Reviews - Christian Theist In A Postmodern World - Theology for a Postmodern World

Review of Divine Discourse by Nicholas Wolterstorff

In Divine Discourse, Wolterstorff offers a series of arguments to defend his major conclusion that God still speaks today through Scripture! In order to hear God speaking, however, Christians should reformulate the relation of the Bible and divine revelation. For him, the best way to comprehend the Bible is through divine discourse and not necessarily divine revelation. Let’s begin clarifying the phrase ‘propositional revelation’ Wolterstorff refers to frequently. In a nutshell, propositional revelation refers to a non-manifestational revelation. That is, God does not self-reveal himself to humanity through powerful acts but through communication. It was through propositional revelation that God …

Review of The Nature of Doctrine by George Lindbeck

Based on his view of religion as a linguistic community, George Lindbeck’s The Nature of Doctrine calls Christians to pay heed to the integration of the Christian faith and secular scientific resources for the benefit of Christian ecumenical relations. In order to accomplish this task, Lindbeck wants to defend and propose a middle way to understand doctrine, its function, and nature. For him, the current state of affairs is very negative in terms of how people perceive Christian doctrines and dogmas. Lindbeck argues that doctrine should be understood as a linguistic system with its symbols and rules. With this suggestion, …

Review of By the Renewing of Your Minds by Ellen Charry

In Ellen Charry’s book By the Renewing of Your Minds she reclaims the pastoral role of Christian doctrines, once part of the theologian’s basic instruction, in the formation and development of our Christian life. The process of a cultivation of Christian virtues needs to be strengthened with theological content and not only with habits or repetitive actions. This is a very insightful claim that shapes the whole book through its chapters. If used rightly, Christian doctrine is an excellent means to nurture and discern one’s personal life and our communal life. Christian theology — patristic, medieval, or modern — serves …

Review of Embracing the Body by Tara Owens

Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone by Tara M. Owens. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2015. Pp. 254 pages. $17.00 softcover In her book, Embracing the Body: Finding God in Our Flesh and Bone, spiritual director Tara M. Owens deliberately focuses on the recovery of understanding the human being holistically in a culture that has traditionally seen the human body as negative and dangerous. Intended for a general readership, Embracing the Body is written in a simple and conversational style, yet provides a beautiful and thoughtful narrative. Overall, this book of thirteen chapters o ers readers both practical …

Review of Spiritual Guidance across Religions by John Mabry

Spiritual Guidance Across Religions: A Source for Spiritual Directors and Other Professionals Providing Counsel to People of Differing Faith Traditions by John R. Mabry, ed. Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Patch Publishing, 2014. Pp. 384 pages. $55.00 hardcover Let us begin with the following statement: Spiritual guidance is contextual. Often neglected in American culture, context in therapy, counseling, and spiritual care and direction is, nevertheless, of central importance. Paying much closer heed to the religious aspect in the context of pastoral care and direction, John R. Mabry has made a significant contribution to the field of spiritual guidance by editing the current …

Review of Toughest People to Love by Chuck DeGroat

Toughest People to Love: How to Understand, Lead, and Love the Difficult People in Your Life Including Yourself by Chuck DeGroat. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014. Pp. 177. $14.00 softcover. Toughest People to Love is a combination of pastoral care, church leadership, and psychological insight. Pastor and counselor Chuck DeGroat invites Christian leaders to see God “in the broken lives of people” (3) and to lead out of love rather than out of power and ulterior motives. He writes, “we lead from a posture of self-sacrificial love, the deep secret of God’s kingdom, instead of from a posture of competition, control, …

Review of The Cosmos and the Creator by David Fergusson

The Cosmos and the Creator: An Introduction to the Theology of Creation by David Fergusson, London: SPCK, 1998. Pp. 115. $23.99 softcover. The Cosmos and the Creator: An Introduction to the Theology of Creation is a collection of four essays based on the Cunningham Lectures given by Scottish theologian and Professor David A.S. Fergusson at the University of Edinburgh in 1996. Every chapter of the book represents an essay. In this book, Fergusson discusses the Christian doctrine of creation based on the failure of modern theoretical approaches to offer an adequate understanding of the God-world relation. In that regard he rightly states, “the …