both personal and cosmic dimensions.

Gospel Deeps will remind readers that Jonathan Edwards, John Calvin, and John Bunyan were really onto something. It will remind readers that the gospel is not only for the unconverted; it is also for the convinced. And this gospel has the power to change and transform lives. It will alert readers to this fact: the gospel is deeper than we ever imagined. Gospel Deeps should be read, shared, celebrated, and re-read – all to the glory of God!

4.5 stars

“I’M BETTER THAN LANCE ARMSTRONG”

Lance Armstrong’s recent admission of using performance enhancing drugs has led to an all out assault on the most famous cyclist in the world. Armstrong not only violated the rules, he lied repeatedly, and some would say even betrayed his country. This high profile case has emerged as the most talked about scandal in sport’s history. Talk around the “water cooler” is brutal. His fans feel betrayed. His competitors are outraged. And the media is ruthlessly attacking a man who is struggling to regain some sense of composure as he confesses his sins.

As I listen to people weigh in on the Armstrong confession, I hear the gavel slamming relentlessly on the bench. I hear the drone of a prosecuting attorney who seeks to cross-examine a defendant into the corner until he breaks. I see the executioner who prepares the “rope” which will execute final justice on an unrepentant miscreant. However, today it struck me: Each time one of these well meaning people casts a vote of no-confidence for Armstrong, they are in the final analysis making a proclamation: “I am better than Lance Armstrong.” Bottom line: “My righteousness surpasses Lance Armstrong.” Or does it?

There is no question, that the man who founded Livestrong should be held accountable. The more important matter, however, concerns his position before a holy God. The God of the universe is holy and righteous. As such, he demands his creatures be holy in their behavior: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:14-16, ESV). Jesus says, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, ESV).

But Jesus gets to the heart of the matter when he tells his disciples, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). How can anyone exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? Lance Armstrong has proved that he can’t do it. He has failed the test. But here’s the rub. I have failed the test. You have failed the test. Each of us has failed the test. We have all lied like Lance Armstrong. In fact, Scripture says that even if we keep the whole law, yet fail at one point, we become accountable for breaking all of it (James 2:10). Each of us are sinners by nature and choice. Jonathan Edwards said that “sinners would kill God” if given an opportunity. Scripture is clear on this matter. Apart from grace, we have no righteousness. Apart from grace, we would freely lie, cheat, and steal. And we would enjoy it. Listen to the prophet Isaiah:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6, ESV).

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isa. 64:6, ESV).

If we are to think clearly about Lance Armstrong, we must remember that we too are sinners. We are totally depraved. Apart from grace, we are lost without hope and without God. The Westminster Larger Catechism rightly refers to sin as, “that corruption whereby man is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all that is spiritually good.” Think Saul of Tarsus – a murderer. Think Aurelius Augustine – a fornicator. Or what about C.S. Lewis – an atheist. Think about a vile sinner and stand in awe of this fact: God is in the business of transforming liars and cheaters (people like Saul, Augustine, and C.S. Lewis) into worshippers; worshippers who are forgiven of all their sins; people who delight in God and make Jesus their highest treasure. Jesus died on a cross and bore the wrath of God for everyone who would ever believe. He endured the wrath that we rightly deserve. And he rose again on the third day to secure eternal life for everyone who believes. Jesus came to set sinners free; to liberate them of all their sin; to forgive them. He came to offer hope for the hopeless and a new life for the desperate.

Here’s the problem. Somewhere along the way, Christians began to think that the gospel is for the unconverted. But nothing could be further from the truth. The gospel is for not only for the unconverted. It is for the follower of Christ. This gospel has the power to transform lives and marriages and businesses and churches. This gospel is the only hope for lives and marriages and businesses and churches. When we buy the lie that the gospel is only for the unconvinced, we embrace a small gospel, a weak gospel, a comfortable American gospel. This is not the gospel that Jesus proclaims!

So followers of Christ: Let’s give Lance Armstrong a break. Better yet, let’s extend some grace. Instead of casting stones, let us share the love of Christ. Here’s the reason why. When you judge Lance from afar at the office, imagine an executive who is stealing money from the company. Imagine a young secretary who is tangled up in an immoral relationship. Imagine an attorney who cheats on her taxes. When we play judge and jury with Lance Armstrong, we play judge and jury with every other sinner. And these people hear the message loud and clear: “I am better than Lance Armstrong” – which is to say, “I am better than you; you have no right to the grace of God. You deserve to go to hell!” May we root out this Pharisee-mindset. May we freely extend the grace of God to sinners like Lance Armstrong. Perhaps God will use this horrible situation for good. Perhaps God will extend grace to Lance Armstrong like he extended grace to this man – for I am not better than Lance Armstrong and neither are you!

ON THE SHOULDERS OF HOBBITS – Louis Markos (2012)

People flocked to see the new Peter Jackson motion picture, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – based on the novel by J.RR. Tolkien on December 14. The film grossed nearly $85 million in the first week alone and continues to garner interest among movie goers.

Several books have been released in recent years that attempt to interpret the musings of Tolkien and make direct or indirect applications to the Christian life. One recent book to hit the shelves is On the Shoulders of Hobbits by Louis Markos, a helpful primer that not only serves as a tour guide for readers on Tolkien’s path but also introduces important highlights from the works of C.S. Lewis.

Sometimes readers are tempted to skip past the introduction portion of a book. However, skipping the introduction in Markos’ work would be a big mistake. The author maintains that we find ourselves in a postmodern culture that is adrift: “We are, in many ways, a civilization adrift on the stormy seas of relativism and existentialism. The first “ism” has robbed us of any transcendent standard against which we can measure our thoughts, our words, and our deeds; the second has emptied our lives of any higher meaning, purpose, or direction.”

The author presses further by remarking that we need in the final analysis is a return to stories. For instance, he posits: “The true Christian is not just someone who believes certain things; he is someone who participates in a human-divine narrative: what many today refer to as a metanarrative or overarching story into which all of our individual stories can be grafted and from which they derive their ultimate meaning.” Somewhere along the way, we determine to either neglect the stories or as the author notes, “refuse to be shaped by them.”

Writers like Tolkien and Lewis show us the importance of stories. On the Shoulders of Hobbits does not set out to interpret every detail in the writings of Tolkien or Lewis. Rather, it seeks to remind us that we are awash “in the stormy seas of relativism and existentialism.”

Markos guides readers on a journey that uncovers the importance of the Christian journey and the dangers that accompany every Christ-follower. He alerts readers to virtues that emerge in the works of Tolkien and Lewis. Theological virtues are explored; virtues like faith, hope, and love. Finally, Markos take time to develop the problem of evil from the perspective of Tolkien and Lewis. What some consider to be the so-called Achilles heel of the Christian faith, is in the final analysis another reminder that God is sovereign over all things – including evil.

3.5 stars

A WARNING TO PROFESSORS – Jonathan Edwards

Making a profession of Christian faith is simple. It is a matter of merely mouthing the words; it is a matter of making mental ascent to a set of doctrinal standards. However, one should never minimize the importance of professing one’s faith and embracing a body of doctrine. Indeed, Paul reminds us, “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Rom. 10:10). To make a profession of faith is to be converted.

Jonathan Edwards understands the importance and value of making a profession of faith. His concern in his piece, A Warning to Professors is that many profess faith, but practice wickedness in the final analysis. He sets forth the doctrine as follows:

Doctrine – When they that attend ordinances of divine worship allow themselves in known wickedness, they are guilty of dreadfully profaning and polluting those ordinances.

Edwards argues that the sacraments are ordinances: “So public prayer, singing of praise, the preaching of the word, and the hearing of the word preached, are divine ordinances.” It is the profaning of these ordinances that has the Puritan divine on “the edge of his seat.” He remarks, “Persons who come to the house of God, into the holy presence of God, attending the duties and ordinances of his public worship, pretending with others, according to divine institution, to call on the name of God, to praise him, to hear his word, and commemorate Christ’s death, and who yet, at the same time, are wittingly and allowedly going on in wicked courses, or in any practice contrary to the plain rules of the word of God, therein greatly profane the holy worship of God, defile the temple of God and those sacred ordinances on which they attend.”

Edwards responds to the hypocrite; he responds to the person who makes a profession of faith; and he lays bare the motives of such presumption: “But by their actions they all the while declare the contrary. They declare, that they have no high esteem of God, but that they despise him in their hearts. They declare, that they are so far from repenting of, that they intend to continue in, their sins.” Edwards is not serving up some legalistic standard that is so often wrong attributed to the Puritan mindset. He is deeply concerned with the false professor. He is concerned with the man who is sober on Sunday but is a drunkard the rest of the week. He is concerned with the man who practices homosexuality but claims to know God. He is concerned with the one who makes a public profession of faith, but is in the final analysis far from God.

“Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the Lord,” (Jeremiah 2:11–12, ESV)

Edwards ends his piece with a challenge to the false professor. He calls each one to examine himself: “You come into the holy presence of God, attending on those ordinances, which God, by sacred authority, hath hallowed and set apart, that in them we might have immediate intercourse with himself; that we might worship and adore him, and express to him a humble, holy, supreme respect; and that in them we might receive immediate communications from him.” God will not be mocked. Every sin will be exposed that is not covered by the precious blood of Christ. And every sin will be justly condemned and judged.

He concludes with a final warning: “It is a wonder that God suffers you to live upon earth, that he hath not, with a thunderbolt of his wrath, struck you down to the bottomless pit long ago. You that are allowedly and voluntarily living in sin, who have gone on hitherto in sin, are still going on, and do not design any other than to go on yet; it is a wonder that the Almighty’s thunder lies still, and suffers you to sit in his house, or to live upon the earth. It is a wonder that the earth will bear you, and that hell doth not swallow you up. It is a wonder that fire doth not come down from heaven, or come up from hell, and devour you; that hell-flames do not enlarge themselves to reach you, and that the bottomless pit hath not swallowed you up.”

Let us enter into the New Year by examining ourselves in light of God’s holy standards. May false professors turn from their evil ways and may God be glorified in granting salvation to each person who receives the gift of his Son by grace alone, through faith alone – all to the glory of God!

CHRIS TOMLIN – BURNING LIGHTS (2013)

I always look forward to a new Chris Tomlin release. Anyone who follows contemporary worship music will admit that Tomlin is a tremendous talent. But his talent is not the main attraction. Sure his music is good but what makes him a special artist is the depth of songs he writes and sings. Some themes come to mind that seem to keep making their way into Tomlin’s music: the majesty of God, the gospel, the cross of Christ, the sinfulness of man, and the grace of God.

“Whom shall I Fear” is driving song that points saints to our trustworthy God:

My strength is in Your name, for You alone can save/You will deliver me, Yours is the victory/Whom shall I fear?/Whom shall I fear?/I know who goes before me/I know who stands behind, the God of angel armies is by my side/The One who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine/The God of angel armies is always by my side.

And nothing formed against me shall stand/You hold the whole world in your hands/I’m holding on to Your promises/You are faithful, You are faithful.

“White Flag” is an anthem that invites rebels to surrender to the King of the universe. With a U2 feel, the song is a bold affirmation of the penal substitutionary atonement and the sufficiency of Christ’s cross:

The battle rages on as storm and tempest roar/We cannot win this fight, inside our rebel hearts/We‘re laying down our weapons now/We raise our white flag, we surrender all to You, all for You/We raise our white flag, the war is over, love has come, Your love has won.

Here on this holy ground, You made a way for peace/Laying your body down, You took our rightful place/This freedom song is marching on!/We raise our white flag, we surrender all to You, all for You/We raise our white flag, the war is over, love has come, Your love has won.

Tomlin has a gift for reintroducing the great hymns of the church with a contemporary feel and even adding some new lyrics that complement a given hymn. For instance, “Crown Him With Many Crowns” is a hymn that Tomlin reframes on the disc:

Crown Him with many crowns the Lamb upon His throne/Hark how the heavnenly anthems drones all music but its own/Awake my soul and sing, of Him who died for me/And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity

Majesty, Lord of all, let every throne before Him fall/The King of kings, oh come adore! Our God who reigns for evermore!

Crown Him the Lord of life who triumphed over the grave /And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save/His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high/Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die.

Majesty, Lord of all, let every throne before Him fall/The King of kings, oh come adore! Our God who reigns for evermore!

My favorite song, “Sovereign” reminds listeners that God reigns on high. He is the King who is owing of our allegiance and trust:

Sovereign in the mountain air, sovereign on the ocean floor, with me in the calm, with me in the storm/Sovereign in my greatest joy, sovereign in my deepest cry, with me in the dark, with me at the dawn.

In your everlasting arms, all the pieces of my life from beginning to the end, I can trust You/In Your never-failing love, You work everything for good, God whatever comes me way, I will trust You.

All my hopes, all I need – held in Your hands, All my life, all of me – held in Your hands, All my fears, all my dreams – held in Your hands …

My family and our good friends from Christ Fellowship had the pleasure of worshipping with Chris Tomlin last summer at the County Fair in Lynden, Washington. As we worshipped, I noticed the carnival in the background. Hoards of people enjoyed the rides and screamed as the zipper soared and the roller coaster roared. The thought struck me, “Everyone is a worshipper.” And while God’s people drank deeply from an inexaustable fountain, the people of the world found their delight in lesser things. The scene reminded me of the well-known episode in John Bunyan’s epic work, Pilgrim’s Progress where the people reveled in Vanity Fair. It was a surreal moment that I will not soon forget.

Chris Tomlin reminds Baptists and Presbyterians that hand clapping is not only permissible – it is commanded! He reminds Charismatics that a good beat is a good thing – but never good enough. It must be accompanied by sound doctrine. Burning Lights is a none other than a radical call to God-centeredness; a call to worship. Thanks go out to Chris Tomlin for leading the people of God to the throne of God for the glory of God!

CREATURE OF THE WORD – Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson and Eric Geiger

Our lives are wrapped up in the gospel. Sinners have escaped the wrath of God, that is to say – they have been saved and they are being sanctified all because of the gospel. In short, “the gospel is God’s reconciling work in Christ – that through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, God is making all things new both personally for those who repent and believe, and cosmically as He redeems culture and creation from its subjection to futility.” Sinners who entered into the kingdom of God owe their lives to the gospel. The church, as a result should be Jesus-centered and gospel-centered. These are the primary themes of Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church.

The authors set the stage in the opening chapter by noting that God has a purpose in bringing people to Himself: “Truly, God’s plan of redemption is about more than me and you and our neighbor down the street. It’s about men and women from every tribe, tongue, and nation on earth becoming a part of His covenant community.” They stand on the shoulders of the Reformers who believed that it was God who “spoke the church into existence,” what they referred to as the “Creature(s) of the Word.” This church “is a place where individuals are transformed and empowered to join God’s corporate family and participate in God’s plan to reconcile all things to Himself.” So from the outset, readers understand that the gospel stands at the center of God’s purposes. Therefore, the gospel ought to stand as the central and defining element of the church. The remainder of the book builds upon this reality.

The authors demonstrate how the Creature worships, how she relates to one another in community, how she serves, and how she multiplies. Perhaps a few citations will capture the attention of some and motivate them to pour over the pages of this excellent work. Notice, again how Jesus and His gospel stand at the center of the church:

“If a lack of serving pervades a church culture, the answer is not to crank up the guilt and arm-twisting but rather to instill a new, intense focus and awareness on the gospel.”

“A healthy gospel-centric culture turns the church from an institution into a movement of truth and grace where people’s lives are continually formed in the gospel.”

“It must be a continual priority to infuse the totality of our churches with the beauty and awesomeness of the gospel.”

“Without prophetic leadership centered on Jesus, the church will drift theologically either to legalism or to liberalism. Without priestly leadership immersed in the gospel, the people (in practice) will be either pampered with false love or led without grace and mercy. Without a kingly leader saturated in the gospel, the church will philosophically wander without clarity or will be clear on something other than Jesus. The culture of a church suffers if one of these critical leadership functions is missing or if one of them is not immersed in the gospel.”

Creature of the Word: The Jesus Centered-Church is the antidote to the pragmatism that is being pandered in the church. It is a not so subtle reminder that the church has veered off course and needs to return to its first love. The authors beautifully summarize their arguments on the last page: “The gospel reality awakens us to pleasures evermore and causes us to abandon our prior delusions of grandeur to readily accept the inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for those who believe (1 Pet. 1:3-5). In short, a successful church is motivated and empowered by the gospel to remain faithful to Christ and His mission to make disciples.” Read and absorb Creature of Word: The Jesus-Centered Church and use it as a litmus test in your church to gauge gospel-centeredness.

4 stars

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? – Mark Driscoll (2013)

Mark Driscoll has what is foreign to many other writers, namely, a virtually unlimited platform. Driscoll combines a free-flowing writing style with an informed biblical framework and an eye on culture. These qualities make him accessible to everyone from the student to the scholar. Driscoll brings these qualities combined with a cutting edge wittiness to draw in readers from every stripe.

In his latest book, Who Do You Think You Are?, Driscoll uncovers the true identity of every Christ-follower. He makes it clear that many Christians have ignored or neglected their true identity in Christ. The result is ominous, for “many who lose their individual identity idol simply choose another one, rather than turning to Jesus Christ. Consequently, they repeat the entire painful process over and over in their lives. Such people go from one addiction and compulsion to another, one religious commitment to another, and one relationship to another, continually seeking the answer to the question, ‘Who am I?'” Calvin rightly identified that the human heart is an “idol factory” churning idols and worshiping lesser gods. Driscoll merely alerts readers to the painful reality of idolatry that has taken root in the hearts of people. The book, then, sets out to point readers to their true identity in Christ.

After an introductory chapter, the author unpacks fifteen theological realities; rock-solid biblical truths that mark every follower of Christ. In this review, I am purposefully omitted the theological realities that concern our identity in Christ. My hope is that readers will purchase the book and pour over the chapters, asking God to reveal himself afresh and remind them of who they are in Christ. The net result will be a stronger walk and a fresh resolve to live in light of biblical truth. Surely, the church and local communities will benefit from Christians who know and practice the truth of God’s Word; Christians who live out their identities which are rooted in Christ.

I have read several of Driscoll’s books over the years. This new release is a decisive moment of depth, maturity, and pastoral wisdom. While I have greatly enjoyed and benefitted from Mark’s other books, Who Do You Think You Are? will not only make a significant impact on the local church; it should silence the naysayers and perhaps build bridges with pastors who have been critical of Driscoll in the past. You know who you are!

Thanks to Mark Driscoll for writing a book that will unleash a new army of Christ-followers who walk in the power of the Spirit and minister to people for the glory of God.

I received a complimentary book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

4 stars

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 17,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 4 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

BESTS READS OF 2012

Several good books were published in 2012. My top reads are listed below:

1. A PURITAN THEOLOGY: DOCTRINE FOR LIFE – Joel Beeke & Mark Jones (2012)

A theological feast and reminder that the Puritans still matter.

See my Review

2. THE CONVICTION TO LEAD – Albert Mohler (2012)

The most important leadership book of 2012 and one of the best I’ve read in some time.

See my Review

3. THE MAN CHRIST JESUS – Bruce A. Ware (2012)

A tremendous Christological work. Highly recommended!

See my Review

4. GOSPEL WAKEFULNESS – Jared C. Wilson (2012)

The most important book on the gospel in 2012.

See my Review

5. KINGDOM THROUGH COVENANT – Peter Gentry & Stephen Wellum (2012) See my Review

The middle path between Dispensationalism and Covenant theology. The book I needed in Seminary twenty years ago.

See my Review

6. THE RACKETEER – John Grisham (2012)

Proof that John Grisham is not done writing.

7. KILLING KENNEDY – Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard (2012)

A fascinating historical look at the Kennedy assassination.

See my Review

8. SOJOURNERS AND STRANGERS – Gregg Allison (2012)

The best work on the church in years.

See my Review

9. THE NEW REAGAN REVOLUTION – Michael Reagan (2011)

The book President Obama needs to read!

See my Review

10. THE SNOW CHILD – Eowyn Ivey (2012)

A captivating read.

SOJOURNERS AND STRANGERS – Gregg Allison (2012)

Dr. Gregg Allison leaves no stone unturned in his newest work, Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church. Allison’s fine piece of work is the latest installment in the Foundations of Evangelical Theology Series, edited by John Feinberg.

Six majors themes form the skeletal structure of Sojourners and Strangers.

Part One: Foundational Issues

Allison introduces the subject of ecclesiology and underscores his presuppositions at the outset: “I firmly maintain that the source – the sole source – and the starting point of our theology is Scripture, the Word of God. He presents the basic idea of the church, which is “the people of God … the communion of the saints … and is composed of particular people: ‘sojourners and strangers.'”

The author presents his methodology for ecclesiology. Realizing that one’s approach in this area has broad implications, Allison contrasts theological methods that embrace continuity and discontinuity between the testaments. He stands somewhere in the middle of this debate by describing himself as one who embraces a moderate discontinuity, what some have described as progressive dispensationalism. His conviction has a bearing on his view that concerns the origin of the church and the relationship between the church, Israel, and the ordinance of baptism. This hermeneutical criteria is a helpful backdrop that serves the rest of the book well.

Part Two: The Biblical Vision – Characteristics of the Church

Here the author studies the inception of the church and her relationship to Israel and the kingdom of God. Allison makes his position clear: “Because of the identity of the new covenant partners – God and Christ-followers – I draw the conclusion that the church began at Pentecost and did not exist prior to that monumental event.” While writing from a Reformed framework, the “line in the sand is drawn” by distinguishing himself from main stream Covenant theology. The argument is straightforward: “But these faithful and obedient followers of Jehovah, these people of God, did not constitute the church. Yes, God’s work of redemption began with Adam. Yes, God’s promise to bless all human beings through a particular nation was made to Abraham. Yes, God’s covenant with the particular people of Israel was given specific expression on Mount Sinai with Moses. But the people of God post-Adamic covenant, post-Abrahamic covenant, and post-old/Mosaic covenant – up to the new covenant – did not constitute the church.”

Allison’s hermeutical presuppositions are refreshing to be sure because while on one had he distinguishes himself from the covenantal framework, he also distinguishes himself from classical dispensationalism, i.e. “the church stands in both continuity and discontinuity with the people of God in the past.” Near as I can tell, he is an agreement with the essence of the proposal but forth by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum in their excellent work, Kingdom Through Covenant.

Additionally, the orientation of the church is established in part two by examining seven characteristics of the church.

1. The Church is Doxological – oriented to the glory of God.

2. The Church is Logocentric – focused on the Word of God.

3. The Church is Pneumadynamic – empowered by the Holy Spirit.

4. The Church is Covenantal – with God and in covenant community with one another.

5. The Church is Confessional – united by a common Christian confession or creed.

6. The Church is Missional – called to proclaim the gospel and advance the kingdom of God.

7. The Church is Spatio-Temporal/Eschatological – a historical reality with a grand future.

Allison explains each characteristic in great detail and suggests practical suggestions for abiding by the biblical model.

Part Three: The Vision Actualized – The Growth of the Church

Part three demonstrates how the vision set forth in the previous section will be fostered and protected. This vision will be actualized by maintaining the purity and unity of the church. Additionally, the commitment to church discipline plays a key role. Church discipline is defined as “an anticipatory and declarative sign of the divine eschatological judgment, meted out by Jesus Christ through the church against its sinful members and sinful situations.” Churches who neglect or reject church discipline do great harm to its members and the testimony of God’s people.

Part Four: The Government of the Church

In this critical section, Dr. Allison unpacks the offices of the church. First, he examines the office of apostle which is “no longer operative” in the author’s view. He continues to explore the office of elder and deacon, noting the biblical qualifications and responsibilities of each.

The subject of church government is set forth in a clear and understandable way. Episcopalianism, Presbyterianism, and Congregationalism are explained in their historical context. The author presents his proposal for the governance of congregational churches – a model that is elder-led and congregationally affirmed – which appears to be the biblical model.

Part Five: The Ordinances of the Church

The various views of baptism and the Lord’s supper are presented in light of church history. Disagreements that the author has with other views are set forth with charity and graciousness.

Part Six: The Ministries of the Church

Finally, Allison overviews the various spiritual gifts, a biblical theology of worship, and various ministries that emerge in the local church context. The church should be “for the world and against (the sinful corruption) of the world.

Summary

I cannot recommend Gregg Allison’s work highly enough. His treatment of ecclesiology should be applauded for its depth and breath. And it should be celebrated for its gracious approach to disputable matters. Readers will be remiss to find a shred of compromise or capitulation; yet his gentle approach weaves throughout the fabric of the book. Sojourners and Strangers should be required reading for every Ecclesiology class for Bible College students and Seminarians alike. This book will not only instruct and educate; it will help stem the tide of errors and mis-steps that have so characterized the last several years of church history, especially the blunders that have come out of the emergent and seeker-sensitive church. I would also refer readers to his excellent work, Historical Theology for a superb look at the development of Christian theology in church history.

5 stars