The New Testament and the People of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God)
by N. T. Wright
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A ground breaking book on the New Testament!, July 26, 2009
This is *the* major paradigm-shattering book on the New Testament since perhaps Bultmann's Theology of the New Testament. He addresses the existing divide between the modern positivist reading and the postmodern phenomenalist reading of the texts. In the one, there is a facile assumption of empirical evidence - 'bare facts' requiring no interpretation - as an absolute foundation of truth ('what you see is what you get!') and in the other, a silly notion of truth as completely subjective ('truth lies in the eye of the beholder'). In a classic Anglican middle-of-the-road fashion, he posits instead a hermeneutical method he calls critical realism or the epistemology of love (following the philosopher Bernard Lonergan) which advocates getting inside the worldviews of the times in which the New Testament was written in order to understand its message.
Worldview according to Wright corresponds to the inter-connected structure of story, questions (and answers), symbols and praxis. He applies this paradigm in his reading of first century Judaism and then of early Christianity, set within certain historical fixed points such as the crucifixion of Jesus and the martyrdom of Polycarp - events that are well-attested to in the ancient documents. The outcome is a breathtaking perspective that shatters or revises just about almost every aspect of our cherished reading of the New Testament through other grids such as denominational confessions or certain momentous periods of church history, not to mention the fabricated versions of postmodern fantasies currently going around.
One begins to see Jesus the Messiah emerging out of the historical, cultural and theological issues that the New Testament writers engaged with and for once, we see how the often abstracted (or co-opted by anachronistic schemes) notions of biblical authority, hope, salvation, even god (rendered in small cases throughout for some very good reasons) and other essential Christian doctrines make sense in light of the narratival worldviews of the early church.
While we may not agree with all of Wright's conclusions, he gives us a grand narratival backdrop against which to read afresh the New Testament writings. This book is an important one to read in understanding his methodology which will shape the later volumes in the series on Jesus, Resurrection, Paul and the church. Essential reading for all serious students of the New Testament! Comment | Permalink
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Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation
by Thomas Keating
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An easy, down-to-earth and powerful read on contemplative prayer, July 20, 2009
Fr Thomas Keating has written a book that gleans from among the best of the Church's contemplative resources such as John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Cloud of Unknowing and presents it afresh with a gentle and winsome voice to today's would-be contemplatives. For many who find some of the deep classics on prayer such as those mentioned somewhat dense or obscure will find much to resonate with in 'Invitation to Love'. The method of Centering Prayer which he has helped develop and promote for our generation is a simple and rewarding way of prayer if one sets aside regular time for it. It is together with faithful practice and spiritual growth that one comes to grasp more deeply what is written here. However, even if one is a newbie to Centering Prayer or treads a different prayer path, there is much that one can relate to and find Keating's insights helpful such as in the famous 'night of the sense' and 'night of the spirit' which are commonly encountered in one's prayer as one advances. Familarity with such experiences helps one persist and let God take us to a deeper level of union with him.
Then, there is that beautiful story about Bernie, a real person of great love and generosity, who lives his life to the hilt in a monastery and when the time comes for him to let go, he drops everything in less than a moment's notice. It's an inspiring story of how true prayer makes a person fully human, fully alive!
This is one of the best books on prayer I have ever read - easy, down-to-earth and powerful. Highly recommended! But be sure to read 'Open Mind Open Heart' before reading this for a group grasp of Centering Prayer, which is the backbone of Keating's thoughts on prayer. Comment | Permalink
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Fear and Trembling (Penguin Classics)
by Soren Kierkegaard
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a penetrating look at the nature of faith , June 13, 2009
Soren Kierkegaard's works are notably difficult to read. Fear and Trembling is perhaps the least formidable in comparison. Still, in this book some knowledge of Hegelian philosophy/ terminology and Greek mythology is almost indispensable in understanding him aright. Words like 'ethical', 'universal' are not to be taken in the contemporary sense. They have specific meanings given by Hegel referring more or less to what conforms to cultural norms and in Kierkegaard's milieu to its middle class morality. It is this sort of 'universal ethic' that he wants to separate from bona fide Christian faith.
Abraham's famous act of faith in offering his to be sacrificed at the behest of God is a supreme example of what Christian ethic is all about - not a simple conformity to what is generally accepted by human society but a radical obedience to divine commands that may at times fly in the face of the prevailing sensibilities. This is what is meant by the famous line that Abraham's act was 'a teleological suspension of the ethical'.
Kierkegaard here writes through his pseudonymous author, Johannes de Silentio (John of Silence, who is anything but silent!) who seeks to penetrate the mystery of faith with his rational mind. He succeeds for the most part in describing faith by saying what it is not; the knight of faith can be reduced to neither the knight of infinite resignation nor the tragic hero (eg. Agamemnon in Greek mythology). It stands as a class of its own - and this is the radical call of faith, which even the articulate silent John has no words to positively explicate it, save that it is a 'marvel', a 'miracle'. Many are mistaken to see this as a blind leap or a mindless choice. It is better to see faith, from SK's point of view, as a supra-rational act, or better still a gift that is wrought by God. Yet, it is a faith that does not come cheap. It is as John of Silence says, 'faith was a task for a whole lifetime, not a skill to be acquired in a matter of weeks or days.'
I would recommend this to any reader with an intellectual and religious bent and for the reflective Christians who are wondering what to make of his faith. Not an easy read but rewarding to those who plough at it, preferably with some help.
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The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church
by Gregory A. Boyd
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a Kierkegaardian voice for our time!, June 4, 2009
There's a lot I admire about Greg Boyd - his passion, intelligence, eloquence, energy, courage, and ability to think outside the box. This book is one more thought-provoking and controversial addition to the list of books and sermons he has put out. I am not an American but am curious about how the church everywhere should live out the kingdom of God (a political term!)in relation to the socio-political system she finds herself in.
In America, I think there had been a sincere attempt at least among the founding fathers to implement the system of governance on biblical principles. The results have been a mixed one - the worldly corruption of power, greed, violence, moral decadence on the one hand as well as the the godliness, missionary zeal, generosity, ethical commitment on the other hand. Though America is probably moving towards a post-Christian mood, there are opposite voices that call for a retention or retrieval of good old fashioned biblical values as well.
I think Boyd's analysis here is accurate on many fronts - exposing the hypocrisy of the church's self-styled moral police stance, the lack of sacrifice and compassion relative to her moral indignation towards certain social ills (eg abortion, gay issues), the quick resort to violence and even vengeance in spite of the biblical bias towards mercy and reconciliation, etc. Greg's call for the church to a radical embodiment of the 'power under' life under the cross is a poignant one that needs to be heard, imbibed and practised with great urgency in our time. The call to authentic Christianity of cross-bearing and radical obedience and the unmasking of the thin pious veneer of civil religion, exemplified by the intense energy spent in championing certain religious trappings and so on makes Boyd Greg a contemporary Kierkegaard, who once called the slumbering Lutheran church ('christendom') to task in 19th century Denmark.
The Myth of a Christian Nation is a much heeded call for the real Christians in US and everywhere in the world to stand up under the banner of the cross!
My reservation, which I hope should in no way detract from Boyd's prophetic voice is that the book leans too much on the church's separation from the business of the State. I think while the church has a unique call to be herself as God's holy, compassionate people, she too has the vocation of being the salt and leaven of society as well as an outpost of God's inaugurated reign on earth. This makes the powers that be a temporary custodian of law and order in society and subordinate to Christ's rule over the world. However limited, temporary and easily tainted with the dark forces, the state still serves a God-appointed role for good. The church does have a prophetic role in speaking God's mind to the powers and assists them in every possible way to do what they have been called to do. This of course does not mean the church should resort to strong arm tactics or other dubious means to do that. Here, I am with the late Lewis Smedes who once said concerning the church that it needs not be an either-or situation but a both-end; the church is called to be BOTH compassionate AND prophetic to the world. If early church tradition is anything to go by, there were strong precedences there too of Christians confronting the pagan emperors in the name of Christ, in spite of the church's status as a persecuted minority and predominantly pacifist stand, which Boyd apparently holds. What the church needs to do is not to shy away from speaking up in the public arena but to be what she has been called to be - the cross-shaped people of God - and earn the right to speak again with the voice of true justice and compassion! No mean task of course, given the fragmented and secularised state of the church in modern America - hence, Boyd's prophetic voice remains as timely as it is mostly on target! Comment | Permalink
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Jesus and Politics: Confronting the Powers
by Alan Storkey
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highly illuminative of Jesus' political milieu!, May 28, 2009
I have found this to be a very readable and illuminating book that helps put the gospel accounts within the first century political context. I went away appreciating much better the words and deeds of Jesus as well as the pathos of the people around him. In a story-telling fashion, one is taken through a captivating historical tour through the political events leading up to and surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Lots of interesting stories (some pretty gruesome ones though)surrounding the prominent first century political personages and parties. Herod the Great and his son, Herod Antipas, received quite detailed and interesting treatments perhaps to provide the contrasting backdrop against which we see the emergence of Jesus' gentle and compassionate rule.
The book successfully disabuses one of any a-political or other-worldly conception of what Jesus came to do and proclaim. Indeed, the kingdom of God, which is the central message of Jesus, is charged with unmistakable political overtone and the first century audience would have not missed the implicit challenge of Jesus' claims of Messiahship against the powers that be - be it the Herods, the Jewish temple establishment or Caesar. Yet, the kingship of Jesus is so unlike anything in the world that it effectually turns the worldly systems of power and domination upside down.
One small shortcoming of Storkey's conception of God's kingdom, if i should nitpick a little, is that while trying to steer clear from the coercive model of worldly politics, Storkey's kingdom of God at times sounds little more than a voluntary club, where individual choice reigns supreme. Surely, the enthronement of Jesus the King issues more than a polite invitation. It is rather more like an authoritative summons: 'Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth, down on your knees!'
Though this book does not delve deep, as one might wish, into the complexities of how the politics of Jesus actually works out in our contemporary world - e.g. issues of state-church relation, forms of government, just war theory and pacifism, pluralism and political toleration and so on, it lays out a basic groundwork for further critical reflections on these knotty and complex issues. His chapter on the taxation issue could be a starting point and model of how Jesus' political approach would subvert the worldly systems.
However, even if political theory is not what one is after, this book is still a boon for bible readers, teachers and pastors as it serves as a highly enlightening account of Jesus' political milieu, which makes sense of everything we read about in the gospels. For many like me who have been reading the bible for decades with only a passing regard for first century Jewish history and political struggles, one will get the exhilarating sense that this book presents in Philip Yancey's words 'the Jesus I never knew'! Comment | Permalink
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Evangelicals and Tradition: The Formative Influence of the Early Church (Evangelical Ressourcement: Ancient Sources for the Church's Future)
by D. H. Williams
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A good primer for evangelicals' foray into the Patristics, May 21, 2009
Putting it simply, this is a book written primarily for Evangelicals showing us how to embrace Tradition (which Williams more or less limits to the Patristic consensus of the first five centuries) without shedding our Protestant identity. Catholics may benefit as well by understanding the place of tradition from the Protestants' perspective. Williams admits at the outset that this book was in part a response to his learned Catholic friend's remark that 'to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant.' The knee-jerk reaction of most Protestants I know when invited to consider what the early church fathers have to say was to shy away and cling on to a narrow understanding of sola scriptura or to suspect one of flirting with the Roman Catholic dual-source theory of authority where the Bible and Tradition stand on equal footing. DH Williams attempts to address these, in his view, unfounded fears by arguing how the canonization of Scriptures themselves grew out of the context of the patristic church that was guided by its liturgy, oral tradition, the rule of faith as well as a somewhat loose and unsettled canon of texts. The relationship between Scripture and Tradition is not a combative one but complementary. On the other hand, neither is there any suggestion that the fathers are infallible, monolithic or on par with apostolic authority. In fact, given the variegated and sometimes eccentric nature of the early fathers' writings, one might respond with a certain degree of healthy skepticism as to how consensual really was their 'consensus' but Williams' point is well taken that we modern readers should at least take their interpretation of the sacred Scriptures seriously, given their proximity to the apostolic source.
Attention is also given to other obstacles that Protestants might have in reading the fathers such as the modern suspicion towards the fathers' penchant for allegorical interpretation, how the Protestants' sine qua non of 'justification by faith' stands up in the face of the Patristics (and vice versa), the issue of sola scriptura and so on. In all, the author puts together quite a good case in addressing theses concerns. It certainly is not the last word on the subject and is open to challenge and inquiry on several fronts. Nonetheless, his is an important voice in the ongoing conversation.
Finally, it ends with a chapter that tantalizes us with a sampling (rather limited though) of the fathers' words which showcases the spiritual depth and apostolic faithfulness that emerges from that era. The reading list appended is also quite useful as an introduction to the vast literary and spiritual reservoir of the early church fathers.
I am especially struck by his favorable reference to JI Packer, one of evangelicalism's stalwarts, who 'declares that the Reformation is over, by which he means that the forging of our Protestant identity should no longer be done in the furnace of heated anti-Catholicism.' Wow! What a great time to be a Christian! - i thought. Yet, the realist side of me still cringes at the fundamentalists' die-hard cry that the battle is far from over. But I remain hopeful for better days to come and am immensely thankful for such a project as the Evangelical Ressourcement series that points us to such a rich fountainhead of the Christian tradition. Comment | Permalink
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The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind--A New Perspective on Christ and His Message
by Cynthia Bourgeault
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Brilliant but quite misguided IMO, May 13, 2009
Cynthia Bourgeault is without a doubt a spiritually sensitive, exceptionally bright and articulate writer. Her Wisdom Jesus contains more than a few nuggets of deep wisdom indeed and helps us to develop an ear to some deep insights into Jesus' words and deeds. But she might have overdone her 'pushing the metaphysical envelope' and overturning of the traditions way too far. I am rather surprised at several points in the book where she not only attempts to subvert creedal formulations, she seems to stand above the canonical interpretations of Jesus as well (including those of the apostles Paul and John!). So I wonder what vantage point does she stand on that enables her to critique the canonical writers and opt for non-canonical sources instead as the more reliable authority for showing us who the real Jesus is.
Then I realize that it has to do with what she calls 'the inner certainty and sovereignty that comes out of direct knowingness'(paraphrased). While it may well be true that there probably are vestiges of the 'imago dei' within us after the Fall that are capable of apprehending the numinous, the author has not quite grappled with what the prophet Jeremiah calls 'the deceitfulness of the human heart'. Certainly, the doctrine of 'total depravity' and 'original sin' may have hardened into harsh dogmas in some fundamentalist circles, however, the reactionary swing to an almost unquestioning acceptance of one's inner (mystical) authority is equally unwise.
Christian readers may get past the anachronistic and extraneous terminology such as 'Jesus the tantric master', 'binary/egoic operating system', 'ihidaya' in relation to the very Jewish Jesus, etc with a fair amount of generous orthodoxy, but her assertion that 'Jesus came first and foremost as a wisdom teacher that sought to transform human consciousness' is way over the top. Such a wisdom teacher would hardly need to be put away by the political powers, much less crucified. In her reading 'the Kingdom of God' is reduced to what goes on in the interior consciousness of an individual and thus stripped of any political and cosmic overtone, which a careful reading of the NT texts would actually bear out.
There are solid gems of wisdom no doubt in her writing as we would also find in other religions that one can benefit from, but it is likely that the author has drunk too deeply into the mixed streams of Eastern religions as well as the non-canonical 'Christian' sources (Nag Hammadi) for her reading of Jesus to fairly represent the Jesus of Nazareth. This is another example of how Jesus can be made to fit into any mold we construct when the cultural, historical context - especially the Jewishness - of the Christ event is not taken seriously enough.
Perhaps, hers is an attempt at reading what mystics call the 'anagogical sense' of Scriptures which in itself can be a profitable enterprise, but let's not call it 'Jesus in context' by any means as she does. A healthy dose of a serious historical study of Jesus such as 'Jesus Quest' and 'Jesus the Sage' by Ben Witherington or 'The Challenge of Jesus' and 'Jesus and the Victory of God' by Tom Wright would be a needed corrective. Comments (4) | Permalink | Most recent comment: Jul 14, 2009 10:08 PM PDT
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Orthodoxy
by Gilbert K. Chesterton
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packed with witty logic and childlike wonder!, March 8, 2009
Indeed there is no one like G.K. in our generation though there are not a few who have been nourished by his poetic brilliance and second naivete. His sentences are packed full of witty logic that teases our minds to active thought. If one simply reads it like a text book trying to reproduce the arguments later, it will not do the text justice. It is the sort of book that provokes you to think rather than does the thinking for you.
The book has many memorable quotes and they jump out at you every now and then when one engages other books that deal with similar subjects as explored here - creeds, apologetics, orthodoxy, rationality, myths, etc. Recently there has been a rehash of some old charges at Christianity for being too meek on the one hand (as in 'turn the other cheek') and too violent on the other (the Crusades, witch hunt, etc), I'm once again reminded of Chesterton's poignant remark that the critics are often shooting from both sides of the mouth and end up totally incoherent. 'What if the reason why we find the man in question (ie. Jesus) either too thin or fat is because he is of the right shape, and we are the odd ones?' quips GK. The point is that the Christian faith is so richly textured and paradoxed that it could not have been invented by mere logic. It is so intricately shaped as the key to the world's many faceted-questions and mysteries. G.K. makes the Christian creeds come alive as a rich and life-changing narrative that renders all heresies thin, fluffy and dull by comparison indeed!
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The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
by Henri J. M. Nouwen
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An indepth and evocative reflection on the story of the prodigal sons and the compassionate father, March 5, 2009
This book lends itself to the spirit of Lent and serves well as a study resource for this season of healing and repentance. Here we have the genius of Rembrandt and Nouwen put together as they retell with their own lives the Return of the Prodigal Son, or better still, the Welcome of the Compassionate Father. It is a call to the 'inner sanctuary' where we hear God's gentle whisper 'you are my beloved son, on whom my favour rests.' Like the prodigal sons - younger and elder - we often 'leave home' to find our own way of proving our own worth. In doing so, we cut ourselves off from the Father, who requires no such posturing from us, and get entangled in the destructive web of addictions in the world.
God loves us no matter what and there's nothing we can do to make him love us more or love us less. This is the fundamental basis of our lives as children of God. This is so basic and yet we often miss it and allow it to be smothered by the loud and seductive voices of the world to push ahead of the others, to win adulations and applause and to prove that we are worth something in a way that others are'nt. Reading this book is a way back to the Father as we hear his voice calling repeatedly to us 'You are my beloved child - always! Would you come home? Would you join in the celebration?'
Yet, the reflection does not end with the sons. Nouwen was prompted by a friend who told him, 'whether you are the younger son or the elder son, you have to realize that you are callled to become the father.' This points us to a greater truth of the story: the central character is indeed the father who loves without asking to be loved in return and whose compassion is without limits. Comment | Permalink
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The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
by Lee Strobel
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A solid case for the historical evidence for Christ, February 28, 2009
This is a great entry-level book of Christian apologetics/evidences that introduces us to what some of the experts have to say about the state of evidence for Jesus' claim to be the Christ ie. the anointed Saviour of the world. Strobel, a journalist who sought out to disprove the case of Christianity on the basis of the evidence (documentary, archaeological, biblical, theological and medical)ended up on the weight of the evidence a believer. Of course, not everyone will agree with the way he builds up his case and some may point out ways in which he may have been biased by his own proclivity to Christian belief. But, the nature of faith as such whether held by a theist or an atheist will always be conditioned by subjective human will and judgement. So the charge of biasness kind of misses the point.
Yet, the book does provide a good ground for consideration for anyone looking for a face value presentation of the currently available historical data that bolsters the Christian claims and it will not be an exaggeration that by a reasonable historical standard, it is very compelling. For example, it takes more faith to believe that Alexander the Great existed and was a great Greek Conqueror than to believe in the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth and his Messianic claims on the strength of the historical records since the accounts of Jesus were written by people who were contemporary to the eye-witnesses compared to the extant biographies of Alexander composed more than six hundred years after his death.
What I also appreciate about the book is that it introduces us to some of the leading spokesmen for Christianity who have brought their respective specialties to bear on the task of commending the Christian faith to serious inquirers, not least Ben Witherington, Craig Blomberg, Bruce Metzger, Greg Boyd and Don Carson, who are outstanding scholars in their own rights. A condensed summary of the some of the strongest arguments for Christianity that one finds in this book alone is worth the price of this relatively inexpensive book. Lee Strobel is to be commended for his brilliant and courageous way of presenting his case for Christ to the public even if one goes away unconvinced. I think, however, it is a book that at least shows that one owes himself a chance in his lifetime to listen to what some of the current experts have to say about this one unique person who without a doubt have influenced the world more than anyone else throughout history. For believers who have been practising their faith without the need for 'signs' or 'evidence', they will be delighted and encouraged to find out that even the rocks have a way of crying out the name of their Messiah! Comment | Permalink
