Audio Part 1
Speaker: Christopher Ash
God, sex and marriage: what’s it all about?
Book review: The Church of Facebook
The Church of Facebook: how the hyperconnected are redefining community
By Sam Allberry
The book is divided into five short chapters. Rice considers how Facebook can have pulled hundreds of millions of people into using the service in its first 5 years. He argues that the key driver for Facebook’s explosive expansion is directly related to our desperate need for connection. ‘In connection we find comfort and safety… without it we fall to pieces. Our physical, emotional and cognitive powers weaken significantly’. Facebook resonates so strongly with us because it manages to imitate our ‘preferred environment’, our home, in the online world. We are able to ‘keep all the stuff that matters to us’ on our customisable home pages, giving evidence of our values and beliefs to our friends, we can continually ‘meet with’ our friends and family and we have a sense of control over our involvement. The goals of Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Facebook corporation is to build a universal system where people will live their digital lives.
Rice then investigates the new and unexpected outcomes of the social-networking habits that we have developed. Some of these habits are good, and some are bad – surely an expected outcome when our fallen humanity collides with human-created technology. He touches on the revealing nature of the self-portraits that we create through our pages and interactions. He briefly investigates the negative effect that continual connection has on our ability to sustain real relationships, and concentrate upon what is in front of us, in the ‘real’ world. He discusses how we need offline community (real community) to satisfy needs we attempt
to meet in our online communities. This emphasis helpfully exposes the way technology excludes as many as it includes: in this case, those who cannot own or master computer technology, such as the poor, the aged and those with many forms of disability. Rice finally considers how we adapt to Facebook, ending with some practical tips on how to practise ‘intentionality’, ‘humility’ and
‘authenticity’ in our Facebooking.
Theology:
The book is let down by its very minimal scriptural and theological arguments: for example, although ‘church’ is in the title, Rice makes no attempt to discern how the Bible’s teaching on how to be a social person might affect our online presence. This is a strange oversight. His other (few) mentions of the Bible are somewhat helpful, as far as they go.
Tone and style:
The Church of Facebook is very readable. The style is chatty, with many interesting stories and illustrations peppered throughout. Practical uses: This is a good book to put in the hands of any person keen to think more about social media – particularly those who might be new to Facebook.
Published in 2009, it will date quickly. However its concerns are broader than the technical aspects of Facebook, and so the book will remain helpful. It would be appropriate for any person who wants to better understand our desires for connections and intimacy, our need to belong and our identity, and how they play out online. It will encourage readers to pursue meaningful and authentic relationships online (although it potentially falls short of encouraging people of the need to focus greater attention on the face-to-face relationships in our ‘real’ world). l
Book review: Sin Bravely
Sin Bravely: A joyful alternative to a purpose-driven life
By Mark Ellingsen
Ellingsen’s book presents a compelling challenge to both proponents of a purpose-driven life and to those who find it easy to let the Christian life become joyless and burdensome. With Luther’s concept of brave/bold sinning front-row, he critiques American evangelicalism as being weak on sin and unduly influenced by narcissist, capitalist, individualist tendencies. His corrective holds to the idea of total depravity; “that we can never avoid sinning in anything we do”. From there he affirms getting on with living, knowing that any good that is done by a forgiven sinner, is all from God. In turn, this reality check about sin and human capacity is
said to bring joy, an emancipation from the self and empowerment to make positive contributions to society.
Refreshing content comes in the form of some recent neurobiological research which suggests that when we take our minds off ourselves and onto matters greater than us, the brain secretes joy-inducing chemicals. This theological-scientific nexus stands alongside the earlier theological critique of western culture. As such, Ellingsen helpfully presents deep theological truth as having immediate, tangible pay-dirt. The books key strength is the presentation of the corrective regarding sin and human capacity. This also presents a key weakness: that the case for grace-driven life and brave sinning is far too heavily indebted to an account of historical theology (as opposed to scripturally-argued, Systematic and Biblical theology), for a book pitched at the popular Christian market. This leads to another notable flaw: the lack of an account of the place of pursuing holiness and good works in the Christian life (cf. Eph. 2:8-10).
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Book review: Lifted
Lifted: Experiencing the resurrection life
By Sam Alberry
Allberry tackles the resurrection in four chapters, structured around the practical implications of this doctrine for Christian believers: affirmation, transformation, hope and mission. Firstly, Jesus’ historical resurrection assures us of who Jesus is and ofwhat Jesus has done on the cross. Allberry describes the resurrection as God’s signature on the deal of salvation.
Secondly, the resurrection affects our transformation because we too have been raised with Christ. We are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, such that his new life is our new life. The resurrection is the source of the power and motivation to live this new life. Not only does Christ’s resurrection have past and present implications, it anchors our final hope. Jesus’ bodily resurrection guarantees our future bodily resurrection when he returns. He also addresses the resurrection hope for the renewal of the rest of God’s creation.
Finally, Alberry addresses the implications of the resurrection for mission. In his resurrection, Jesus is exalted as king over the world and judge. He sets the believer the task of taking his good news to the ends of the earth. The resurrection initiates and motivates this mission.
Tone and style:
Lifted is very readable, personal and at times quite humorous. Allberry writes in a way that is conversational and engaging.
Theology:
One of the book’s key strengths is the way it seamlessly blends serious theological insight with real and personal application throughout the book. It teaches sound Biblical doctrine and demonstrates clearly how this applies to the life of the believer.
Possible uses:
This book would be ideal for a new Christian or anyone who is only beginning to think about the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. We tend to have a handle on what his death means, but can be unclear on the significance of his resurrection. This book will challenge all Christians to consider afresh the resurrection life.
Have something to say about this article? Please send us a message below.
Lifted: Experiencing the resurrection life
By Jesse Rice
Allberry tackles the resurrection in four chapters, structured around the practical implications of this doctrine for Christian believers: affirmation, transformation, hope and mission. Firstly, Jesus’ historical resurrection assures us of who Jesus is and ofwhat Jesus has done on the cross. Allberry describes the resurrection as God’s signature on the deal of salvation.
Secondly, the resurrection affects our transformation because we too have been raised with Christ. We are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, such that his new life is our new life. The resurrection is the source of the power and motivation to live this new life. Not only does Christ’s resurrection have past and present implications, it anchors our final hope. Jesus’ bodily resurrection guarantees our future bodily resurrection when he returns. He also addresses the resurrection hope for the renewal of the rest of God’s creation.
Finally, Alberry addresses the implications of the resurrection for mission. In his resurrection, Jesus is exalted as king over the world and judge. He sets the believer the task of taking his good news to the ends of the earth. The resurrection initiates and motivates this mission.
Tone and style:
Lifted is very readable, personal and at times quite humorous. Allberry writes in a way that is conversational and engaging.
Theology:
One of the book’s key strengths is the way it seamlessly blends serious theological insight with real and personal application throughout the book. It teaches sound Biblical doctrine and demonstrates clearly how this applies to the life of the believer.
Possible uses:
This book would be ideal for a new Christian or anyone who is only beginning to think about the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. We tend to have a handle on what his death means, but can be unclear on the significance of his resurrection. This book will challenge all Christians to consider afresh the resurrection life.
Read more . . .
