DOCSLIB.ORG

Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 26.1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology 26.1 SCOTTISH BULLETIN OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY The scope of the Bulletin is broadly defined as theology, especially Scottish and Reformed, whether biblical, systematic-dogmatic, historical or practical, and Scottish church history. Articles submitted for publication should be sent to the Editor, books for review to Rutherford House (see below). Contributors are free to express their own views within the broad parameters of historic evangelicalism. The opinions of contributors may not be assumed to be those of Rutherford House or the Scottish Evangelical Theology Society. EDITOR: THE REVD DR ALISTAIR I. WILSON, Dumisani Theological Institute, P.O. Box 681, King William's Town, 5600 Eastern Cape, South Africa AssoCIATE EDITOR: THE REVD ANDREW HAYES, International Baptist Church, Earlswell Road, Cults, Aberdeen, AB15 9NY REVIEW EDITOR: THE REVD DR IAIN D. CAMPBELL, Free Church of Scotland, Vatisker, Isle of Lewis HS2 OLN (Books and reviews to Rutherford House) MANAGING EDITOR: DR CARYS MosELEY, School of Divinity, Edinburgh University, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, EHi 2LX. email carys.moseley@ googlemail.com, The Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theology is published twice yearly by Rutherford House in association with the Scottish Evangelical Theology Society, whose officers are: President: Professor I. Howard Marshall, University of Aberdeen Chairman: The Revd Dr Fergus Macdonald, 113 St Alban's Road, Edinburgh, EH92PQ Secretary: The Revd David Easton, Rowanbank, Cormiston Road, Quothquan, Biggar, ML12 6ND. Tel. 01899 308459. Email: [email protected] nge zca eo ogy 1s m ex d in Elenchus, Cerdic, r ZBG, ATLA and Relig. 'fJ{EbtlBRARY Lq'":~~'\J Green Lane, Northwood, ~ Middlesex HA6 2UW Tel '>hone: 01923 456190 ubscri tion s atchpell Business Centre, Carpet Lane, EDINBURGH, EH6 6SP. e-mail: [email protected]. Rates from 2008: £14.00; Students £7.00. Overseas Surface Mail £16.00; Airmail £19.00. ISSN 0265-4539 Single issue £8.00 GUEST EDITORIAL There is little debate that the secularisation of Western society is not wan­ ing and even, it must be admitted, increases seemingly by the year. Philip Jenkins has recently brought this to our attention, stressing that Christi­ anity is migrating south to such an extent that the idea of a white, Euro­ pean (certainly 'evangelical') Christian will be as surprising a concept as a 'Swedish Buddhist'.1 One need only stand on the corner or walk down the street on a typical Sunday to be persuaded that Jenkins is probably correct. Church buildings sit empty, and most that house a minister are far from full and lively. The beautiful structures built to dominate the skyline with spires that point us to an existence that gives us hope and meaning have become merely historical landmarks or architectural novel­ ties. This cultural condition has presented a huge challenge to ministers and parishioners alike. How do we express the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a way that they stop and listen? Every minister who takes the calling of God seriously is consistently burdened by this question. In spite of the pessimistic (or, maybe, realistic) tone there is much for which to be hopeful, and this is where Rutherford House finds its place. It is the aim of the House to enable biblical ministries by 'ministering to ministers'-both current and future ministers. We want to support churches by providing resources that aid them in answering that all im­ portant question of how to communicate the gospel to those around us. Though sometimes his hand of providence may be less obvious than in other parts of the world God is very much at work in the West. The gos­ pel is far from death or hibernation, which is why Rutherford House has renewed its vision for the UK by appointing a new director and setting a course that we pray will help to bring hope and life to a secular society. I am privileged to receive this appointment and look with great anticipa­ tion toward the future. To accomplish this vision we have adopted a two­ pronged approach that includes the following goals and activities: First, we want to do everything possible to assist evangelical minis­ ters reach their parishioners and speak to the culture. This will involve seminars, small groups and a pool of resources that address issues such as preaching, theology and culture, developing leadership and shepherd­ ing. We would like to see the development of a strong, vibrant network of ministers, united around the gospel for the purpose of strengthening the church. The House, through the work of the director and volunteers, also aims to provide pastoral care to ministers and congregations who have P. Jenkins, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 3. SCOTTISH BULLETIN OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY ministry needs or are enduring a crisis. We strongly believe that the life of the church and the cause of the gospel can be advanced through these activities. The second aspect of our renewed vision centres on evangelical aca­ demic work, both for the benefit of students and ministers. There is an indissoluble relationship between the academy and the church, and both should be controlled and guided by God's Word. Thus, we wish to engage in academic work that takes seriously God's revelation in Jesus Christ in Scripture and that impacts congregations across the country. This Bulle­ tin greatly contributes toward this goal, and Rutherford House will strive to support the Scottish Evangelical Theology Society in maintaining the high, gospel-oriented academic standard of SBET, whilst working to in­ crease its profile, relevance for the church and circulation. Additionally, we anticipate continuing the successful Edinburgh Dogmatics Confer­ ence that has resulted in theological publications of the highest order. We also wish to host day conferences that concentrate on various topics in Reformed theology or pastoral ministry. Participants would hopefully include students, elders, pastors and professors, highlighting the link be­ tween academic work and the practical mission of the church. Finally, as the old cliche reminds us to 'put our money where our mouth is', Ruther­ ford House plans to provide bursaries toward study in evangelical and Reformed theology. If the future of the West is to look different than it currently does, we must invest prayer, time, effort and financial resources in it. As director, I am excited about these opportunities and intimidated by the overwhelming nature of the challenge. I cannot go it alone. We humbly ask that you pray and contribute to the ongoing task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with our society. By the grace of God we expect great things in Scotland and beyond. Dr Jason Curtis, Director ofRutherford House 2 Too NARROW A STRAIGHTJACKET? REFLECTIONS ON THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE IN WORSHIP GRAHAM KEITH, AYR John Calvin did not originate the Regulative Principle that worship should be confined to those elements clearly set 9ut in or reasonably deduced from Scripture.' It was already an important theme with Zwingli and with his successor at Zurich, Bullinger. 2 There can, however, be no doubt that Calvin was the Reformer who put this Principle on a sound theologi­ cal footing. That is not to say that he was the most rigorous in pursuit of this Principle. On the contrary, he was able to use the Principle himself with flexibility, and to show magnanimity towards others who in less pro­ pitious circumstances had to proceed slowly in the outworking of this Principle. 3 A correct view and practice of worship was one of the few crite­ ria which justified to Calvin the establishment of a separate Reformed church, and cleared it of the guilt of schism. But there was a more funda­ mental issue than a public apologia for a separate church. Where God's own people were present to worship God in accordance with his revealed will, God was graciously present in the midst of his people to bless them.4 This was a promise attached to those who showed the obedience of faith, not to those who displayed zeal or fervour in following their own lights. 'To obey is better than to sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the I will use the expression Regulative Principle though technically this expression did not become current until the 20th century. R. J. Gore, Covenantal Worship (Phillipsbug: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 2002), pp. 38-40. Carlos M. N. Eire, War Against the Idols (Cambridge: Cambridge Univer­ sity Press, 1986), pp. 54-104 describes the earliest Protestant polemic which touched on the themes of false worship and of idolatry. Cf. the remarks of William Cunningham, The Reformers and the Theology of the Reformation (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1967), p. 36. W. Robert Godfrey, chapter 2, in The Worship ofGod(Fearn: Christian Focus Publications, 2005), p. 32. The editors of this collection of essays are left unnamed; but the volume was produced in association with Greenville Pres­ byterian Theological Seminary. SCOTTISH BULLETIN OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY evil of idolatry' - these words of Samuel to King Saul (l Sam. 15:22-23) epitomised Calvin's outlook. 5 Writing in 1543 to the Emperor Charles V a work entitled On the Ne­ cessity ofReforming the Church, Calvin declared, 'If it be inquired, then, by what things chiefly the Christian religion has a standing existence among us and maintains its truth, it will be found that the following two not only occupy the principal place, but comprehend under them all the other parts, and consequently the whole substance of Christianity, viz., a knowledge, first, of the mode in which God is duly worshipped; and, secondly, of the source from which salvation is to be obtained.'6 A simi­ lar emphasis emerges from Calvin's exposition of the Decalogue within the Institutes.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Church: Towards a Common Vision
    ONE IN CHRIST CONTENTS VOLUME 49 (2015) NUMBER 2 ARTICLES The Church: Towards a Common Vision. A Faith and Order Perspective. Mary Tanner 171 Towards the Common Good. A Church and Society Perspective on The Church: Towards a Common Vision. William Storrar 182 Catholic Perspectives on The Church: Towards A Common Vision. Catherine E. Clifford 192 Questions of Unity, Diversity and Authority in The Church: Towards a Common Vision. Advances and Tools for Ecumenical Dialogue. Kristin Colberg 204 Catholic Appropriation and Critique of The Church: Towards a Common Vision. Brian P. Flanagan 219 Communion and Communication among the Churches in the Tradition of Alexandria. Mark Sheridan OSB 235 Squaring the Circle: Anglicans and the Recognition of Holy Orders. Will Adam 254 Ecumenism: Why the Slow Progress? Gideon Goosen 270 REPORTS The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Corrymeela Community. Pádraig Ó Tuama 285 The Hurley Legacy: a personal appreciation. Paddy Kearney 294 Saint Irenaeus Joint Orthodox-Catholic Working Group. Communiqué – Halki 2015 299 A Contribution from the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada to the Anglican Church of Canada’s Commission on the Marriage Canon. 303 BOOK REVIEWS 317 170 ONE IN CHRIST VOL.49 NO.2 EDITORIAL Most of the articles in this issue are devoted to The Church: Towards a Common Vision (Faith and Order Paper 214, WCC 2013). We are pleased to publish contributions from the Catholic Theological Society of America (Clifford, Colberg, Flanagan), and papers originating in the December 2015 conference of the Joint Commission on Doctrine of the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church (Tanner, Storrar).
    [Show full text]
  • REVIEWS the Rhythm of Doctrine: a Liturgical Sketch of Christian Faith
    REVIEWS The Rhythm of Doctrine: A liturgical sketch of Christian faith and faithfulness John E. Colwell Paternoster, Milton Keynes, 2007; 135 pp; £12.99; ISBN-13: 9781842274989. The idea for this work came out of a conversation with a fellow theologian who posed the question, 'What structure would you follow if you were to ever write a Systematic Theology?' In response to this the author has produced a work that is constructed around the church calendar. Starting with Advent, he moves through the year with Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and concludes with All Saints Day. There is value in such an approach, but, allowing for the 'big themes,' Lent and All Saints Day are of human manufacture, (some would argue that all are synthetic), and so his argument is weakened by their inclu­ sion. John Colwell is Tutor in Christian Doctrine and Ethics at Spurgeons' (Baptist) College, in South London. His churchmanship is therefore evi­ dent as he works through his thesis. So too is his own personal experi­ ence: he claims that his devotional life was deepened as he came through, 'the crushing darkness of clinical depression'. So also are his own theo­ logical prejudices: he speaks favourably, for example, of the enthusiasms of the Charismatic movement. The author has attempted to present a case for the Christian Church to be more systematic in its worship and preaching, particularly in respect to the Christian diary that is used by some sections of the Church. By endeavouring to do this he will alienate some, but enthuse others, with the scheme he is proposing.
    [Show full text]
  • This Thesis Has Been Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for a Postgraduate Degree (E.G
    This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY: A RE-DISCOVERY OF HOLISTIC POST-WAR MISSIOLOGY IN SCOTLAND, WITH REFERENCE TO THE MINISTRY OF TOM ALLAN ALEXANDER C. FORSYTH Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2014 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my academic supervisors, Professor David A.S. Fergusson and Professor Stewart J. Brown, for all of their support, insight and encouragement in the preparation of this thesis. My thanks to Maggie Boulter for donating the papers of her father (Tom Allan) to New College, University of Edinburgh; to Maggie, John Harvey, Bill & Betsy Shannon, Andrew MacGowan and Allan Clark for kindly providing access to papers and recordings in their private possession and for their encouragement; to Frank Bardgett for additional extracts from D.P.
    [Show full text]
  • At New College 'Why Am I Happy to Be Here?'
    NEW COLLEGE BULLETIN 2005 www.div.ed.ac.uk When present students were recently given an opportunity to offer this Bulletin their answer to the question ‘Why am I here?’ at New College NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL OF DIVINITY THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH THE SCHOOL OF DIVINITY NEWS FROM the responses were mainly answers to the rather different question ‘Why am I happy to be here?’ They dwelt more on the merits of the actual experience of being here than on the original motives for coming. This was of course no scientific survey and the response may well have been confined to ‘satisfied customers’. So conclusions must be cautious. What one can say, however, is that those who are satisfied point with a remarkable degree of unanimity to a number of valued features of life in New College. Words which constantly recur include community, diversity, flexibility, acceptance. It is no surprise that the beauty of this city and the College’s particular location within it are appreciated – and are often part of the motive of original choice. Less obvious in advance but as important on arrival are the ’world class college facilities’, by which students refer to the combination of library, computing facilities, dining-cum-common room and all in a single, compact unit - with one adding ‘a beautiful building’. But more appreciated than this ‘hardware’ is the ‘software – the academic and human content. The sense of community is seen as a combination of factors. Deliberate choice of both subject and place is particularly Some are the already mentioned physical factors – the ample characteristic of postgraduates and of older undergraduates social spaces, the ‘enclosed placement’ and being relatively and the reasons are manifold.
    [Show full text]
  • Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical THEOLOGY
    ScoTTISH BuLLETIN OF EvANGELICAL THEOLOGY Volume 12 Number 2 Autumn 1994 CONTENTS 77 EDITORIAL ARTICLES 80 NO MORE THAN A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR? EV ANGELICALS AND SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT Gordon R. Palmer 96 FROM CANON TO CONCEPT: 'SAME' AND 'OTHER' IN THE RELATION BETWEEN BIBLICAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY Kevin J. Vanhoozer 125 CONFESSING CHRIST IN A MULTI-RELIGION SOCIETY Lesslie Newbigin 137 REVIEW ARTICLE: DICTIONARY OF SCOTTISH CHURCH HISTORY AND THEOLOGY Mark Noli BOOK REVIEWS 144 Ronald H. Nash: Great Divides: Understanding the Controversies that Come Between Christians, and Timothy George (ed.) A Marvelous Ministry: How the All-round Ministry of C.H. Spurgeon Speaks to us Today, by Robert Boyd 145 Elizabeth Templeton: The Strangeness of God: Essays in Contemporary Theology, by Charles M. cameron 147 M. Shuster and R.A. Muller (eds): Perspectives on Christology: Essays in Honor of Paul K. Jewett, by Graham McFarlane 148 The Ordination of Women to the Priesthood Debate. The Verbatim Report, by Anne E. Stewart 149 John caivin: Sermons on Job, by Peter Cook 150 Lion PC Handbook of the Bible, by Bob Akers 151 J. Gordon McConville: Grace in the End: A Study in Deuteronomic Theology, by Martin Goldsmith EDITORIAL: REMEMBERING WILLIAM TYNDALE (1494-1536) This Bulletin, as many of our readers will be aware, is the organ jointly of Rutherford House, Edinburgh, and the Scottish Evangelical Theology Society. The editor's column should before now have welcomed to the Wardenship of the House (and therewith to membership of the Bulletin's Editorial Board), in succession to Dr Nigel Cameron, the Revd David Se.arle, who comes from singularly fruitful pastoral teaching ministries in Aberdeen, Larbert and Bangor, Northern Ireland.
    [Show full text]
  • Psalms, Poetry and Scotland
    Stein, Jock (2021) Temple and tartan - Psalms, poetry and Scotland. PhD thesis. Volume 1 of 2: Temple and tartan http://theses.gla.ac.uk/82294/ Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten: Theses https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] 1 Temple and Tartan – Psalms, Poetry and Scotland Jock Stein MA BD submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Critical Studies College of Arts University of Glasgow January 2021 2 Abstract In this Creative Research Project, Poetry (‘Word and Weave’) and Thesis (‘Temple and Tartan’) make a bifocal engagement with the Old Testament Psalms to provide substantial new insights. The Thesis examines how other poets have responded to the Psalms, and considers their reception history in Scotland. It shows how this creative response to the Psalms was birthed, shaped and developed using seven distinct roles of the poet. The first chapter introduces the writer and his poetry, and the Old Testament Psalms, along with a Practice Review. With the poet as enquirer, it explains how Word and Weave was planned in five sections, like the Psalms themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • A Practical Theology of Church and World: Ecclesiology and Social Vision in 20Th Century Scotland
    1 A Practical Theology of Church and World: Ecclesiology and Social Vision in 20th Century Scotland Douglas C Gay A Thesis submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Edinburgh in 2006 1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 CHAPTER ONE: The Epistemological, Ethical and Political Priority of the Church/ The Post-Christendom Ecclesiology of Stanley Hauerwas 8 CHAPTER TWO: The Witness of the Baillie Commission 61 CHAPTER THREE: Ian Fraser and Scottish Churches House 135 CHAPTER FOUR: Duncan Forrester and the Centre for Theology and Public Issues 1978-2000 194 CHAPTER FIVE: Post-Christendom Church? Post-Secular Scotland? 264 CONCLUSION 312 Bibliography 319 2 Abstract The strong emphasis on ecclesiology in the work of Stanley Hauerwas, John Milbank and others associated with ‘the new ecclesiology’1 brings theological challenges to the contemporary move to recast practical theology’s attention to church and society as ‘public theology’. A historical reading of three key examples of practice in the tradition of twentieth century Scottish reformed-ecumenical reflection on ‘church and society’ displays a rich seam of reflection on ecclesiology, with some significant affinities to ‘the new ecclesiology’. The work of Stanley Hauerwas is used to develop a critical reading of the practices of theology and the theologies of (church and world) practice embedded in each example. This leads to the claim that ‘the new ecclesiology’ offers practical theology a way of articulating the church-world relationship and expressing the social, political and cultural witness of Christianity within Scotland which is to be preferred to the rubric of ‘public theology’. Its appeal for practical theology in the face of church decline and the marginalisation of theological discourse within liberal culture lies not in a temptation towards the comforts of “sectarianism”, but in its confession of the “ironic” character of the politics of Jesus and the reign of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Resisting Exclusion
    Populist political movements pose serious challenges to churches and theology in many global contexts. Such movements promote marginalization and exclusion of those who are regarded as not belonging to “the people”, LWF and thereby undermine core values – dignity, equality, freedom, justice, and participation of all citizens in decision-making processes. How can theology and the churches respond to these developments? Church leaders and teaching theologians from eighteen different countries offer analyses and examples for how churches take up the challenge to resist exclusion and to strengthen participation and people’s agency. Resisting Exclusion CONTRIBUTORS: ÁDÁM, Zoltán; ANTHONY, Jeevaraj; BATARINGAYA, Pascal; BEDFORD-STROHM, Heinrich; BEROS, Daniel Carlos; BLASI, Marcia; BOZÓKI, András; FABINY, Tamás; FORSTER, Dion; GAIKWAD, Global Theological Resisting Exclusion Roger; HALLONSTEN, Gunilla; HARASTA, Eva; HÖHNE, Florian; ISAAC, Munther; JACKELÉN, Antje; KAUNDA, Chammah J.; KAUNDA, Mutale Responses to Populism Mulenga; KIM, Sung; KOOPMANN, Nico; MCINTOSH, Esther; NAUSNER, Michael; NAVRÁTILOVÁ, Olga; PALLY, Marcia; RIBET, Elisabetta; RIMMER, Chad; SEKULIC, Branko; SINN, Simone; VON SINNER, Rudolf; STJERNA, Kirsi I.; THOMAS, Linda; WERNER, Dietrich. LWF Studies 2019/1 Studies LWF ISBN 978-3-374-06174-7 EUR 22,00 [D] Resisting Exclusion. Global Theological Responses to Populism LWF Studies 2019/01 The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Lutheran World Federation Resisting Exclusion. Global Theological Responses to Populism Edited by Simone Sinn and Eva Harasta LWF Studies 2019/01 Bibliographic information published by the German National Library The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the internet at http://dnd.dnd.de © 2019 The Lutheran World Federation Printed in Germany This work, including all of its parts, is protected by copyright.
    [Show full text]