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The Cross of Christ
by John R. W. Stott
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$26.00 |
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$8.84 (34%) |
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Hardcover
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Alister E. McGrath
ISBN13: 9780830833207
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About the Book "I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. . . . In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?" With compelling honesty John Stott confronts this generation with the centrality of the cross in God's redemption of the world -- a world now haunted by the memories of Auschwitz, the pain of oppression and the specter of nuclear war. Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today? Now from one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of our day comes theology at its readable best, a contemporary restatement of the meaning of the cross. At the cross Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and the twentieth century. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission. Destined to be a classic study of the center of our faith, Stott's work is the product of a uniquely gifted pastor, scholar and Christian statesman. His penetrating insight, charitable scholarship and pastoral warmth are guaranteed to feed both heart and mind.
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Oh, So Close! |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I began reading this book, much because of a friend of mine who loved and refered to Stott's "Basic Christianity" so often. In recent times, I've focused on the Gospel at an intensity unknown to me for the prior 34 years of my faith. And in beginning to read "The Cross of Christ," I was amazingly moved upon and cause to experience great spiritual and mental excitement, all for the good.
Stott's handling of the Gospel issues is detailed without being too deeply theological, that is, not sounding like a dry seminary text book. This book is dynamic; it faces certain controveries in thinking without fear, and presents a biblical response that makes the reader much more confident in his/her faith. Reading it for yourself is the only way for you to understand what I mean.
There were a couple times when Stott made some comments that raised my eyebrows, earlier in the book; and initially the intrigue was grabbing, in a positive way. But then came one of the reasons for having to give this book 4 stars. In his chapter called "Suffering and Glory," it becomes evident that Stott bought into a recent theology/philosophy which says that God suffers. Reading the chapter certainly did give an intellectual and, moreso, an emotional challenge. The danger here is that that his writing is so very challenging by tugging at the heart strings while the "God suffering" concept is necessarily impossible to be true. In short, it makes God mutable and, if thought through logically, not omniscient. In other words, for Stott and others to believe the "God suffers" view, they must miss the logical conclusion that Open Theology must be true to accept that God suffers. And Open Theology is an heretical teaching that makes God greater than human but less than God. God becomes essentially the equivalent of Q in Star Trek (omnipotent but not omniscient). Further, the "God suffers" philosophy must reject the teaching in Hebrews that it was necessary for Jesus as man to suffer as man's representative, and rather for God to suffer. Stott speaks of the self-substitution of God. He makes good points, but in the end has God putting Himself in the place of the man Jesus to suffer for our sins, which, again, Hebrews teaches can't be. In other words, Stott takes hold of the truth that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself," and unwittingly makes Jesus' substitution as a man with the necessary nature of Abraham pointless. If it was God that needed to suffer, then the incarnation would be pointless, wouldn't it?
I recommend the reading of Thomas G. Weinandy's "Does God Suffer?" at [...] to keep one out of the miry error of this modern-day, emotion-based philosophy which clearly distorts biblical theodicy and replaced biblical teaching with a human "god," or at least with an alien named Q.
The second reason I give this book 4 stars (and if I had not had the major problem as mentioned above, I still would have given 5 stars) is the chapter called "The Conquest of Evil." In short, my demonology and eschatology are much different from Stott's (and I can't blame him for that). If you are generally in agreement with Stott on these two doctrinal views, then you'll love this chapter. But if, like me, you disagree with Stott's views in these two doctrinal areas, you will be quite frustrated. But I will say this, that some of the best writing regarding the Gospel that Stott gives in the book occurs in this chapter, stating what he does somewhat separately from the demon and end-time themes.
Take out two chapers (and a few necessary adjustments in the others) and this book is amazing. And for studying the Gospel, it is a necessary book; but Stott, as great a student of God's Word as he is, shows that even the best can be duped by emotion over hermeneutics.
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| Definitive |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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A masterpiece - possibly the definitive work on substitutionary atonement, which makes it all the more important for the present decade, when there are many who claim to be evangelicals but deny this historic doctrine.
Stott looks at the Cross from all angles, including its symbolic significance to the church, the reasons which necessitated it, and the consequences of it (theologically, personally, socially, etc.). One of the brilliant points that this book establishes is that though there are many pictures for the atonement (courtroom, marketplace, conquest, etc.), the concept of substitution is behind them all.
D.A. Carson's endorsement was accurate: this is one of those rare must-own, must-read books.
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| Clear-headed, running over with humility |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is my first venture into a work of John Stott. Absolutely fabulous. It is not often that detailed study into complex theological issues leave you with a tremendous feeling of humility. This one does. Concepts are presented clearly and, better yet, encourage further study. Especially helpful for those of us not in the ministry. The first chapter on the cross in historical context is worth the price of the book alone. And it just gets better from there. I now understand why this book is a classic.
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| Revelatory... |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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It is easy for many of us, and certainly myself, to look unthinkingly upon the cross at times as a mere symbol, a fixture upon which we awkwardly and sporadically register our faith. Indeed, for the amateur, it can be difficult to discern the relative priority of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ within a personal theology decidedly laic. John Stott eloquently resolves these issues by describing the centrality and certitude the cross brings to Christian belief.
In a manner indomitably thorough, Stott alternately inspires, educates, challenges, and encourages the reader with a scope not only vast, but, for the arm chair theologian, largely unexpected. Perhaps, for some readers, The Cross of Christ may act as a refresher, but for others, it provides nothing less than discovery. While passages exist which may prove daunting, there are wide swaths of the book that are readily consumed and abruptly revelatory. Though typically ecumenical in nature, Stott's book offers several finely-tuned comparisons between Catholic and Protestant theologies which are welcomely affirmational. This is not a book for the casual enquirer, but can be transformational for those willing to put forth the effort. Accordingly, I find The Cross of Christ solidly merits a rating of 5 stars. Highly recommended.
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| The Cross Transforms Everything |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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From the beginning John Stott recognizes the impossibility of exhausting that which will take an eternity to unfold. He also acknowledges that the cross is not something that we can distantly analyze and discuss. As Stott says, "we can stand before it only with a bowed head and a broken spirit". Throughout this work our author appears to be a man that is bowed and broken himself. Stott, on the topic of the Cross of Christ is a sure guide.
He begins by approaching the cross (his introduction) and then moves us to the "heart of the cross". This is the meat of Stott's book. It is his argument for substitutionary atonement. After attempting to convince the reader of the substitutionary core of the cross our author discusses the benefits that this sacrifice has produced. Many authors prior have stopped at this point in their discussion of the cross, not Stott. He introduces a much needed fourth section; what it means to "live under the cross". Perhaps the many books that have hit our shelves since 1986 owe a debt of gratitude to Stott's premise that, "the cross transforms everything".
What I Enjoyed:
Perhaps the best section is Stott's fourth. The entire book is worthy of our read, yet the practical application of "living under the cross" is priceless. In fact, Stott does a wonderful job of keeping the entire book "out of the clouds" and into the life of the every day believer. It will speak to those in the ivory tower but also will touch the lives of those in the marketplace.
The book may be a little difficult for the typical lay person, but by no means unreadable. The learned scholar will not be in the least bored by this work, nor would a newer believer be completely lost. Stott teaches on the Cross in a clear and concise manner.
What I Disliked:
Something about Stott's writing style (which I typically enjoy) caused me to get distracted occasionally. It seemed as if at times Stott would walk us up to the foot of the cross, and then point across the street at something else. By no means would this have ever been his intent, yet the book is wrought with some arguments that took place 20 years ago and are less relevant today. In the 20th anniversary edition perhaps this should have been edited.
There are also a few things with which I disagree with Stott on. Occasionally it appears that his desire to be ecumenical makes the truth seem more fluid than it needs to be.
Should You Buy It?:
How can you not by a book that CJ Mahaney recommends as the elite book on the cross? In all actuality if I were to recommend a book on the cross to a typical believer it would not be Stott's it would be Mahaney's The Cross Centered Life. Yet, Stott's is an essential companion. To the pastor/theologian this work is a must have. To the everyday reader it is not a "must-have" but one that would be very beneficial to own.
Additional Note to the Reader:
I am fully aware that Stott believes in Annihilationism. I consider this as I recommend this book. The truth is his Annihilationism, from what I could tell, did not affect this book. I am certain that he might have taken a few different roads had he held to an eternal conscious torment in hell. Nevertheless, Stott does acknowledge the punishment and wrath of God, as well as the idea of separation from the Godhead. Therefore, Stott's view on Annihilationism does not cause me to refrain from recommending this work.
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