Category: Book Review

Today I had the pleasure of being able to read a friend’s freshly published book on the practice of baptism within the Baptist church, and specifically the question of rebaptising people to conform with a membership requirement in the church. Ben first provides a historically grounded review of the situation surrounding baptismal practice within the wider Baptist ecclesiastical structures, before narrowing focus upon Australia, and then to the Baptist Union of NSW. Following this is a pastorally sensitive review of the pastoral, theological, hermeneutical and practical concerns around the practice of rebaptising Christians in order to enable church membership. Ben finally concludes by looking at different models of ecclesial membership available to the Baptist church, options which both protect the regenerate nature of the church, while opening the doors for the increasingly porous ecclesial boundaries found in a modern and post-modern world.

I think Ben makes good points throughout the book, but it is also helpful to address each section separately and highlight some questions and perhaps add to his argument in some places.

Firstly, in addressing the historical situation regarding baptism, Ben does a great job at highlighting the origins of the requirement for believers baptism in Puritan England as a sign that the church is set apart as a regenerate body. However, I believe that this section could be strengthened by addressing other methods of ensuring a regenerate church throughout the period. For example John Wesley’s system of ticketed membership, renewed every three months, had the same aim of ensuring the new communities remained regenerate in their very nature. The consideration of these other methods of determining membership would strengthen the final argument for a different membership system within the Baptist Union. Also some historical considerations regarding the Baptist predecessors, the European Anabaptists, would have strengthened the case for the maintenance of the Baptist Union as a separate regenerate body, rather than a superset layered on the State church, a-la early Wesleyanism. Nevertheless this historical background provides a good basis for the later arguments.

Secondly, the section on theological considerations wisely avoids most of the debate surrounding the intricate hermeneutics of Paedo- vs Creedo-baptism, and helpfully highlights some of the hermeneutical assumptions of the Baptist church that are more opaque to an outside audience. However, I think this section could be strengthened with a further consideration of the nature of the ecclesial community, and especially the covenantal overtones present within the sacrament of Baptism. I think this would strengthen Ben’s argument concerning re-baptism implying ‘a sort of second-class citizenship in the church'[ref]253/451[/ref]. In addition some more support for de-identifying with full immersion could have been found within several works including the Institutes (IV.15.19).

Finally, in the pastoral section Ben’s pastoral heart shines through, and here the great impetus of the book lies. Within this carefully structured argument Ben charts a course acknowledging the pastoral difficulties of church membership based on a specific implementation of the sacrament of Baptism, while also trying to remain faithful to the regenerate nature of the church. This course can be hard to chart, but I believe Ben does this with sensitivity to both concerns, without renouncing any incisiveness to effect change. This final chapter is full of astute recognitions of the visible and invisible church divide (to paraphrase Calvin), concretely applied to the issue of rebaptism; such as:

immersion does not equate to a regenerate church member. Immersion doesn’t prevent nominal members it just requires that members who are nominal be baptised.[ref]289/451[/ref]

and

Closed membership does not protect a regenerate membership as we have no means or rite by which one can judge the human heart, only God can know, beyond doubt, who belongs in the true church[ref]289/451[/ref]

Overall I think Ben has done a good job at stimulating what will hopefully be a respectful and fruitful conversation within the Baptist Union of NSW, and the Baptist church as a whole. However, in that vein the book is slightly parochial; focusing predominantly upon NSW and the local situation. Nevertheless it is a useful and stimulating book, especially for me as I continue to  consider baptismal issues for our forthcoming child, from a similar perspective of a doubly baptised (infant and adult) and confirmed person.

I award Ben’s short and insightful book Four out of Five Wet Regenerate Believers.

Ben’s book is available here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG2IEEQ

Clive Staples Lewis is arguably a household name for most of the Western world, despite his own predictions of obscurity within five years of his death. The almost larger than life person that is C.S. Lewis is now the topic of scholarly research, literature tours of Oxford and Cambridge, and even the topic of the Desiring God national conference in September. But what is it that makes this man from Ireland so appealing to such a wide range of audiences, both Christian and non-Christian alike? This new biography by Alister McGrath, perhaps better known for his writings on systematic theology, seeks to provide a non-hagiographic account of the life and work of Lewis.

McGrath provides a fresh approach to Lewis, as one who did not know him personally, but rather came to know the C.S. Lewis of his writings. This approach is combined with the recent publication by Walter Hooper of Lewis’ combined letters. Upon this new material McGrath brings his academic investigative mind to bear, and challenges some of the long held dates and orders of accounts of Lewis’ life. However, more fruitful than some of the seemingly pedantic quibbles over dating is the rich portrait of Lewis that emerges from McGrath’s analysis of both the man, and his writings. McGrath delves deeply into the letters between Lewis and his childhood friend Arthur Greeves, and uses these to shed light on other happenings in Lewis’ life. Through this the book helpfully fills out many gaps that have been left by prior biographies, including aspects of Lewis’ life that may appear to be idiosyncratic to a modern evangelical audience; such as his relationship with Mrs. Moore. McGrath does not attempt to hide some of the more eccentric aspects of Lewis’ character, although nor does he dwell on them any more than is needed.

In addition to the illumination that McGrath sheds upon Lewis’ life, he also equally illuminates the world of Lewis’ writings and storytelling in equal measure. From Lewis’ early attempts at poetry, through to his academic works on Milton’s Paradise Lost,  to the wartime writing of the scripts that would become Mere Christianity, on to the science-fiction such as Perelandra (the Space Trilogy), and his best known series: Narnia; McGrath helpfully sheds light on the background to each work and comments on the links that are sometimes tantalisingly below the surface. For example when describing the Space Trilogy the parallels with the anti-vivisection movement of the day are picked out, or when investigating the death of Aslan in Narnia, Lewis’ own views on the atonement are compared and highlighted. These links drawn from Lewis’ own written material are invaluable for anyone approaching Lewis from his literature.

Overall McGrath tracks Lewis’ life from his early years in Ireland, through his period of military service and then studies at Oxford, his eventual fellowship there, his writings, involvement with the Inklings, to his later life in Cambridge and finally his passing. The picture that is painted of Lewis is rich and detailed, not passing over the blemishes and imperfections, but also not dwelling upon them. It does not seek to deify the man that is C.S. Lewis, but instead is appropriately critical when needed. This biography provides a great apologia for C.S. Lewis in some areas, and suggests improvements for scholarship in others. McGrath writes engagingly and attractively, painting his picture of Lewis adeptly. C.S. Lewis: A Life is a great biography of the man, and one that is a brilliant read; one that perhaps can only be improved by reading it in the back room of the Eagle and Child.

I give it 4.5/5 stars

Over the summer I have had the great opportunity to get some reading done on topics that I don’t have enough time to read about during the rest of the busy year. One of my favourite reading topics tends to be history of various kinds, and in this case I have indulged myself by reading about one of the most controversial and sordid periods of the the Papacy: the rule of the Borgias.

In this narrative history of the period, Christopher Hibbert writes concerning the rise and ultimate fall of the family, stretching from the machinations of Rodrigo Borgia as a Cardinal in the 1450s, including the siring of his four children, to his assumed bribed election into the papacy, throughout his rule as Pope Alexander VI; including the legitimatising of his children and the various political and personal relationships therein. Then finally to his downfall in later life, and the eventual crumbling of his empire; with the book finishing after the death of Lucrezia in 1519.

This history of the period reads easily and flows well, guiding the reader through all the twists and turns of the debased state of the church and Rome in the 15th century; and the twists and turns are many. The multitude of strange deaths and stabbed bodies floating through the Tiber, various illegitimate offspring, and the infamous Ballet of the Chestnuts, all serve to illuminate the details surrounding the Borgia family. However, at the same time the intrigue in these twists and turns are ultimately the history’s downfall, with many historical details and contemporary events being glossed over as they did not appear to have as much relevance to the direct family story.

Events such as the trial of Jan Hus, the conflict with Girolamo Savonrola, and the associated papal denunciations and calls for reform of the papacy are summarily dealt with in a matter of pages, despite these events contributing to the initiation of the reformation and having a much interaction with the papacy than the author appears to give credit for. In contrast entire chapters are dedicated to the political machinations of the family, with extravagant detail concerning various parades and procession consuming many pages. This contrast of the level of detail paints an awkwardly lopsided picture of the Borgia family, one which rarely deals with any events outside of France, Italy and Spain; despite the high degree of historical interaction with Germany and the rest of Europe at the time.

Despite these limitations it is still an enjoyable read, and the picture which is painted is detailed and vibrant, even if incomplete. With some extra ancillary reading, and a bit of cross referencing of dates and major events this history of the papacy in the 15th century still provides a valuable background to the tumultuous events surrounding the church in the 16th century with the Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation.

Rating: Three and a half freshly stabbed bodies floating down the Tiber.