Unapologetic - Francis Spufford

This is an utterly remarkable book. Here's part of Spufford's explanation of what the book is for:

You can read any number of defences of Christian ideas. This, however, is a defence of Christian emotions – of their intelligibility, of their grown-up dignity. The book is called Unapologetic because it isn't giving an 'apologia', the technical term for a defence of the ideas.

And also because I'm not sorry.

Spufford is a novelist and lecturer in creative writing, and it shows. The book is incredibly well written and saturated in knowing references to modern highbrow culture – not in a showing-off sort of way, but in a way that shows utter familiarity with the Guardian-reading arts scene and much prefers knowing allusions to quotes or references.

He says he seeks to be utterly honest, and that shows too, in a kind of fearless way. He isn't afraid to describe God as a “sky fairy” in a way that gently takes the mick out of those who do, or to explain where his ideas diverge from either popular orthodoxy or Christian orthodoxy (of which more later). It isn't a book of tightly-argued logic; it's a description of how his emotions work as a Christian, written in complete non-Christianese.

Spufford's explanation of sin is just about the best I've ever read for the non-Christian reader. Some of his phrases - “Human Propensity to F*** things Up” (or HptFtU) for sin, or “International League of the Guilty” for church are brilliant, and there are some important ideas he's clearly got a better grip of than many Christian writers, if you aren't offended by the language (and that's only coarse-Anglo Saxonisms, not swearing).

There are some significant weaknesses though. I think the root one is that the church Spufford goes to doesn't seem to believe in the verbal inspiration of Scripture – I'd guess it's fairly liberal catholic C of E. So while Spufford affirms the physical resurrection of Jesus, he's unsure about eternal life for the rest of us, and doesn't believe in Hell. I'd love to sit down and have a chat with him about that – I suspect that the kind of hell he doesn't believe in is a kind I don't believe in either.

The same problem shines through in a number of other areas. There isn't really the idea of a propositional grounding for ethics, his take on the cross seems to be vaguely Girardian. Perplexingly in a book about emotions, the Holy Spirit doesn't get a look in and there isn't really a sense of the exciting growth in experience and knowledge of the love of Christ that you get in Eph 3:14-21.

I'd love to chat to him. On the basis of this book, he's clearly a Christian; he's got a wonderful way with words, a great sense of humour and such a clear understanding of the nature of sin. But there's so much more which God has for those who love him, and I can't help feeling he's missing out on it.

Oh, and whether you're a Christian wanting a fresh look at things, or a non-Christian wanting to understand why Christianity makes sense, as long as you're willing to engage with something you'll disagree with, this book is a great read.

Walking Well - Ephesians 4:17-5:17

I've recently been reading Ephesians 4 and 5, and have been really struck by the number of reasons Paul gives for avoiding sin. I found it a real encouragement to avoid sin better in my own life, and I'm not sure I've ever seen a list of them worked through properly, so here goes...

1. Walking badly is what the Gentiles do (4v17). One of Paul's big themes in the letters is Christian identity. Those Christians (like me) who were Gentiles ethnically are no longer Gentiles because of what God has done for them in bringing them near in Christ. So we shouldn't walk as the Gentiles do.
2. Walking as the Gentiles do stems from having minds that are futile (4v17) – the word is the same one translated “meaningless” in Ecclesiastes. The way they think and the things they think about are passing away. So don't live like they do.
3. Not only do their actions stem from ways of thinking that are passing away, they also stem from ignorance (4v18). Sinning is an ignorant way to act.
4. Sin stems from hard-heartedness (4v19)
5. Sin is giving yourself away to licentiousness (4v19)
6. Sin leads to the pursuit of every uncleanness in excess (4v19)
7. It's not how we were taught and discipled as Christians (4v20)
8. It's not according to the truth in Jesus (4v21-22)
9. Sin belongs to the old person, which is being destroyed (4v22)
10. We should put off the old person and put on the new person (4v23)
11. Our new selves were created according to God in righteousness and devoutness of truth (4v24)
12. We are members of each other, so should be speaking truth to one another rather than falsehood (4v25)
13. Sinning can give the devil a foothold in our lives (4v27)
14. Our actions should be motivated by the needs of others (4v28-29).
15. Doing good means that we can give to the needy (4v28)
16. Our speech should be motivated by building up the needy (4v29)
17. Sin grieves the Spirit of God (4v30)
18. We have been sealed by the Spirit aiming for the day of redemption. We should therefore remember that we are heading for redemption and live accordingly (4v30)
19. We should show grace to each other rather than evil because God has showed grace to us rather than evil (4v31-32)
20. We should imitate God (5v1)
21. Because we are God's children (5v1)
22. Christ loved us and gave himself up for us – we should follow his example (5v2)
23. We are “holy ones” and therefore should live in a fitting way (5v3-4)
24. Sin is a form of idolatry, because we are acting as if God is really just our imagined version of God rather than the real one. (5v5)
25. Idolaters (and therefore sinners) don't get an inheritance in God's kingdom (5v5)
26. Saying that sinners won't be punished is just empty words (5v6)
27. God's wrath really is coming on those whose identity is tied up with sin (5v6)
28. We shouldn't partner with those who are heading towards God's wrath. (5v7)
29. We were darkness, but now we are light. Therefore we should live like it. (5v8)
30. God's light at work in us should produce goodness, righteousness and truth (5v9)
31. We should test out what pleases God (5v10)
32. The works of darkness are futile – they don't lead anywhere good. (5v11)
33. It is shameful even to talk about deeds of darkness (5v12)
34. God's transforming power is available to change the dark things in our pasts into light and use them for his glory (5v13-14)
35. Walking well is wise; walking badly is foolish (5v15)
36. The days are evil, therefore we need to make an effort to live wisely (5v16)
37. It's important to understand what God wants us to do rather than be foolish (5v17)

Orienting Ourselves Right

We ask "Where does God fit into the story of my life?" when the real question is "Where does my little life fit into the great story of God's mission?"

We want to br driven by a purpose that is tailored just right for our own individual lives, when we should be seeing the purpose of all life , including our own, wrapped up in the great mission of God for the whole of creation.

We talk about "applying the Bible to our lives". What would it mean to apply our lives to the Bible instead, assuming the Bible to be the reality - the real story - to which we are called to conform ourselves?

We wrestle with "making the gospel relevant to the world". But in this story, God is about transforming the world to fit the shape of the gospel.

We argue about what can legitimately be included in the mission that God expects from the church, when we should ask what kind of church God wants for the whole range of his mission.

I may wonder what kind of mission God has for me, when I should be asking what kind of me God wants for his mission.

CJH Wright, The Mission of God, quoted Total Church p.34

All Loves Excelling - John Bunyan

I've just finished reading this book on Ephesians 3:18-19. It was originally published as "The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love", but the folks at Banner have reprinted it under a snappier, more Wesleyan title. There are some really heart-warming bits, as well as some quite dry bits. Bunyan is so good at psychological application! Here are some highlights:

O the length of the saving arm of God! As yet thou art within reach thereof; do not thou go about to measure arms with God, as some good men are apt to do: I mean, do not thou conclude that because thou canst not reach God by thy short stump, therefore he cannot reach thee with thy long arm... It becomes thee, when thou canst not perceive that God is within reach of thy arm, then to believe that thou art within the reach of his; for it is long, and none knows how long.
p.14

Were all the saints on earth, and all the saints in heaven to contribute all that they know of this love of Christ, and to put it into one sum of knowledge, they would greatly come short of knowing the utmost of this love...
p.68

know they self, what a vile, horrible, abominable sinner thou art. For thou canst not know the love of Christ before thou knowest the badness of thy nature... He that sees most of what an abonimable wretch he is, he is like to see most of what is the love of Christ... So then, if a man would be sure and steadfast, let him labour before all things to see his own wretchedness.
p.84

Why then do not Christians devote themsevles to the meditation of this so heavenly, so goodly, so sweet, and so comfortable a thing, which yieldeth such advantage to the soul? The reason is, these things are talked of, but not believed: did men believe what they say, when they speak so largely of the love of God, and the love of Jesus Christ, they would, they could not but meditate upon it.
p.113

You Can Change - Tim Chester

This is just about the best book I've read on the subject of changing the way you think and act. It's certainly the number 1 book I'd recommend to people wanting something on that sort of topic.

Tim Chester starts from a well-thought-through theology of who people are and why we sin. He avoids the usual pitfalls of legalism and saying that sin doesn't really matter. He really questions and challenges our motivation to change in a really helpful way. Brilliant.

Here are some quotes:

For all eternity your past experience of evil will enhance your eternal experience of glory.
p.71

Listen to Ed Welch: 'Perhaps the person is mad at himself for repeating the same sin over and over again. This is actually a veiled form of pride that assumes he is capable of doing good in his own power. He is minimising his spiritual inability apart from God's grace.' Jerry Bridges claims: 'God wants us to walk in obedience - not victory... We are more concerned about our own victory over sin than we are about the fact that our sins grieve the heart of God.'
p.128