50 REVIEWS
Things Hidden:
Scripture as Spirituality
Richard Rohr, SPCK( 2016)
RRP £ 12.99
The Witness of Preaching
( second edition)
Thomas G Long, Westminster John Knox Press( 2011)
RRP £ 17.99
Richard Rohr is a Franciscan priest who founded the Centre for Action and Contemplation and says that the most important word in that title is‘ and!’
Things Hidden takes the reader chronologically through the biblical narrative to demonstrate how the stories, themes and overarching message can bring us into an experiential knowledge of God. This book is for anyone who wants their interaction with Scripture to not only improve their knowledge about God and humanity, but to change them and bring them into a relationship with God which Rohr calls‘ mutual indwelling’.
I found that Rohr’ s presentation of Scripture often sheds a new light, or gives a different perspective that shows how passages reveal God’ s message and invitation to us. He wants to teach not only what there is to see in the Bible, but a new way of seeing that teaches how to see everything.
Some may feel uncomfortable with Rohr’ s view of the Bible as a‘ text in travail’, or progressive revelation, and his presentation of the mystery of the cross. He clearly has a very high view of Scripture and seeks to be faithful to the text though a stated intention is to bring the outer authority of Scripture into balance with the inner authority of experience. I found his emphasis on fostering a right relationship rather than presenting an academic commentary or doctrinal analysis to be life-giving, and challenging.
Things Hidden is a book that I will keep revisiting as it reframes human experience and history in light of the biblical message and keeps inviting the reader to question assumptions( about leadership, power, religion, evil, personal growth...) and move into a different experience of‘ knowing’ that is through prayer and contemplation, rather than just thinking or argument.
‘ Information is not necessarily transformation’. Rohr encourages us to experience Scripture in a way that is transformational.
JEMIMAH MCALPINE
The introduction states that this book is meant to be a basic textbook on Christian preaching while at the same time being in conversation with other voices and opinions in the field of preaching. After exploring several images of preaching including herald, pastor and storyteller, Long settles on the image of the preacher as someone the congregation sends to Scripture so that he or she might bear‘ witness’ to it. This image provides the foundation of the book whilst the idea that the sermon should‘ do something’ and therefore needs‘ a focus and a function’ provides a framework.
After considering‘ what it means to preach’, Long sets off to explore every aspect of preaching including preparation, exegesis, form, introductions, connections, endings, images and delivery. He outlines historical and contemporary views of preaching and its components, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the different views. He includes examples and cites historical and contemporary commentators.
Long reminds his readers that a sermon is only a sermon when it reaches the ears of the congregation:
‘ The space between pulpit and pew bristles with energy and activity. As the preacher speaks, the hearer races ahead in anticipation of what might be said next, ranges back over what has been said, debates with the preacher, rearranges the material, adds to the message, wanders away and returns( sometimes!). In short the hearer is a co-creator of the sermon.’
The conversations and Long’ s commentary challenge a number of established views while at the same time opening up a whole new vista of possibilities and approaches in preaching. It’ s a book I would wholeheartedly recommend to both new and experienced preachers.
ALAN IRVIN