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 PrintableVersion Building the BodyMuscular ChristianityBUILDING THE BODY In her introduction Pamela Evans quotes John Stott saying of Paul: 'During his final imprisonment he wrote expectantly of the second coming of Jesus; but meanwhile he longed for the coming of Timothy.' Then, after acknowledging that 'Christians have at times seen needing one another as a sign of failing their Lord', she goes on to show how integral God-honouring relationships are to the gospel of the New Testament. The biblical call for all Christians to grow - and grow together - is spoken firmly yet compassionately by someone who has much experience of the often messy reality of a diverse people trying to come together. The tone of the book is at once humble yet exhorting without being 'preachy'. It is very accessible and there is no jargon. This is a thoroughly biblical book. Driven by Scripture with one very active eye on the culture of Britain today (both individualistic and post-modern aspects) I think it achieves a difficult balance. It is both uncompromising about the necessity of developing a healthy Body of Christ, yet realistic about human peculiarity and limitation. And the purpose: 'It's vital to build life-changing relationships in our church communities. But let's not fall into the trap of imagining that we need to do so simply to make them happier or more comfortable - or even more exciting - places to be. That would be to buy into the current preoccupation with consumer satisfaction and self-fulfilment. No, we do so in order that the fully functioning body of Christ can work as God intends, glorifying him and reaching out in his name to a lost and fragmented world' (p.11). The question resonating throughout is whether we really want to move on to maturity in Christ; whether we really want to reach our broken world for Christ. If so then this would be a challenging and rewarding book to read; and perhaps one not to read alone. It is biblically stimulating and practically helpful. Each chapter finishes with useful focus questions and suggestions for further reading and at the very end of the book there are group study outlines. Indeed, the verdict of one group leader to whom I lent the book was this: 'I am pleased that someone is prepared to challenge some of our 'comfy' church habits and point us through Scripture to a more radical and wholehearted commitment to following Christ in the day-to-day issues and realities of our lives together.' Sue Sainsbury© Evangelicals Now - August 2002 |
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