2H09 Book Reviews

Let me speak plainly about where I am coming from -
I love the singing of hymns and the recitation of liturgies as I have been raised in a “hymnbook” environment.  I come to appreciate “contemporary” songs and choruses following my days in School and with the EAGLES (now known as EAGLES COMMUNICATION).  Working with students, I now enjoy their dynamic passion in their music and playing of instruments (loud, yes, groovy, yes, synchronized and in tune, not all the time!).  Nevertheless, when we gather to worship and praise God, I have no issue with the songs to sing, the music to play, and the use of electronic equipment and visual aids.  I have no issue with style and form.  My contention is with what we sing and recite because what we sing and what we recite should always reflect a right and proper understanding of who God is, what He has done, what He is going to do, and where we stand in relation to Him.

But some of the “contemporary” songs are indistinguishable from the “pop” songs I hear in non-Christian circles.  The lyrics of some “contemporary” songs also do not seem to sit right with what faith in God should be.  I detect an increasing focus on rhythm and music, a subtle shift of mentality to “performance” mode, and a growing stride towards perfection in personal styles.  I see a widening divide between those who claim to cherish the “ways of old” and those who promote the “hip and the now”.  Both sides have become embattled.  Both sides are taking steps to fortify their stand.  Both sides are becoming extremists against each other. 

The authors of this book, one a pastor and the other an educator, seek understanding to manage this situation that has become the rage in the United States.  They turned to the Bible.  From Genesis to Revelation, they draw out the characters and situations and crystallize what God sees as “worship”. Set out in 27 short chapters, the authors group the lessons under: “Basis of True Worship”, “Requirements of True Worship”, “Marks of True Worship” and “Content of True Worship”.  To facilitate discussion and teaching, there are “things to think about” at the end of each chapter: a series of 5 short questions.  For those who favor “bullet point learning points”, the authors have “one-liner catch phrases” that captures the essence of each chapter.  This book, then, is not one that I would read just to build an academic understanding of what “worship” is and what is encompasses, it is also a resource for discussions at small groups and among persons who are concerned with the situation.  I find it worthwhile to plough through this book during the June School holidays, reflect on what I have read and take a stand on how I can move forward.

But regardless of where you are coming from, and your views on “worship”, I am glad that the authors end the book with an invitation to the reader to know God.  Although on first reading, the invitation appears to for the non-believer; I see it also as an invitation to me to re-align my understanding, my life values and my life-style to Him as I worship Him. 

The Cross and the Switchblade
by David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

 BV4464.5 WIL

Reviewed by: Dorcas Fong

   The Universe Next Door
A Basic Worldview Catalogue
by James W. Sire

 B823.3 SIR

Reviewed by: Mr Philip Poh Heo Hock

The way we think and analyze situations and issues has changed. 

With easy access to information on the Net, and facing clear and present dangers of overloads when we search for answers, we have subtly become skillful with skimming and scanning.  We look for “bullet-points” and only for the words in bold print.  We ask for summaries.  In conversations and discussions, we prefer people to be brief - to the point – succinct - saying something that we do not know - introducing ideas which are entertaining, exciting and sexy.  Why?  So that we can stay “engaged” and “interested”.  Not surprising, then, we carry these habits into our Bible studies, “quiet times”, and discussions about our beliefs and on issues relating to our life and times as Christians.  We become more interested in “how to” answers, “pre-mixed”, “fast-to-cook”, “good to eat”.  A “just connect the dots” attitude and approach.  Anything more becomes is “tedious”, “troublesome”, “boring”.  Never mind the principles and the “why’s” behind the answers – JUST GIVE ME THE ANSWERS!

In the end, our thinking and analyzes become “short-term”, distracted and fragmentized.  Our responses to prevalent issues as Christians become inconsistent.  And perhaps without realizing it, our convictions about God and our faith as believers become eroded, synchretized with the trends and practices that are NOT what God reveals and teaches in the Bible.

To help me steer away from this attitude, I went back to a book by James Sire in the 1970’s about “world views”.  By definition, a “world view” is a “whole picture” approach on how we look at “what is real?” and the universe around us.  A life-long discipline, it will grow in scope and depth in tandem with our knowledge and understanding.  But it will be a satisfying discipline because it provides the “why’s” on which we frame and shape answers and responses to life, faith and living that are comprehensive and consistent.  It also enables us to interact and relate to others who have no such platform or who work from different platforms. 

James Sire, an editor at InterVarsity Press, challenges us to develop a “world view” for ourselves.  To help us arrive at that platform, he draws up a catalog of several other “world views” – some polar opposites - others similar but not the same - still others mixed bags of everything in between.  In neat chapters, he touches on the thinking behind 6 genres: “Deism”, “Naturalism”, “Nihilism”, “Existentialism”, “Eastern Pantheistic Monism” and the “New Consciousness”.  He then sets out 4 features that characterize a “world view” that is adequate and he invites us to test our “world view” against those features.  As Christians, we know that God should be the centre of that “world view”.  This is the “theistic world view”.  James Sire shares his understanding of that “world view” and explains how adequate he finds it. 

In re-reading this book, I recognize that the 6 genres are still prevalent in our times.  Some have come to us with different labels.  I am afraid flavors of such genres have permeated into our thinking, discussions and responses as Christians.   So, although Sire’s book is not a “page turner” (one needs to regularly press the “pause” button to reflect), I am glad that I have gone back to it. 

Like Sire, I can re-affirm that my “theistic world view” is adequate for me to frame and shape answers and responses to faith in God and life that are comprehensive and consistent.  And then confidently, I can get on with living, interacting and relating.  I trust that you will also arrive at this same platform after reading this book.