I have been perusing Robert Jenson’s new Ezekiel commentary in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible series and have found much to like.  Jenson does not hedge his bets but rights in a straightforward, winsome manner affirming confidence in the text and its theological meaning.  For example in reference to the date of Ezekiel, he affirms the date given in Ezekiel 1:2 writing:

“…there seems to be no good reason to doubt this dating . . . though of course some scholars have managed it.” (20)

I particularly appreciate his description of his approach and aim as seen in these two excerpts. The second one is particularly good.

“I am committed to premodern Christian exegetes’ aim, to read the Bible as a single dramatically coherent narrative of the coming of Christ and his kingdom.” 23

How the academic community came to be committed to an antidoctrinal, and thus in this case ironically ahistorical mode of exegesis, is an often told tale that need not be repeated here.

The present commentary, like the others in the series, thus offers alternatives to the modern academy’s prejudices.  I will not often argue theoretically the legitimacy of Christological or Trinitarian or ecclesiological readings I present, but will mostly allow them to convince readers by their own sense and appropriateness to the text at hand – or not.  I do ask for suspension of a priori incredulity – who knows, the church might be right about how to read her own scripture.” 25-26

Lastly, He expects readers to encounter God in the text and provides this winsome warning at the close of his introduction:

“The purpose of a commentary is to assist readers’ involvement with the text.  Perhaps readers should therefore take warning before going further.  Attention to a text can turn into experience of its matter, and the judgments and promises of God as given through Ezekiel are so extreme that they can easily undo ordinary religiosity – to say nothing of the disastrous spiritual adventures that might be ignited by his visions.” 30

In honor of our new semester beginning next week, I thought I would post a story from the autobiography of John G. Paton, which was passed on to me by Patrick Brown. This famous, godly missionary knew how to manage a classroom.

“The following week, a young man and a young woman began to attend the Night School, who showed from the first moment that they were bent on mischief.  By talking aloud, joking, telling stories, and laughing, they stopped the work of the School.  On my repeated appeals for quiet and order, they became the more boisterous, and gave great merriment to a few of the scholars present.  I finally urged the young man, a tall, powerful fellow, to be quiet or at once to leave, declaring that at all hazards I must and would have perfect order; but he only mocked at me, and assumed a fighting attitude.  Quietly locking the door and putting the key in my pocket, I turned to my desk, armed myself with the cane, and dared any one at his peril to interfere betwixt us.  It was a rough struggle – he smashing at me clumsily with his fists, I with quick movements evading and dealing him blow after blow with the heavy cane for several rounds ’till at length he crouched down at his desk, exhausted and beaten, and I ordered him to turn to his book, which he did in sulky silence.  Going to my desk, I addressed them, and asked them to inform all who wished to come to the School, That if they came for education, everything would be heartily done that it was in my power to do; but that any who wished for mischief had better stay away, as I was determined to conquer, not to be conquered, and to secure order and silence, whatever it might cost.  Further, I assured them that that cane would not again be lifted by me, if kindness and forbearance on my part could possibly gain the day, as I wished to rule by love and not by terror.  But this young man knew he was in the wrong, and it was that which had made him weak against me, though every way stronger far than I.  Yet I would be his friend and helper, if he was willing to be friendly with me, the same as if this night had never been.  At these words a dead silence fell on the School; every one buried face diligently in book; and the evening closed in uncommon quiet and order.” (46-48, in edition linked above)

Heb 13:7: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith”  🙂

This 17th century poem, prepared later as a hymn by Wesley, captures well the truth of living all of life under the gaze of God and for his glory.

“The Elixir”

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything
To do it as for Thee.

To scorn the senses’ sway,
While still to Thee I tend:
In all I do be Thou the Way,
In all be Thou the End.

All may of Thee partake;
Nothing so small can be
But draws, when acted for Thy sake,
Greatness and worth from Thee.

If done to obey Thy laws,
E’en servile labors shine;
Hallowed is toil, if this the cause,
The meanest work divine.

-George Herbert, from The Temple (1633), edited by John Wesley

Brandon O’Brien in his new book Strategically Small Church, The: Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective writes,

“Despite the fact that the Bible compares the spread of the gospel to the mustard seed, which appears insignificant and unproductive, the dominant expectation of most pastors is that success is measured in terms of numerical growth.  Fifty years from now, this may not be the case.  We may all look back on our preoccupation with church size in the late twentieth century and say (as we do now about big hair and head-to-toe-denim), ‘What were we thinking?’  When the history books are written about our mega ministry efforts in the future, I suspect that the era between the 1970s and the present will appear the anomaly. In the decades preceding the church-growth movement, small-church ministry will prove to have been the norm by necessity.  In the decades to come, small-church ministry will be the norm by choice.” (39-40, emphasis added)

He goes on to cite trends in Christian publishing which back up this bold prediction including:

-          Weariness of the burden of perpetual numerical growth

-          Realization that the Bible defines ministry success differently than we have done

-          Increased interest in leadership development, discipleship and spiritual formation are squeezing out emphasis on size

-          “the fact of the matter is that many people are finding that large-church ministry simply isn’t working anymore” (40)

I think he is on to something.