OUT OF THE SALTSHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD: EVANGELISM AS A WAY OF LIFE
Rebecca Manley Pippert, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, III., 1979, 178 pages, $3.95.
When Rebecca Pippert organized her first Bible study for non-Christians, only one person showed up. But that one seemingly hard-core agnostic became a devout Christian. This was the beginning of a revelation for Mrs. Pippert concerning evangelism.
Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World takes a fresh look at witnessing—not as a technique to be learned, but as a life style to be lived.
One of Pippert's chief concerns is that Christians should be natural around nonbelievers. "Our problem in evangelism is not that we don't have enough information—it is that we don't know how to be ourselves." She allows leeway for the use and development of individual temperaments and spiritual gifts.
Although the book takes a practical approach rather than a deep theological one, it in no way sidesteps the importance of obedience, prayer, and making Jesus our Lord. In fact, the whole book centers on using Jesus as our pattern for evangelism and following His style.
Pippert is a national consultant in evangelism with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and a popular conference speaker.
Cathy McBride
GROWTH IN MINISTRY
Thomas E. Kadel, ed., Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1980, $5.95.
Noting that growth in ministry is not automatic, this book deals with areas where pastoral growth should be evident.
After the results of the Lutheran Growth in Ministry Project were published, there were a number of efforts to deal with the significant issues it raised. One of the results has been this book, in which various authorities were asked to contribute answers to problems faced by today's minister. Some of the questions addressed in the book are: What are the basic roles and tasks in pastoring? How can shared ministry be achieved? How can conflicts between ministry and laity be resolved? How are pastors to find satisfaction in their role? How has the counseling role of the minister been modernized? What are the special needs of the pastor's own family?
The chapters are easy to read, filled with helpful ideas, as well as plenty of reassurance, and clearly addressed to a modern ministry.
William Hessel
THE APOSTLE PAUL AND WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
Don Williams, Regal Books, Glendale, 1977, 157 pages, $3.25.
Those who are caught in the current tension over the role of women in the church (or those who are just curious) will benefit by Don Williams' treatment of the Biblical issues.
The main body of the study consists of an examination of those statements in each of the Pauline letters that speak of sexual roles or concepts. His commentary is well done. Historical context is recognized. Word roots and grammatical structures are utilized. Williams is careful to distinguish between Paul's theological pronouncements and his illustrative or cultural observations.
"For Paul, women have an essential place in God's plan of salvation," he says. Williams feels that for Paul the role of women must always be understood Christologically. One's position (male or female) must be found in relation to Christ's redemption. In the church, it is the Holy Spirit who assigns, by means of gifts, one's place of responsibility. Biology and culture are not to be ignored, but Christians must unite in a common ministry where "division is transcended while distinctions are maintained."
The book's first part on survey of recent literature in the area seems extraneous to the theme. But the main part of the study can be very useful to those seeking a Biblical basis for a decision on sexual roles.
Lester Bennett
THE CHALLENGE OF THE CONCORDANCE
Harold K. Moulton, Samuel Bagster and Sons, London, 1977, 288 pages, £4.75.
This is a book for Bible students, as indicated by the subtitle—Some New Testament Words Studied in Depth. Dr. Moulton notes that most people use a concordance to find a text and little more.
Consequently they fail to understand its proper use and miss its true riches. He sees the concordance as a tool to "teach and instruct in the knowledge of God."
Because the words studied were not selected systematically, the emphasis has fallen upon practical Christianity broken down into eight categories —Jesus; Christian beliefs; the church; the Christian year; worship; the Christian life; Christian character; and the Scriptures. In all, 163 Greek words and their English equivalents are studied. No knowledge of Greek is required to benefit from the studies, but those who understand Greek will find even more to interest and instruct them.
The chief value of this book is that it requires the reader to study that Book, which above all others, challenges the intellect, inspires to right living, and leads to the knowledge of God.
Dr. Harold K. Moulton, a first-class scholar, served in the mission field in India for thirty years, and was New Testament professor at United Theological College, Bangalore. He has also edited the fourth edition of Moulton and Geden's Concordance to the Greek Testament.
Patrick Boyle