| Compiled and edited by Andrew Stirling (Senior Minister at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, Canada) The Trinity: An Essential For Faith In Our Time is an impressive and illuminating collection of writings from ten leading Christian thinkers examining the doctrine of the Trinity, -- which is embraced by some followers of Christianity and held suspect (at best) by others. Examining the Trinity as portrayed in Scriptures; questioning it in terms of philosophy, theology, and practical issues; and much, much more, The Trinity is an erudite amalgamation of diverse viewpoints and very highly recommended reading for students of Christian Theology in general, and of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity in particular. |
| It is out of the ordinary, some would even say peculiar, that at the arrival of the 21st Century, with a distinctly Postmodern era upon us, that Andrew Sterling and his cohorts should write about an apologetic issue such as a defense of the Trinity. Possibly it is out of the ordinary because the Postmodern matrix which is rapidly engulfing society and church alike appears to be threatening established centuries old beliefs regarding the Godhead. Certainly, within the new framework of defining faith and belief in the Postmodern church paradigm there is definitely that possibility. After all, as Brian Mclearn puts it in his definitive work on Postmodernism, "The Church on the Other Side," we must develop a new apologetic which connects faith with feelings. There in is the rub. However, as I read and reread this 300 page volume, I was essentially disappointed that Theologians of this era have failed to accomplish what I had hoped they would, should they be interested in speaking into this Postmodern cauldron of theological inquiry with any hope of connecting with an audience who will listen. They have failed in what my Old Testament seminary professor implored us budding ministerial students to seek to accomplish in ministry, that is, "to make real in the present that which was real in the past." With the exception of the segments written by Andrew Stirling himself, I found this work to be clearly more philosophical than theological. It reads at the graduate level, is written quite obviously for a 1950's audience with its definitive etymology well intact, and is not intended for the inquisitive God seeker audience who occupy most churches on a given Sunday morning. Interestingly, Sterling promises in his introduction that the goal of the various authors is to bring together the two worlds in which many pastoral theologians live, with all its needs, and God in all his glory. I must object that I do not find this happening very often in the actual contents of the various chapters, unless Sterling and his associates are writing for Pastors with advanced training in theology and philosophy. Further, I must also object to his statement that the authors of this book represent various ecclesiastical traditions. In fact they represent a very narrow band of theological thought found predominantly in the mainstream church. There are no others represented. Within the context of the book itself, its contents, its significance and its end results from this reviewer's perspective, there is considerable emphasis placed upon the second person of the trinity, while the third person is nearly excluded from discussion, or given token representation, and even misrepresented in some occurrences. The Biblical theology is weak in some episodes, and yet in others, such as the chapters written by Stirling himself, very strong. My favorite chapter is written by Daniel Meeter, entitled, "The Trinity and Liturgical Renewal." It is refreshing and relevant and speaks into the life of the church as she struggles to make worship momentous today. My advice to the average reader who may want to pick this book up for light bedtime reading, is, don't do it. It is not for you. It will not accomplish for you what you think it should simply by virtue of its title. Dr. R. Wayne Hagerman
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church,
Prince George, BC
Canada |
