Book Reviews
Book Review: A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship:
- Written by: Rhys Bezzant
A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship: Understanding the Ideas that Reshaped the Protestant Church
Lester Ruth and Lim Swee Hong
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2021
Reading this book was like listening to the soundtrack of my earliest years as a Christian in the 1970s. It tells the story of the rise and development of contemporary praise and worship – some of it much earlier than the decade of my conversion! – with lots of quotations from songs, and references to their composers or publishers. But recounting this story is not just about listing choruses. In the hands of Ruth and Hong, we discover the social and the theological pressures which generated a twentieth-century revolution in both musical performance and song-writing. Their focus is on the United States, but their analysis holds good for Australia as well. The authors are professors in the field of Christian worship, so this book was the result of painstaking research – mainly through personal interviews – over many years. Contemporary Christian music has deep and complicated roots.
Their basic argument is that the movement away from traditional worship with organs and hymnbooks was not the result of the Jesus movement among hippies in California in the 1970s – though they might have sped things up. The recent movie The Jesus Revolution gives this impression too. Rather, the move to develop new models of musical worship began much earlier in fundamentalist circles in the 1940s, first in Canada, spreading later to the US and beyond, appealing to a Biblicist model of interpretation, in which Psalm 22:3 outlines precisely how praise works: God promises to make himself present to us when we praise him, for God is enthroned on the praises of Israel. He is not present to us intimately until we praise. Whether we feel like it or not, we must praise God to create the conditions by which he visits us. Only then can we worship him. Praise is the prelude to worship. They are not the same. Indeed there are many words in Hebrew for the notion of raising our voices to exalt God, with different and for the most part non-overlapping meanings according to those earliest circles of music leaders. We praise God to make him present, and we worship to enjoy him intimately. Hebrews 13:15 was the text used to explain how intimacy through the name of God constituted our worship subsequent to our praise. For some of those teachers, the model of David praising God in the temple, or Moses approaching God in the tabernacle, added further Old Testament nuance, both assuming a movement towards greater intimacy as one drew closer to the Holy of Holies. They called themselves the movement of praise and worship, but they did not use the word “contemporary.”
A second stream emerged around the time of WWII, which was not so concerned for precise definitions of words and didn’t use the OT for models of spirituality. They did want to make church services more contemporary to appeal to those Christians who no longer attended church because it appeared to them boring or stuffy. The musical vernacular had changed in the supercharged cultural vicissitudes of the middle of the century, so a new musical language had to be spoken. Like any decent missionary, you had to learn the local language – albeit musical – to reach a generation whose heart language had changed. Ruth and Hong dig a bit deeper in evangelical history to show how reformers and revivalists in the Protestant tradition had frequently made the same appeal to linguistic and cultural adaptation to make their message heard. Charles Wesley, Charles Finney, or Aimee Semple Macpherson were notable agitators for liturgical change in their own day. Their issue was not to change the content but the form of communication in this new musical revolution. What began in midweek Bible studies, was transposed to Sunday services. They made 1 Corinthians 9:22 their slogan, in which the apostle highlighted flexibility as his ministry priority to reach the world.
Traditionally, Christians have spoken of the regulative and the normative principle to describe the practice of worship. The former establishes a rule from the Scriptures which dictates not just the content but the form of worship, and the latter establishes a norm which coheres with the theology of the Bible though is not commanded anywhere in it. However, despite the authors being academics, they do not pick up these categories to present their overview of the twentieth century, though this is exactly the shape of their argument. But they do make abundantly clear that the two streams merge in around the 1960s to create musical exaltation now called “contemporary praise and worship.” They characterise the two streams with the language of “gift” theory and “gap” theory, the former highlighting God’s desire to give his presence as a gift, and the latter highlighting the need to close the gap as Christians engage more intentionally with contemporary culture to win some for Christ. The Great Depression, the Second World War, and the Cold War had radically ruptured traditional approaches to Western culture, so not surprisingly congregational singing underwent radical changes too. New technologies further reshaped expectations and possibilities as well, though they were not the root cause of the change.
Unpicking the threads of the story proves so helpful in isolating theological challenges to congregational singing today. In the “gift” strand, the focus for meeting God in the Sunday service moves from the pastor to the band leader. The traditional means of grace, sermon and sacraments, are no longer the primary strategy for meeting with the Lord. Instead, singing takes on this role. The leader who has been theologically trained gives ground to the musician who in all likelihood has not. The music leader now has a priestly role. This is evident not just in more charismatic churches, but in many Anglican ones as well, where the platform or the sanctuary is dominated by musical instruments, with font or communion table nowhere to be seen. The Lord’s Supper is marginalised in the life of the congregation, and gives ground to the priestly work of the musician or band leader.
In the “gap” strand, we have come to imagine that the way to draw unbelievers back to church or into the believing community is to recreate an aesthetic or style of worship which is attuned to contemporary cultural (read: musical) vernacular. Personally, I love contemporary music-making in church, but it can easily be assumed that it is the music that bears the weight of evangelism in church, not the sermon, or the prayers, or the testimonies, or the love and welcome of the people. Renewal in the church will take a whole lot more than the choice of songs. But this must also be said: contemporary musicians who arrange a longer set of songs well have understood something which is profoundly liturgical about church. These band leaders have excellent skills in how to sequence the songs to shape a spiritual journey from God-focused high tempo songs, to more mellow reflections on obedience for example. Traditionally, however, this was done with all the elements of a church service, taking worshippers on a journey through the storyline of the Bible, beginning with praise of the Creator, moving on to trust in the Saviour, then commitment to the Spirit’s mission and power. Elements and their relationship to each other build suspense, or relieve tension, or to create focus and theme.
This is a great book, though it does contain lots of details about church leaders and musicians whose names don’t normally appear in the historical record. But that is perhaps why it is refreshing too: our own small contributions to Sunday worship can merge to create a flow which impacts vast numbers. As the song from 1969 says, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.”
Rhys Bezzant | Ridley College
Book Review: Raising Tech-Healthy Humans
- Written by: Mark Simon
Raising Tech-Healthy Humans
DANIEL SIH
Publish Central, 2023
REVIEWED BY MARK SIMON
Daniel Sih’s book for parents on shaping the technology habits of their children is just what it claims to be – helpful guidance for parents grappling with technology usage in the modern world. Every parent I know grapples with this area. Countless studies and articles highlight the potential dangers of excessive technology use by children (and adults), and Sih includes brief highlights of some potential harms. So the need for guidance in this area is clear, and Sih serves up a range of practical strategies underpinned by a foundational principle: parenting is about raising adults, not children. Therefore, “the role of a parent is to love, mentor and equip their children with the physical, emotional and psychological experiences they need to become adults.” (p.7) The strategies, perspectives and reflection questions he presents all contribute to a parent’s ability to raise tech-healthy adults, not just to minimise arguments about screen time.
A brief chapter on brain development and function highlights the reasons children so easily get addicted to technology (it engages the ‘downstairs brain’ – impulsive, emotional, fight/flight responses), and introduces a distinction between passive and interactive media. Passive media (such as TV and movies) has been around for decades, but more recently the proliferation of interactive media (such as video gaming and social media) encourages users to ‘lean-forward’ to engage with it, and overstimulates the downstairs brain, making it the more problematic form of technology for healthy brain development.
The core of the book is a framework based on the acronym ‘Starter’. Start with self; Take it slowly; Age appropriateness; Regular talk; Tech-healthy rhythms; Encourage adventures; Rely on others. For each of these principles, Sih combines research and insights with practical suggestions. The book is a short and easy read – perfect for time-poor, technology-saturated parents. It includes an appendix ‘100 Fun Non-Screen Activities to do with Kids’ – which reminds us all that the best things in life are free (teddy bear picnics, dress-ups, board games, exercising together, music, water fights…)
One interesting feature of the book as a short-listed finalist in the Australian Christian Book of the Year Awards is that it doesn’t present any explicitly Christian perspectives on technology usage in the family. There are plenty of implicit priorities that Christian families would affirm (such as mentoring, and mutual accountability), but the book got me wondering whether parenting in a Christian context adds any distinctive dynamics or goals into the mix.
The book is also best suited to parents of younger children and pre-teens, since it acknowledges the capacity to impact or radically change course with teenagers who have already become set in unhealthy habits requires a different approach. Despite these minor quibbles, there is much benefit to be gained by readers of Sih’s book (not just parents, but anyone who uses technology).
Rev Dr Mark Simon is Lecturer in New Testament and Research Associate at Ridley College, and minister of St Luke’s Vermont.
Book Review: How to Find Yourself: Why looking inwards is not the answer
- Written by: Karen Hale
How to Find Yourself: Why looking inwards is not the answer
REV DR BRIAN S. ROSNER
Crossway, 2022
REVIEWED BY KAREN HALE
In his previous book Known by God A biblical theology of personal identity (2017) Brian Rosner (Principal, Ridley College) outlines a compelling argument for our identity being directly linked to being known by God. This latest book is a more accessible account exploring our identity and the question ‘Who am I? In the west the answer to this question is solved by looking inward. Rosner critiques this way of working out our identity and explores the many short comings of this view. He then seeks to provide an alternative of seeing our identity not primarily from within but by looking upwards to God. This view of looking inward is called expressive individualism. It stresses that if you want to know yourself and be happy then you need to look inward. Personal freedom is prized above all else and we should celebrate everyone’s quest for self-expression. The positives of this view are briefly outlined by Rosner before addressing a thoughtful critique.
The question of identity is not new but the markers that we use to express our identity have changed significantly over the last 50 years. Today we use fewer identity markers to describe who we are. Rosner challenges us to ask 5 important questions of expressive individualism. Does it help us deal with suffering, our pride, the poor and weak, injustice and our happiness. Rosner argues that this way of finding our identity is both fragile and faulty.
By looking at some ancient Biblical texts Brian Rosner explores how we have seen the fragility and faults of humans in seeking to look within to define their identity. In the story of Adam and Eve we find humans thinking they can work out their own path and that they know best. This has terrible consequences, and it is only in looking at Jesus that we finally see a human who is tempted to trust themselves and yet trusts God. Even though today we are told to look inward, Rosner rightly identifies that this is not the full view. We have never been more obsessed with looking around us. Through social media, in particular, we compare and contrast ourselves to everyone else. Rosner suggests that the missing piece we are yearning for is looking upwards. True identity is beyond us. He suggests that we are a social story telling beings that want to worship. From when we are babies to the end of life we live in society and are shaped by all the relationships that we have. To know yourself you need to be known. Known by others but more importantly known by God.
Rosner contends that today the narrative that we inhabit is secular materialism. Historically this has come from the enlightenment, a story of progress, freedom from the dark past. We then had the sexual revolution, a story of freedom for pleasure. Now we see the story of consumerism, we are what we buy. This seems to tap into financial security and enjoyment. All these stories have failed us, as they do not take seriously the impact of personal freedoms nor the capacity of humans to do harm. There has been some acknowledgement of these pitfalls and so another story has emerged that highlights social justice. This is a strong voice at present. It is a very black and white view of social justice and fails to take into account the complexity of many issues.
In contrast to secular materialism Brian Rosner offers a positive way forward. We are part of a bigger story, God’s story, which is particularly seen in Jesus’ story. He then asks the same questions of this view. Can this help us with suffering, our pride, the poor and weak, injustice and happiness. We don’t just believe God’s story we inhabit this story.
The final part of the book looks at how to live within this story. It is a paradox that you are told to lose yourself to be able to find yourself. We don’t look in, but to Christ to truly find ourselves. We are encouraged to trust in Jesus and to immerse ourselves in his story, a story with love at the centre.
I highly commend this book as it seeks to help us engage with the complex issue of our identity. In a world that currently has fewer identity markers and yet espouses greater freedom that does not seem to deliver. Identity crisis seems to be occurring at every age today from children to the elderly. The story we have been sold of expressive individualism doesn’t seem to be delivering on the freedoms it seems to promise. Instead, people are more confused than ever. Brian Rosner provides a compelling case for seeing our identity within God’s story. The story of the good news of Jesus. It is a bigger story beyond ourselves but one in which we get to live. We are part of this narrative, and it is a story that is rooted in love. To be truly known and loved by God gives us an identity that is able to withstand the complexities of life.
Karen Hale is Teacher of Religious Education and Science at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School.
Book Review: The Future is Bivocational
- Written by: Angus Monro
The Future is Bivocational
Andrew Hamilton
Arkhouse Press 2022
Reviewed by Rev Angus Monro
Andrew Hamilton wants to goad, encourage and guide pastors and church-planters to broaden their horizons beyond the standard “professional minister” model, and is convinced that bivocationality needs to become normal. So, this book – shortlisted for SparkLit’s 2023 Christian Book of the Year - is designed for you if you are:
- considering a future in pastoral ministry or church- planting
- struggling to connect meaningfully with your flock’s everyday experiences
- wanting to radically deepen your community engagement
- looking for a way to circumvent that inevitable conversation-stopper (“I’m a minister”)
- desiring your members to take more ministry
- operating bivocationally already but struggling to make it work
- or in a financially struggling parish.
And on that last point, this might be just the book for churchwardens, too.
Hamilton’s background emerges from the stories scattered through this book. In the 1970s, the West Australian Baptist church sent ‘worker pastors’ – including the author’s future in-laws – to the far North West of the state to work full-time secularly while endeavouring to plant churches after-hours. Fast forward, and Hamilton, lacking a full-time role during this first two decades of Baptist ministry, supplemented his church income with side jobs to which he frankly admits he attached little meaning. His bivocational awakening occurred when he decided to start his own home irrigation installation business and through this found himself getting to know his community’s people, and even praying for and inviting them to church. Since then he has embraced and developed this model, including blogging, mentoring and surveying likeminded people.
The book is very readable with plenty of stories, both the author’s own and others’. Hamilton’s style has this frustrating feature, though: he frequently starts a chapter or section on a weak theological footing (I think his intent is to start where the reader might be!). Hang in there, though – he will work his way to firmer ground. His theology of work itself is a case in point: the first four chapters will give the reader the impression that he
views work in utilitarian or evangelistic terms; then work emerges as being of creational value and a means of worship.
This is a very practical book. After working to convince us that bivocationality needs to be a staple of neighbourhood ministry, Hamilton surveys a number of essential topics. Vocation, calling and identity are revisited. Challenges, pitfalls and complexities of the bivocational lifestyle are discussed. He puts on his career counsellor’s hat and suggests eight options for finding work. The spiritual life and leadership of the bivocational minister receive some centring advice. Bivocationality requires building a ministry team and adjusting one’s self-expectations, to which a chapter is devoted.
If we were to embrace this within Anglicanism, we may need to revisit the assumption of full-timeness at a structural level. For example, in Melbourne the number of synod representatives of a parish is linked to the number of full-time ministers in the parish. But what if a parish has four 50/50 bivocational ministers? At the same time, I found myself wondering as I read: Hamilton’s model is one solution; could reviving Anglicanism’s historical priest (church gathered) / deacon (church scattered) distinction also be a solution, or piece thereof? I am referring here to the distinctive deacon as one dedicated to supporting laypeople where they are in the community. This has been my own part-time ministry alongside my secular business analyst role: encouraging and enabling believers at their frontlines to stand firmer in their faith, conducting in-house worship services and training in work-as-ministry and in witness. Our culture is no longer all that interested in hearing the voice of professional church ministers, so Hamilton’s proposal merits every minister’s serious consideration.
Angus Monro BE, BSc, MDiv is a distinctive deacon in the Diocese of Melbourne, ministering as a business analyst in an Australian multinational bank while pastoring its global christian community and chairing its multi-faith umbrella. He is married to Michelle, and together they worship and serve at St Mark’s Camberwell.
Book Review Behind the Tears
- Written by: Michelle Monro
Behind the Tears: Understanding, Surviving and Growing from Suffering
Dr Bruce Robinson
Macsis Publishing, 2023
Reviewed by Michelle Monro
“Behind the Tears” is a book for those who are suffering, have suffered and are caring for those who suffer… in other words, for all of us.
If the reader is looking for a rich theological exploration of theodicy; or a radically transformative and perfectly argued perspective on godly suffering, this book should not be your first port of call. Dr Bruce Robinson is a medical doctor, not a theologian, and he readily admits that there is a wealth of other resources that address the question of suffering from an academic viewpoint.
Yet this is where the book’s value is to be found. Not only has the author spent many years journeying professionally beside those who suffer, Dr Robinson has personally experienced pain and loss on many different levels. The breadth and depth of his experience enable Dr Robinson to write on the topic of suffering with compassionate clarity.
Drawing on his own experiences and those of others whom he has helped, Dr Robinson is perfectly placed to speak with wisdom, gentleness, compassion and depth of understanding on the issues presented to everyday believers as we experience suffering in its many forms.
Some of the strategies proposed in the book can seem simplistic; at times the author’s approach to scripture is somewhat unsophisticated… One needs to be reminded that this is an intensely personal book: the sharing of the author’s own heart. And here is the shortfall and the promise of this work – Dr Robinson writes as one who understands suffering and who longs for others to be enabled to wrestle, to understand, to persevere through, to be literally en-courage-d as they endure, and to come through suffering with a greater love for God and for others; even as he has done himself.
With this compassionate approach front and centre, the book is designed such that it can easily be read in brief snippets; scanning through so as to find what suits the particular situation someone is inquiring about. Short chapters with many headings and different styles of font easily draw the eye.
This can be beneficial or problematic: reading the book in one sitting can be frustrating, as your eye and mind rarely get a chance to settle in, follow an argument deeply or get into a flow. However, for those who are in the midst of a struggle, the work is perfectly designed for dipping in and out as you have capacity or need… Need to work out how to handle a new diagnosis? Need to know how to talk to your friends about what you need? Need to understand why you feel anger? You can easily scan through this book to find the sections that will help in the midst of your pain.
As someone who has suffered in a variety of ways - personal chronic illness, death of loved ones and caring for ageing parents with debilitating mental illness – I have resonated with many of the topics in this helpful book.
Yet there are many other aspects of suffering which I have not personally endured, which are also helpfully addressed
in practical ways. I imagine myself pulling this book off the shelf often when an issue of suffering arises in my own life or in the lives of those around me.
Michelle Monro is the Pastoral Minister at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Camberwell, Victoria.