 Sublime!,
This review is from: Pentecostal Ecclesiology: An Essay on the Development of Doctrine (Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series) (Paperback)
This is Simon Chan's second monograph in the JPTS series, expanding on his earlier work in developing a sound theology on the movement's distinctive contributions to the Church's understanding and experience of the the Holy Spirit. Though admittedly not a full-blown treatment on Pentecostal ecclesiology, Chan moves the ongoing conversation forward by focusing on the vital linkage between the Spirit and the Church.He believes that the theologizing so far on the Pentecostal distinctives (eg. glossolalia as initial evidence of Spirit baptism, that is subsequent to and distinct from new birth in Christ) within the confines of the evangelical umbrella is too limiting. It has tended to blunt the edge of the Pentecostal contribution and does not do justice to her experience of the Spirit. A better way forward is to look instead to the older tradition of Orthodox theology. Drawing from the seminal writings of Schmemann, Zizioulas, Lossky, Nissiotis and others, he proposes an ecclesio-centered theology (dubbed the Orthodox view) rather than a creation-centered view of evangelical theology, as the framework for understanding the unique Pentecostal experience. This means that communion is understood as the heart of what the Church as a divine-human reality is about. It is communion that the Spirit seeks to actualize in and through the Church. This communion is the overflow (or 'eternal fruitfulness') of the trinitarian life that expresses itself through the particular story of God's outreach to the world through his covenant people. It begins with God's election and reaches its fulfillment in the two sendings, of the Son and of the Spirit. It is the Christ event that is 'the fulcrum upon which the trinitarian narrative turns' and makes possible the communion of the Spirit. But, whereas evangelical theology tends to subsume the Pentecostal outpouring under the Christ event and fails to take sufficient account of the Spirit event, Chan proposes that it is the latter that has provisionally ushered in the end by embodying the end-goal of the Trinitarian narrative. On Pentecost, the Spirit has come to indwell the church and constitute the church as the body of Christ and the temple of the Spirit. The church is understood not merely as an instrument of God's work in redeeming the world but is herself the goal. IOW, it is God's intent to make the world the church, the 'universal communion of saints', to enable human and non-human creatures to exist in communion with God in their respective capacities. This is what he means when he says 'mission is more than what the church *does* but what the church *is* .' The upshot of this way of understanding the biblical narrative is fleshed out in the last two chapters, where Chan discusses the sort of people the Spirit event is fashioning through her core practices: holy, communal, missional and divine as well as human. This process is more akin to the Orthodox concept of deification than the Protestant doctrine of sanctification. The emphasis is not merely on moral transformation but on sharing in the divine nature, that can only be brought about by the Spirit via the synergy of uncreated grace and human cooperation. Chan reiterates his position here on glossolalia as something to be understood in terms of intimacy with God and receptivity to God's embrace. It is a form of babyish speech response to the overwhelming presence of God. He roots it in the Christian mystical tradition that seeks personal union with God than in the primal experiences of other religions that serve a different worldview. It belongs to the full gospel espoused by classical Pentecostals centering on Jesus as Saviour, Sanctifier, Spirit-baptiser, Healer and King. It is personal relationship with this Jesus that Pentecostals have been emboldened to share! Finally, he teases out the growing pentecostal instincts for episcopacy, liturgy and sacrament- all of which can be nourished by the rich 'structural' resources in Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy on the other hand can be rejuvenated by the Pentecostal 'technicians' who are already conversant with the surprising works of the Spirit. If all these sound rather theoretical, Chan points to some contemporary movements where these ideas are already being put to the test with promising results not least in what is known as the 'convergence movement'. This is a book of true ecumenical import that does not sacrifice the particularity of the gospel for the sake of some abstract notions of inclusiveness (eg Amos Yong's pneumatology) or universality (Pannikar's Cosmic Christ). Without losing its bearing in the Trinitarian story, Chan shows us a way in which the protracted divisions of the larger Church should at long last be healed. That can only happen when the Spirit is allowed to 'take what's Christ's and reveal it to us' and then to 'show us what is yet to come', to the praise of his glory! | ||||||||||||||||
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| Insightful and highly readable!,
This review is from: The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Paperback)
I confess that I am not exactly a great fan of (most) bible commentaries much as I love reading the bible. The need to interpret the bible aright necessitates my going to good commentaries for background info and the pool of scholarly opinions. As such, reading bible commentaries often feels like consulting encyclopedias or some such reference books - one entry at a time. But not with Ben Witherington's socio-rhetorical commentaries! This creative writer exemplifies how bible commentaries should be written, not merely to inform but to bring the inspired, ancient texts to life! At once informative, interpretive and inspiring, the book offers much fodder to chew on as well as for sharing with others. But lest anyone thinks this book belongs to the glut of 'application-driven' lightweight devotional commentaries out there, this book represents a solid scholarly treatment of the pertinent issues that attend to interpreting the biblical text, in this case the gospel according to Mark.Witherington sees the gospel of Mark as an ancient biography of Jesus with a special focus on the passion narrative. The over-riding question behind Mark's account is: Who is Jesus? Mark may not be as polished in the Greek language as the other NT writers but his masterful use of literary devices such as chiasm, intercalation, strategically placed questions and so on sets him apart as a powerful communicator. In Mark, you also see many of the rough edges of Jesus' words preserved, which led many scholars to place this gospel earliest among the others. There are many such observations made in the commentary that illuminate our reading of this particular telling of the good news and help us hear the distinctive voice of Mark as he presents the Son of God to non-Jewish readers. Witherington gives his own translation of the Greek text which is often refreshing. For example the translation of 'basileia tou theou' as the 'dominion of God' helps one see the words and deeds of Jesus - the kingdom parables as well as the healings and exorcisms in the light of the inbreaking of God's reign in the world. For a reader like me with only a sophomoric grasp of Greek, the translation provides a unique angle for understanding such familiar biblical metaphors afresh. Included in the commentary are excursus where the good professor treats us to some insights into special topics of interest (eg the temple in first century Judaism, the controversial Olivet discourse in Mk 13, etc) These are neatly bracketed for those interested in these subject matters without interrupting the flow of the textual commentary. I also appreciate the section 'bridging the horizons' where Witherington masterfully draws the different strands of the foregoing pericopes together and help readers connect the message of Mark to the contemporary world. I have not exhausted the merits of this commentary but I just want to say I like it a lot and it's one of very few bible commentaries I can read from cover to cover 400 plus pages notwithstanding! | ||||||||||||||||
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| A high water mark!,
This review is from: Down in the River to Pray: Revisioning Baptism as God's Transforming Work (Paperback)
'Baptism is more important than you think but not for the reasons you suppose', the opening statement in the preface, sums up the central thesis of the book. I think this book sets a high water mark for a clear substantive treatment of the subject of water baptism from the believers' baptism perspective. Treated as 'a line in the sand' that defines who is in and who is out, the blessed sacrament has often been turned into a point of fierce, even violent contentions throughout some of the scandalous streams of church history. Written from within the Restoration movement that has often been charged for majoring in the form and minoring in the substance, this book steers us clear from all the hang-ups over the mechanics and legal technicalities and advances instead our understanding of the transforming power of the initiation rite. It helps us revision baptism as 'a means of grace' where God's work is primary, even as it takes place through human cooperation. It helps us see baptism as not simply a once-off event that gets you saved but the distinguishing mark that sets the recurring pattern of our daily dying and rising with Christ.John Mark Hicks and Greg Taylor take us through the historical, biblical and theological considerations of the subject and have produced a fine piece of writing that attempts to clear up much of the confusions that have muddied the water. I don't remember reading anything on baptism that is as clear, thorough, and solid on baptism as this. Reading it is like having your mind washed in the river once again and rediscovering the original intent for which the command was given. Written from a firm credo-baptist position (only believers should be baptized; babies need not apply - if I can put it that way) it may not be convincing to those from a pedobaptist persuasion but its treatment of the alternative understanding and practices in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions is even handed and respectful. As a credo baptist myself, I closed the book with a deeper appreciation of the biblical and theological basis for taking the conscious plunge of faith without delay. I also went away appreciating why other Christian traditions do it differently. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Excellent guide for spiritual retreat,
This review is from: The Ways of the Spirit (Paperback)
This posthumous publication of Underhill's retreat addresses which she gave at 4 different spiritual retreats is a great legacy from this remarkable Anglican mystical teacher of the last century. Contained herein are profound meditations of God who is the 'first term' of our spiritual thoughts and living. For he is the one from whom we come, the one to whom we belong and the one for whom we are destined. Underhill sets our minds on the glorious character of God reflected in his generosity, charity and grace. Throughout these addresses she reminds us to be still and fill our minds with glorious thoughts of God. She invites us to consider in the light of God's gracious nature our true calling - the end for which we were made. She reminds us that worship comes first then service and mission. If we reverse the order then 'all sense of proportions goes.' As Jesus sets the supreme example himself in praying 'for their sake I sanctify myself', we too need to seek the grace without which we have nothing to offer others. Her meditations on the fruits of the spiritual life : love, joy, peace - the first three in Paul's list in Gal 5 - are an excellent reminder of the transforming power of the Spirit as we cooperate with his work in our lives.Having led the retreatants through periods of solitude and silence she left them with the questions for self-examination such as : What have I done for Christ? What am I doing ? What ought I to do? These are fruitful questions for any disciple of Christ to ponder as we take seriously what it means to follow Christ. Underhill's thoughts will continue to strike a wonderful chord for Christians seeking a deeper life in the Spirit today as she invites us to set aside time to give our undivided attention to God. She recommends that an annual personal retreat where one goes one on one with God for a couple of days is a must for the clergy. I cannot agree more and would say the same for everyone who seeks to let God be God in their lives. Evelyn Underhill's prose is so beautiful and inspiring that I savor it word for word over and over again. Brame's introduction also provides a glimpse into the life of this remarkable Christian lady who has done much to connect us with the contemplative dimension of the Christian life. | ||||||||||||||||
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 A scientific approach to marathon training,
This review is from: Run for Your Life!: The Complete Marathon Guide (Paperback)
I am a recreational marathon runner that averages a slow 6hrs finishing time for a full marathon. Running for me is not something to be endured but enjoyed. Ben Tan's book has not changed my my rather 'laid-back' outlook on running but his scientific approach to marathon training is a boost to my own practice runs introducing me to the world of running with its own set of language and philosophy. Endurance run is a combination of both mind and body. As such, an intelligent way to train not only keeps one from injury and improves one's performance, it makes running an art form. This book covers the various aspects of marathon training from sports physiology, nutrition, training regimes (some combinations of base run, tempo run, fartlek and hill training), techniques, race strategy, visualization, recovery to running gear and just about everything you need to know about marathon running. The stories and quotes of his fellow runners among the who's who list of Singapore marathoners are inspiring and endearing. For those of us who cannot afford the time and commitment to engage a real-life coach, Ben Tan's 'Run for Life' may be the next best thing to guide and cheer you on as you take to pounding the pavement for your cardiovascular health and the sheer joy of crossing the 42k mark. | ||||||||||||||||
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Curl up on your bed and read.,
This review is from: The Importance Of Living (Paperback)
This is a humorous and delightful read. Written from a Chinese Taoist perspective, Lin Yutang regaled us with a leisurely look at life, dubbed the philosophy of loafing. With musings on a wide range of topics such as religions, physicality, family life , social etiquette, dress, philosophy, food, nature, travel, literature and the simple pleasures of life, he never fails to entertain with his brilliant use of words and the candid expressions of his personal take on what makes life fulfilling. I am a Christian reader and ironically find ready resonance with his appreciation of an embodied human life, the beauty of simplicity and the gratuitous realm of play. One cannot help compare his portrayal of the Taoist outlook with the Cynic (Greek) philosophy of Diogenes. While there are of course areas where I differ from Lin, especially the anemic version of Christianity he was exposed to, I find his writing bold, irenic and brilliant. I think if the Christian faith was to be embraced within the Chinese cultural context, this book offers valuable materials for reflection. It enhances both my appreciation for the best of Chinese philosophy and the Judeo-Christian practice of Sabbath when rightly understood. This book stands next to the likes of GK Chesterton in his humorous philosophizing. A book to savor on a reading vacation with your legs curled up on a bed like a perfect loafer. It will leave you refreshed and happily enlightened. | ||||||||||||||||
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Simply NTW,
This review is from: Tom Wright for Everyone - Putting the Theology of N.T. Wright Into Practice in the Local Church (Paperback)
Nicholas Tom Wright (NTW) is recognizably one of the most influential biblical theologians of our time. His fresh proposals for reading Jesus and Paul and some of the key biblical doctrines such as biblical authority, resurrection, eschatology, salvation, holiness and mission and so on have been nothing short of breathtaking. Yet, his proposals have also stirred up no small amount of storms among detractors on the one hand and a dismissive wave of the hand on the other. Stephen Kurht, a fellow British pastor seeks to help bridge the divide and coax people out of their nonchalance. Whether we agree with NTW or not, his is a voice we ignore at our own loss. Whether we lean towards the left or right of the age-old divide between liberals and conservatives, here is a thoughtful and serious scholar who might be charting a path beyond the old impasse in things biblical and controversial.So, Stephen Kurht takes us through some biographical materials concerning Wright as well as the questions raised by Kurht's own evangelical background and the key concepts of his theology in the first half of the book. It is presented in a very accessible way, and reads at times like an 'NTW for dummy' book. This is immensely helpful for those who have been raised up in a different paradigm in which the biblical terms are understood and for those who are lost sometimes with the wordiness that we find in Wright's own writings. Kuhrt himself of course may not agree with the latter comment, being a respectful and ardent fan himself, but frankly Kurht's clear, concise overview of Wright's thoughts will be much appreciated by those who need a handle in gaining access into NTW's prolific and sometimes dense writings. In the second half, using his own church as the ground for testing out Wright's theology, he shows us how his theology impacts, reshapes and even revamps the church's posture in its various contexts - pastoral, missional and sacramental. This is the part that i enjoy the most and i resonate with much of the challenges as well as rewards in commending NTW's vision to people who have been formed in a different way in their understanding of the christian hope and calling. Kurht also thoughtfully teases out the practical implications of Wright's theology that are not immediately obvious even to those who have a better grasp of his ideas. This is 'rubber meets the road' stuff. Would that more of such applied theology books be written to bridge the divide between serious scholarship and the daily walks of the ordinary followers of Christ. | ||||||||||||||||
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A helpful guide for the maturing Christian,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: On the Way: A Guide to Christian Spirituality (Paperback)
I find this book to be a useful framework for understanding Christian spirituality, understood in terms of three basic relational metaphors: living as a child of God, growing in our union with Christ and walking with the Spirit. This is portrayed as a journey from sickness to health, from infancy to maturity, from sin to righteousness. The gracious initiative of God'scall/summon is stressed as is the sufficiency of his grace. If Jesus is the living water who alone can quench our deep thirst for life, the spiritual disciplines are the cups with which we receive him.Smith brings us back to the fundamentals and issues a call to make growth in the spiritual life our ardent desire, for 'complacency is the deadly foe of all spiritual growth' (quoting Tozer). He takes the renewal of our mind as the starting point of spiritual transformation; learning to think Christianly and seeing things the way God sees them is what fundamentally orientates our whole life towards God, and away from sin. As the mind is both the birthing place for sin and holiness, the Christian must take great care in what he habitually feeds it with. Some characteristics of the Christian mind are discussed, aswell as the common temptations that beset it in modern times, such as the negative effects of TV. Next, he talks about inculcating the habit of daily encounter with God through prayers and worship, both personally and corporately. Some practical suggestions on structuring a consistent pattern of prayer are made. Addressing readers who are likely to be living a busy and harried life, he makes the poignant comment that preoccupation with things to do is one of the devil's chief tactics in keeping us from the one thing necessary - to be with God. Regular times with God cannot be overemphasized, no matter how difficult it seems to maintain it. Third, the Christian life finds expression in a specific, personal vocation. All vocations (except of course jobs that are incompatible with kingdom values) are kingdom vocations, as we bring the values of humility, generosity and integrity to bear on whatever we have been called to do, including the 'secular' jobs we do. This marks a welcome departure from the widespread view that tends to regard professional church ministries as more spiritual than work in the marketplace. Smith also discusses how we ought to view success in our vocation. He helpfully notes that while success is important, it is a relative value in the kingdom of God, so it is not guaranteed by God or something to be had at all costs. In fact God might use our failures and setbacks even more mightily than he uses our success. Fourth, he talks about the place of accountability in the context of Christian discipleship. In an age of self-help spirituality and individualism, Smith helpfully commends spiritual direction as a discipline that will keep us honest in our seeking to hear God. He also acknowledges the practical difficulty of sometimes finding an older, wiser Christian with whom one is comfortable and skilled in giving guidance, so he also considers alternative forms of accountability such as in spiritual friendships and inter-generational relationships. Lastly, he discusses recreation as a serious discipline that anticipates the new heaven and new earth, when everything will be put right. In Sabbath-keeping, we are expressing the confidence that the future is assured and has in one sense come into the present. This puts the whole rigorous but rewarding journey of faith into an eternal and joy-filled perspective. So, with these five elements of the Christian life, he commends to us a basic model with which to grow intentionally in our relationship with God. Written in a clear, straightforward style, it presents a concise and balanced introductory guide for serious disciples of Christ to grow into Christ-like maturity. | ||||||||||||||||
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Amazon Reviews 12
Amazon Reviews 11
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Simply NTW, This review is from: Tom Wright for Everyone - Putting the Theology of N.T. Wright Into Practice in the Local Church (Paperback)
Nicholas Tom Wright (NTW) is recognizably one of the most influential biblical theologians of our time. His fresh proposals for reading Jesus and Paul and some of the key biblical doctrines such as biblical authority, resurrection, eschatology, salvation, holiness and mission and so on have been nothing short of breathtaking. Yet, his proposals have also stirred up no small amount of storms among detractors on the one hand and a dismissive wave of the hand on the other. Stephen Kurht, a fellow British pastor seeks to help bridge the divide and coax people out of their nonchalance. Whether we agree with NTW or not, his is a voice we ignore at our own loss. Whether we lean towards the left or right of the age-old divide between liberals and conservatives, here is a thoughtful and serious scholar who might be charting a path beyond the old impasse in things biblical and controversial.
So, Stephen Kurht takes us through some biographical materials concerning Wright as well as the questions raised by Kurht's own evangelical background and the key concepts of his theology in the first half of the book. It is presented in a very accessible way, and reads at times like an 'NTW for dummy' book. This is immensely helpful for those who have been raised up in a different paradigm in which the biblical terms are understood and for those who are lost sometimes with the wordiness that we find in Wright's own writings. Kuhrt himself of course may not agree with the latter comment, being a respectful and ardent fan himself, but frankly Kurht's clear, concise overview of Wright's thoughts will be much appreciated by those who need a handle in gaining access into NTW's prolific and sometimes dense writings.
In the second half, using his own church as the ground for testing out Wright's theology, he shows us how his theology impacts, reshapes and even revamps the church's posture in its various contexts - pastoral, missional and sacramental. This is the part that i enjoy the most and i resonate with much of the challenges as well as rewards in commending NTW's vision to people who have been formed in a different way in their understanding of the christian hope and calling. Kurht also thoughtfully teases out the practical implications of Wright's theology that are not immediately obvious even to those who have a better grasp of his ideas. This is 'rubber meets the road' stuff. Would that more of such applied theology books be written to bridge the divide between serious scholarship and the daily walks of the ordinary followers of Christ.
Amazon reviews
Sublime!, This review is from: Pentecostal Ecclesiology: An Essay on the Development of Doctrine (Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series) (Paperback)
This is Simon Chan's second monograph in the JPTS series, expanding on his earlier work in developing a sound theology on the movement's distinctive contributions to the Church's understanding and experience of the the Holy Spirit. Though admittedly not a full-blown treatment on Pentecostal ecclesiology, Chan moves the ongoing conversation forward by focusing on the vital linkage between the Spirit and the Church.
He believes that the theologizing so far on the Pentecostal distinctives (eg. glossolalia as initial evidence of Spirit baptism, that is subsequent to and distinct from new birth in Christ) within the confines of the evangelical umbrella is too limiting. It has tended to blunt the edge of the Pentecostal contribution and does not do justice to her experience of the Spirit. A better way forward is to look instead to the older tradition of Orthodox theology. Drawing from the seminal writings of Schmemann, Zizioulas, Lossky, Nissiotis and others, he proposes an ecclesio-centered theology (dubbed the Orthodox view) rather than a creation-centered view of evangelical theology, as the framework for understanding the unique Pentecostal experience.
This means that communion is understood as the heart of what the Church as a divine-human reality is about. It is communion that the Spirit seeks to actualize in and through the Church. This communion is the overflow (or 'eternal fruitfulness') of the trinitarian life that expresses itself through the particular story of God's outreach to the world through his covenant people. It begins with God's election and reaches its fulfillment in the two sendings, of the Son and of the Spirit. It is the Christ event that is 'the fulcrum upon which the trinitarian narrative turns' and makes possible the communion of the Spirit. But, whereas evangelical theology tends to subsume the Pentecostal outpouring under the Christ event and fails to take sufficient account of the Spirit event, Chan proposes that it is the latter that has provisionally ushered in the end by embodying the end-goal of the Trinitarian narrative. On Pentecost, the Spirit has come to indwell the church and constitute the church as the body of Christ and the temple of the Spirit. The church is understood not merely as an instrument of God's work in redeeming the world but is herself the goal. IOW, it is God's intent to make the world the church, the 'universal communion of saints', to enable human and non-human creatures to exist in communion with God in their respective capacities. This is what he means when he says 'mission is more than what the church *does* but what the church *is* .'
The upshot of this way of understanding the biblical narrative is fleshed out in the last two chapters, where Chan discusses the sort of people the Spirit event is fashioning through her core practices: holy, communal, missional and divine as well as human. This process is more akin to the Orthodox concept of deification than the Protestant doctrine of sanctification. The emphasis is not merely on moral transformation but on sharing in the divine nature, that can only be brought about by the Spirit via the synergy of uncreated grace and human cooperation.
Chan reiterates his position here on glossolalia as something to be understood in terms of intimacy with God and receptivity to God's embrace. It is a form of babyish speech response to the overwhelming presence of God. He roots it in the Christian mystical tradition that seeks personal union with God than in the primal experiences of other religions that serve a different worldview. It belongs to the full gospel espoused by classical Pentecostals centering on Jesus as Saviour, Sanctifier, Spirit-baptiser, Healer and King. It is personal relationship with this Jesus that Pentecostals have been emboldened to share!
Finally, he teases out the growing pentecostal instincts for episcopacy, liturgy and sacrament- all of which can be nourished by the rich 'structural' resources in Orthodoxy. Orthodoxy on the other hand can be rejuvenated by the Pentecostal 'technicians' who are already conversant with the surprising works of the Spirit. If all these sound rather theoretical, Chan points to some contemporary movements where these ideas are already being put to the test with promising results not least in what is known as the 'convergence movement'.
This is a book of true ecumenical import that does not sacrifice the particularity of the gospel for the sake of some abstract notions of inclusiveness (eg Amos Yong's pneumatology) or universality (Pannikar's Cosmic Christ). Without losing its bearing in the Trinitarian story, Chan shows us a way in which the protracted divisions of the larger Church should at long last be healed. That can only happen when the Spirit is allowed to 'take what's Christ's and reveal it to us' and then to 'show us what is yet to come', to the praise of his glory!
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