The King Jesus Gospel by Scott McKnight

This is a good book for those who still believe the Gospel is just abut getting me to heaven.

Based on a rather imaginative elaboration of Paul’ statement in 1.Cor. 15, Scott McKnight argues that the Gospel is in fact God’s story with Israel, culminating in the story of Jesus, who fulfilled his plan. The story goes back to the creation and man’s God-given mandate to rule the world for God the King. At various stages, Adam, Abraham, Moses, David and the prophets failed to accomplish this task. We all end up as usurpers.

The final point of this Gospel is the promise of new creation as previewed by Jesus’ resurrection. We, his followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are now called to practise this gospel culture, which means fostering the kingship of Jesus.

The message is valid. God wants us to see the full scope of His love for the world and live accordingly, and not just concentrate on launching souls into heaven. But I didn’t really like the style. Unnecessary repetition, convoluted argument and – for a study on the meaning of a word like Gospel – too much sloppy and sensational formulation for the sake of sounding cool.

(Read with Kindle)

Creative Suffering by Paul Tournier

I’ve gone for an oldie again: a 30-year old book by Genevan doctor Paul Tournier. He’s a bit exasperating at times, because he lets himself get side-tracked and thinks laterally. But he has a great deal of experience through listening to countless patients and has acquired a lot of wisdom. Tournier made a name for himself through the book La médecine de la personne (1940), in which he takes a holistic approach to treating illness, recognising earlier than most the supremely important interplay of body, psyche, environment, counselling, etc. in the process of recovery or degeneration of a malady.
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Chrislam? Christian Palestinianism?

A one-time dear friend of mine sent me the following links as “must watch!” They make me weep inwardly.

1. Christian Palestinianism from the 2011 Berean Call Conference

Paul Wilkinson is a soft-spoken, gentle young English junior pastor of a small Church near Manchester. His voice and attitude is very compelling (although speaking in the US and dressed for the part). He seems sincere and humble, genuinely convinced of his position. Continue reading “Chrislam? Christian Palestinianism?”

The Radical Disciple by John Stott

How refreshing to read a compact, no nonsense book in which the great Bible teacher/apologist – I remember him well from my student days in London – “considers eight characteristics of Christian discipleship which are often neglected and yet deserve to be taken seriously.”

John Stott makes no attempt to be sensational and refrains from embellishing his text with exciting anecdotes. Instead he delves deep, facing hard truths honestly, while presenting his message succinctly and clearly.

His eight topics are the following: Continue reading “The Radical Disciple by John Stott”

Love Wins: At the Heart of Life’s Big Questions by Rob Bell

A brave book, shocking for traditional Evangelicals! Rob Bell dares to question our understanding of God, heaven, hell.

This is ’empirical theology’, picking out impressions of God’s character and plan from the Bible, rather than expounding specific passages. In fact, he points out that by emphasizing specific pet texts many believers end up with a very lop-sided view of God and the Gospel (and others with a different but equally lop-sided view; see p. 16f). Continue reading “Love Wins: At the Heart of Life’s Big Questions by Rob Bell”

Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in Twelve Simple Words by Brian McLaren

A good, honest, inspirational book. Brian McLaren dares to face the real struggles involved in experiencing God in daily life and cultivating a vital relationship with him.

The first parts (Spring and Summer) made sense for me, the rest resonated less. I had the impression the latter chapters floundered a bit, trying to discover a pattern out of individual experiences (his and others’) and not succeeding so well. Continue reading “Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in Twelve Simple Words by Brian McLaren”

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, by Shane Claiborne

A very unusual book, disturbingly radical, but gentle and optimistic. Not a logically developed idea but a collection of thoughts, experiences and stories expounding the idea that Jesus really is advocating a totally different way of living – scorning fame, riches, success – in this crazy, corrupt world. Community, renunciation and sharing for the sake of the needy, justice, caring for the creation, loving the unlovely, humility wrt Church and political leaders, and much fun – these are Shane’s vision.

The Greatest Show on Earth: Richard Dawkins

Subtitle: The evidence for evolution

A sad book – extremely prejudiced and bitterly derisive of all believers. His way of interpreting a variety of interesting scientific phenomena could support evolution, but ‘evidence’ in the sense of proof it is not. Continue reading “The Greatest Show on Earth: Richard Dawkins”

Was sind denn diese Kirchen… noch? von Heinzpeter Hempelmann

Heinzpeter Hempelmann versteht den philosophischen Wandel von der Moderne zur Postmoderne sehr gut. Gründlich analysiert er die jeweiligen Annahmen, Auswirkungen, und Streitpunkte. Der Untertitel “Christlicher Wahrheitsanspruch vor den Provokationen der Postmoderne” macht aber klar, dass es ihm um mehr als reine Analyse geht. Die Postmoderne stellt die christliche Sicht der Dinge in Frage, und er will sie plausibel verteidigen, was sehr schwierig ist in einer Welt, die die Idee von Wahrheit und den Wert rationales Denkens verworfen hat. Continue reading “Was sind denn diese Kirchen… noch? von Heinzpeter Hempelmann”

Warum Christ sein Sinn macht, von Tom Wright

Rezension

Das Buch zeigt eine frische Sicht des christlichen Glaubens auf, sehr auf Jesus zentriert aber auch mit einer Betonung die Wiedererstellung dieser physikalischen Welt, angefangen mit der Auferstehung Jesu. Das alles hat praktische Auswirkungen hier und jetzt für die Nachfolger Jesu, wie sie mit ihren Mitmenschen umgehen und sich für Gerechtigkeit, eine gesunde Gesellschaft und Kunst in allen Formen einsetzen sollen, und nicht nur für eine schleierhafte zukünftige geistliche Existenz nach dem Tod.

Hauptpunkte

Echos einer Stimme

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