Introduction
“Rumours of God” seems to be written to the church, but a church that is luke-warm; or as the authors put it, a church filled with people who are like "statues". At times however, the narrative addresses people who clearly cannot be Christians. This review will explore the questions of conversion and the Christian life which this book raises. After all, if one is a "statue", then perhaps the "coming to life" that is needed is actually true conversion.
Subject, Thesis, and Summary
The authors state, “we wrote this book because we love the church" (p13). The subject of this book is their concern for the Church and the idea that the greatest days of the Church are over now. They believe that God will do something new and there are great things to come. The authors quote Scripture (Habakkuk 3:2), and state that their desire is to see God’s power and deeds now, in our time. Their thesis is, “the thought of our generation going to the grave without seeing the fame and deeds of God…is untenable” (p20).
In the opening chapter, the authors clearly state their position that “God is writing an epic, global, redemptive story that every single one of us has been invited into” (p20). Unfortunately, many Christians feel like the bible is simply stories, or fables; they are stuck in a rut and feel lifeless. At the same time, the Church is preoccupied in debates between its own members and is unable to actually impact the culture. The authors correctly point out that God is not just a set of rules, and Christianity is not just a sub-culture. Their hope is to see Christians "coming to life", and God working. In this book we are urged and encouraged to leave our cultural norms, and our scripted, somewhat selfish lives, and start entering into God's story, and living for Him. ‘Rumors of God’ includes many experiences and stories of people who have made this change in their life.
In each of the following nine chapters, the authors present a particular failure in living the Christian life. They are summarized briefly in the following points:
- (ch.2) love for the things of the world; marketing and media have told us what we want to the point that our thoughts are almost not our own, our vision of a more comfortable life is shallow, and we should rather find all our satisfaction in Christ alone
- (ch.3) we are selfish; our culture is based on consumerism, we have learned to take instead of give, and instead we should be giving generously out of love
- (ch.4) we don’t love God; we have forgotten our first love and lost our passion; as the people of God we should desire HIS presence, be filled with love for God, from God, and desire that others would have the same; we must remember what Christ has done for us
- (ch.5) we don’t extend grace; we are too judgmental
- (ch.6) we are unforgiving; we tend to prefer retaliation or revenge instead of forgiveness, and although it is not easy, and there is a cost, forgiveness allows us to show love to people who don’t deserve it
- (ch.7) we are autonomous because we are selfish; we live alone so we can seek our own pleasure with little or no accountability, if we attend a church meeting it is to have one or more of our own needs met, but God wants us to live in covenant with HIM and HIS church
- (ch.8) we are too competitive and not accepting of one another; instead of trying to out-do each other, we should be honest, transparent and loving
- (ch.9) we are not stewarding our privilege well, we have been given much, and we should help those who have less in real, practical ways
- (ch.10) we are faithless; we have lost our hope, but Christ has risen from the dead, and what could give us more hope than that
Analysis and Critical Comments
The thesis of the authors is both correct and timely. Each of the issues they raise in chapters two to nine are relevant and critical. Their notion that we need real change in our lives, in these specific areas, is absolutely true.
‘Rumors of God’ addresses important issues for the Christian life, and the authors make many good conclusions. However, the reasoning, arguments, and theology underlying the authors’ positions raise some questions. In particular, the doctrines of Regeneration, Eternal Life, and the True Gospel seem to be clouded by vague or even conflicting statements. In the following sections, statements taken from throughout the book will be compared against these doctrines.
1. Regeneration
One difficulty in determining the exact intention of the authors is that the audience they are addressing seems to change. At one time they seem to be addressing Christians who are not living as they should, but then address people who are sceptical of Christianity. For example, they say plainly “this book is to the church” (p24), “we are seated with Christ” (p55), and “as believers we” (p66). But then there are people who think the bible is like “science fiction” (p14), people who are in the midst of rebellion and sin (p69), and people who think God “hates their behaviour and that they need to change…” (p66). There is not a clear demarcation between addressing these two audiences; perhaps the authors do not actually view them as two separate audiences, but as one audience. This would be consistent with a belief in universalism, and/or a disbelief in the spiritual deadness of man.
If we believe that every person will be saved, then it’s just a matter of time before they start living the Christian life; therefore all that is required is for us to encourage everyone in the right direction. However the Bible is very clear this is not the case.
John 3:16-18 KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 5:28-29 KJV Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
So there are those who will escape condemnation, and those who will not; those who will be resurrected unto eternal life, and those who will be resurrected unto damnation. There is a clear separation between the saved and the lost, the sheep and the goats, the good tree and the bad tree, the house on the rock and the house on the sand, the born again and the spiritually dead. The distinction between these two groups is blurred by statements such as “the desires and dreams of Christians are the same as non-Christians” (p22), and “Why are our financial habits so similar to the world’s habits?” (p36). Although the authors state that this similarity to the world is not a good thing, they do not address the root cause which is an unregenerate heart. Apart from Regeneration, man is literally spiritually dead. This means man is dead to God, and he lives for self and for sin. He hates God (Romans 1:30), is at enmity with God (Romans 8:7-8), and fights against God’s law (Romans 1:18). In this natural state we literally cannot, and will not, do any good deed. But, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). This is the dividing line, and we must make this line clear. It will be a terrible and horrifying thing to hear from Jesus, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). The issue of true conversion is of infinite importance and eternal significance!
2. Eternal Life
The authors mention “eternal life” several times; “we have an eternal inheritance...short lives here” (p40), “receive eternal life” (p64), and “[Jesus] calls us to a life of discipleship, covenant, and commitment that ultimately leads to eternal life” (p88). These statements are true, and the reality of eternal life or eternal damnation should be urged on men as strongly as possible. Yet, in this book, these statements are subtly offset by even more references to a better life here, now; “dream new dreams, and hope for a better future” (p29), “pulling the future into the present” (p31), “the life that is truly life…the quality of life we experience” (p35), and “heaven on earth…the life God offers” (p85).
In particular, the explanation of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is that “Jesus told us to pray that God’s kingdom would come here, now” (p106). Within this chapter, titled ‘Rumors of Justice’ (ch.9), the argument is that the church is called to work to right the injustices in the world and literally bring about God’s kingdom. While Christians must and will care for the needs of our neighbours (James 2:15-16), we cannot equate that with the “Kingdom of God” coming. Jesus instruction is that we pray for His return, when he will rule and reign on the earth.
The bible is clear that the devil is in a position of power on the earth at this time (Luke 4:5-6, 2 Corinthians 4:4). And Christ has warned us that “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33).
1 Peter 5:8-10 KJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Colossians 1:5 KJV For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Romans 8:16-18 KJV The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
True believers are called to glory after they have suffered a while. Their hope is not in this life, but it is laid up for them, and the glory which shall be revealed is not worthy to be compared to the sufferings of this present time.
3. True Gospel
"Jesus entered the world to expand our horizon of possibility, to recover the forgotten passions of our heart, and to help leverage our gifts for his dream of restoration and hope. He wants to unleash our imaginations." (p29)
The authors spend chapter 5 of this book “getting the gospel in order”; their focus is solely on grace. They state, “grace exists to deal with our rebellion and the horror of the fall” (p60). There is a sense in which this is true; without grace we would all stand condemned. But it would be more accurate to say that through the fall and redemption, God is displaying HIS glory, demonstrating such of HIS attributes as love, grace, and mercy. It is “…the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Everything must be about the glory of God; it is the chief end of man to glorify God! God is the beginning and the end; all of creation and all of history is about HIM. The difference between this and the authors’ statement is that man is at the center of gospel, not God. This is the problem of a man-centered perspective.
This man-centered view of the gospel is apparent throughout the book; “Jesus came to take away our sin and shame…” (p17), “to see the church become all that he had called her to be” (p19), “reach her God given potential” (p19), and so that “beautiful creatures who got lost along the way recovered their place in the story God was telling” (p118). This leaves the reader with the overall impression that the gospel is about man feeling better and doing better, with help from God. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Romans 3:10-18 KJV As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.
This passage provides us with the true condition of man. This is much worse than “beautiful creatures who got lost along the way”. Because this is our nature, we are “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3), and we are deserving of the righteous, just punishment of a Holy God (John 3:36, Romans 1:18, Colossians 3:6). But it is while we were in this state, enemies of God and subject to His wrath, that Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus Christ God the Son literally took the wrath of God the Father so that He could be both just, and at the same time forgiving of wicked men. This is the beginning of understanding grace. It is infinite favor on infinitely undeserving people.
It’s not enough to say that “Jesus wants to save us from giving our lives to things that just don't matter" (p44). Jesus has delivered us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Now we are commanded to repent and believe (Mark 1:15). The “gospel in order” is that God saved us from Himself, by Himself, and for Himself.
Conclusion
In ‘Rumors of God’, the authors have urged and encouraged us to make real changes in our lives, and begin to live the Christian life. The problem with just encouraging people is that they cannot do what is not in their nature. To follow Christ, each one of us must receive a new nature, a new heart, through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is not through motivating or encouraging that the Holy Spirit does this work, but God has ordained the preaching of the gospel for this purpose (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Ezekiel 37:3 KJV And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
If the church is filled with "statues", and we love the church, then the answer is to preach the gospel. God alone saves men.
Bibliography
Whitehead, Darren & Tyson, Jon
"Rumors of God"
July 2011
Thomas Nelson Inc.
ISBN: 1595553630
ISBN-13: 9781595553638
"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".