Saturday, July 29, 2017

Review: The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2–3 and the Human Origins Debate

The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2–3 and the Human Origins Debate The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2–3 and the Human Origins Debate by John H. Walton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From what I can gather, Walton's primary substantive is this - many of the traditional positions on Human Origin that Christians hold may not actually be necessary - because it may hermenutically acceptable to hold some differing positions. As he adeptly illustrates how many of these debatable propositions could swing either way, going into great depth expounding on the issues and arguments of each, I began to understand better why he took on this writing project (two books discussing the Lost worlds of Genesis 1 and 2-3). I can almost hear the gasp of most theologically conservatives like myself grappling with the thought of deviating from two millennia of church history; but please do read the Conclusion and Summary to hear Walton's heart on this issue, whether or not you manage to wade through the other chapters.

If Walton had engaged in eisegesis and made sweeping assertions, then it should just be thrown into the bin; as far as I could tell, Walton embarked on extensive research, and explored the issues as theologically faithfully as any respectable bible scholar would and yet sought to make these complex thoughts as easily comprehensible as he could.

Therefore whether or not you agree with him, do consider (whether for the topic of human origins or other secondary doctrines):
"what if we could tell [people leaving the church] that their scientific conclusions did not make a difference and that they could still believe the Bible, could still be in relationship with Christ, could still be members in good standing the church? ... There is no need to lose our young people to this debate... But there is room for a variety of belief as long as they derive from sound exegesis, sound theology and sound hermeneutics." (p209-210)
With 30 pages of endnotes for 200 pages of content, this title is going to be a mind-bender of a book! I found that it was an extremely challenging book to read; Walton appears to be pitching it at a level of theologians, senior staff in churches' teaching departments or at very learned apologetics-loving Christians. As a student in my final year of my seminary undergrad study, I thought that there shouldnt be too many books with content that I found too difficult to comprehend, but alas, this is one of them! Perhaps my lack of interest (and therefore reading) in the fields of apologetics and human origins contributed to my struggle. It nevertheless an invaluable resource should one want to share the Gospel with both the college student or the scientist. When you find that topic presented to you, then you can pick it up (either this book or the companion copy about Genesis 1) to get a quick grasp on the theological conundrum for more meaningful dialogue with your friend.

I received this book from IVP Academic for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Saturday, July 15, 2017

Review: The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate

The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I actually started reading few pages of Walton's other book on Genesis 2 and 3 (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23055095-the-lost-world-of-adam-and-eve) and enjoyed how thought provoking it was. It was then I decided that I had read this very title first since it's about Genesis one!

At first glance you'd think that weighing in at less than 200 pages, it would provide a simple and easy read. But on the contrary, the target audience is rather a more scholarly (or at the very least bible literate) type! Furthermore, as a seminary student, this book would undoubtedly be a reference material that would prove to be a useful resource in time to come!

I felt that the first part of the book was utterly brilliant and thought-provoking. Walton first lays down the outline and method - that we allow the ancient text (biblical and extra-biblical) to inform our modern understanding of how the world was created. As I read on, I did not feel that the rest of the book was as engaging as the start of the title. Perhaps I should not be surprised that the ancient world was not so very interesting to a millennial living in the twenty-first century!

Nonetheless I was left with plenty of food for thought; the evidence of my cognitive dissonance and intellectual struggle perhaps is testimony to how good (and methodically) an argument he had made. New terms are explained brilliantly, utilising modern analogies and illustrations - and yet at the same time explaining how our modern concepts are so very different from what the words originally meant. Each new segment was methodically introduced and developed upon in an easy to read manner - yet at the same time my postmodern mind struggled to cope with how much of my worldviews and presuppositions were being challenged.

Two big takeaways for me was how Walton suggests that the cosmos was God's temple and also how a biblical view of God as creator did not require a forced dichotomy between "natural" and "supernatural." From what I understand, it appears that Walton is proposing a fascinating view that advanced science need not be in conflict with the notion of a Creative and actively working God, who can be work in the processes of embryology and meteorology. This substantive is built upon the foundation that Genesis 1 presents an account of functional origins rather than material origins (read the first few chapters of the book to understand what this means).

I am still however unable to state that I am fully convinced by and agree completely with his insights and conclusions (as this is the first book of its type that I am reading). But if one day I were to affirm what Walton defines as teleological evolution -"accept[ing] biological evolution as providing a descriptive mechanism putatively describing how God carried out his purposes" (p152) - then it would be a most wonderful thing to see "people of faith cease trying to impose their own teleological mandates on public science education; and people who are skeptical of faith cease trying to impose their own dysteleological mandates on public science education (p160).

I received this book from IVP Academic for the purposes of providing an unbiased review. All views are my own.

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Saturday, July 8, 2017

Review: How to Treat a Staff Infection: Resolving Problems in Your Church or Ministry Team

How to Treat a Staff Infection: Resolving Problems in Your Church or Ministry Team How to Treat a Staff Infection: Resolving Problems in Your Church or Ministry Team by Craig Williford
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The various "illnesses" that were utilised to illustrate various ministry problems did not cut it for me. It may have been done with an intention of being creative but the authors lack the verve, authority and confidence of more established church growth consultants.

I'd rather recommend a book by Hybels or McIntosh any day. Check my goodreads profile for my review on some of these titles.

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Saturday, July 1, 2017

Review: The Minister's MBA: Essential Business Tools for Maximum Ministry Success

The Minister's MBA: Essential Business Tools for Maximum Ministry Success The Minister's MBA: Essential Business Tools for Maximum Ministry Success by George S. Babbes
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

While the concept of the book is good (utilising principles from the business world for ministry), and the naming of chapter titles seemingly decent, however the content is quite a let down. I'm not familiar with who these authors are (perhaps because my primary area of interest in theology is ecclesiology), but my best guess is that a group of secular business people decided to band together to write a book and package it for the Christian ministers to buy it for a quick buck.

A case could perhaps be made that seminary does not prepare a young minister well to run a church operationally. However to have a book almost devoid of Scripture and expect ministers to use it as a guidebook is perhaps not too wise. A church is not built on intellect or business principles; its foundation has to be on the word of God. I only spotted 2 paragraphs in the beginning of the book that referred to something about Jesus' disciples and Matt 10:16 - quite interesting how a methodology can be developed from a single narrative of the bible. And further down in the book, how Joseph got sold into slavery in Gen. 37 is used as an example of the result of perceived inequity.

I cannot recommend this book.

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