Union with Christ: Reframing Theology and Ministry for the Church

by J. Todd Billings

Accomplished theologian J. Todd Billings recovers the biblical theme of union with Christ for today's church, making a fresh contribution to the theological discussion with important applications for theology and ministry. Drawing on Scripture and the thought of figures such as Augustine, Calvin, Bavinck, and Barth, Billings shows how a theology of union with Christ can change the way believers approach worship, justice, mission, and the Christian life. He illuminates how union with Christ can change the theological conversation about thorny topics such as total depravity and the mystery of God. Billings also provides a critique and alternative to the widely accepted paradigm of incarnational ministry and explores a gospel-centered approach to social justice. Throughout, he offers a unique and lively exploration of what is so amazing about being united to the living Christ.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Ecclesiology, Church, Spirituality, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

J. Todd Billings is the Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI (Th.D. Harvard). His first book, Calvin, Participation, and the Gift, won a 2009 Templeton Award for Theological Promise. His third book, Union with Christ, won a 2012 Christianity Today Book Award. His 2015 book, Rejoicing in Lament, gives a theological reflection on providence and lament in light of his 2012 cancer diagnosis. His latest book, The End of the Christian Life, explores how the journey of authentic discipleship involves embracing our mortal limits. He is married to Rachel M. Billings, an Old Testament scholar (Ph.D., Harvard). They have a lively household with two young children and a very opinionated cat.

Reviews

[Ryanne Molinari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school. Useful and well-informed! Not sure really how to rate it. For what it is, it is very good. Not a page-turner, but it isn’t meant to be. It’s meant to present a basic theology of retrieval regarding union with Christ.

[Ben Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author wants to "retrieve" a more robust place of union with Christ in the theological formulations of Reformed Christianity. This book is not a bad book, but it is tedious.

[Zach Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume contains a collection of essays on Union with Christ and its usefulness among various issues of theology and ministry. Obviously, his prior work on Calvin and personal experiences largely shape the topics and discussions. As a whole, this volume starts with a sizzle and ends with a fizzle.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool book, introducing us to theologians of long ago, helping us to understand substantial truth, really fun. The only thing that kept me from rating it 4 stars was the last third of the book, which got all mumbo jumbo, to me. The author seemed to really want to make a point and got too complicated trying to make it. I LOVED the first quarter of the book, that was 5 stars. My quotes below are from that section.

This was very enlightening:
"In this parable, the day-laborer working in the countryside recognizes the high and exalted place of the emperor. an occasional encounter with the emperor would be delightful - enough so that the laborer could keep his own comfortable life, keep his friends, keep his identity, yet have it embellished by the honor of the emperor. 'A little favor- that would make sense to the laborer.'"

"But what if the emperor wants to make him his own son? The prospect of adoption in this sense is an offense. It is TOO MUCH CLOSENESS- it is the sort of closeness that requires giving up one's own identity. Yes, it is a high and exalted place to be the child of the emperor, the king of the land. But it is too high and exalted- wouldn't he be a laughingstock? Wouldn't he lose all that is precious to him if he were to ascend to be the king's son? In the words of Kierkegard, the day laborer says, "Such a thing is too high for me, I cannot grasp it; to be perfectly blunt, to me it is a piece of folly." It would be wonderful if the king would send him some money or a letter to cherish as a relic. but the king is asking for so much more. The king is asking to be more than an accessory to his identity. The king wants his full identity, his entire life- wants him to be exalted, the child of the king.

And so it is with God, the King. Yet adoption by the King is SUCH a radical notion, we resist it. We would rather have the occasional brush with God’s presence, or a relic of his solidarity with us, so that God can be an appendage of OUR identity.

By bringing us into the new reality of the Spirit, we can call out to God – Abba, Father – as adopted children united to Christ. Yet there are few things more countercultural than this process of adoption – losing your life for the sake of Jesus Christ, to find it in communion with the Triune God.

[Kessia Reyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here Billings attempts a "theology of retrieval" with Reformed thinkers of the past, reframing, as the subtitle indicates, theology and mission in the theme of "union with Christ." This idea of union with Christ used to be much more prominent than in modern-day thinking, and reflects the "in Christ" motif prevalent in the New Testament.

I appreciated many of Billings' insights, particularly his beautiful exposition of adoption into Christ in the first chapter. His defense of "extensive [total] depravity" did not prevail upon me to convert me from my Arminian thinking, though it did give me a more fair and balanced view of the Calvinist position.

For those involved in cross-cultural or youth ministry where the "incarnational ministry" model is so widely lauded, the fifth chapter of this book would be useful and challenging in a good way. While appreciating the goals of incarnational ministry, Billings' challenges it as not-quite-biblical and having some unfortunate consequences. In its place he proposes a "participation in Christ" model that reimagines cross-cultural ministry in a fresh and biblical way.

[Brian Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not so much a study of Union with Christ as an application of that that study to various areas of theology and practice. I found especially helpful his critiques of "incarnational ministry" and contextualization." He also includes a helpful discussion that demonstrates that apartheid developed in South Africa not because of orthodox Reformed theology but in the departure from it in an effort to be missional and contextualize the church's ministry. He quotes John de Gruchy: “Despite the fact that this development went against earlier synodical decisions that segregation in the church was contrary to the Word of God, it was rationalized on grounds of missiology and practical necessity. Missiologically it was argued that people were best evangelized and best worshipped God in their own language and cultural setting, a position reinforced by German Lutheran missiology and somewhat akin to the church-growth philosophy of our own time.”

[Andrew Gates · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing overall. I forgot to look at the table of contents before buying it...he is basically using union as a window into things like justice and incarnational ministry models.
I appreciated some of his comments in the first chapter on adoption. He argues that adoption is such a high and gracious reality that we are tempted to resist it and keep God at a distance from us...a very helpful insight! The following chapters, however, were not very helpful and so I skimmed the rest.
I hope to read Macaskill in the future.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billings has given us a strong example of the fruits of a theology of retrieval. By recovering past theologies from Calvin, Ursinus, Junius, Barth, and the Belhar Confession, he helps the reader view contemporary theological debates with new eyes. In an age that can't hold God's closeness and God's incomprehensibility together, Chapter 3 ("On Communion with the Incomprehensible God") is worth the price of the book alone. Highly recommended!

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn't perfect, but it came along at a great time for me. I've been reading a fair amount on the Union with Christ from other authors. Billings did a great job in teasing out some of applications without really stretching the text. He had a far more organic view on revelation and sanctification as it related to union with Christ.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful paradigm for understanding salvation and ministry through the lens of our Union with Christ. Especially loved the chapter on UwC and the Lord's Supper and the implications for fighting for justice in the world. The last chapter critiquing incarnational ministry maybe needs a bit more nuance but has some helpful thoughts.

[Greg Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not so much an explication of the doctrine of union with Christ as an examination of facets of it. Nevertheless, it was helpful for me in places, especially the sections on adoption and divine accommodation.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, though some chapters felt a little too long. It’s also interesting to see many of the issues for which the author retrieved the past are in some ways now dated. That being the case, still quite good.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though densely theological, and sometimes ponderous, the content of this book is still fairly accessible and excellently well layed out. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to dig a little deeper into theology.

[Conner Hinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the focus on union with Christ and the impact of this union on the Christian’s daily walk. Billings also provided me with the language to express some of my concerns about the concept of “incarnational ministry.”

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suggestions for the Church moving forward from a Reformed stance.

[Kris Lundgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth lots of reflection, discussion--and action.

[Coram Deo Church]

Union with Christ is not currently available at local libraries.

[Dan Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. Todd Billings has written an accessible, articulate and challenging book dealing with various doctrinal and practical implications of the Christian's adoption by God through the saving work of Christ and by the agency of the Spirit. While not an exhaustive exploration of the doctrine of union with Christ, this study does explore various aspects and implications of it. This is a work of theological retrieval, drawing on past and often forgotten sources, especially Calvin, to bring something long neglected back to the foreground for the edification of the church today.

In chapter 1, Billings examines the implications of the doctrine of union with Christ as a much needed corrective for large swaths of the modern church's (especially in North America) practice of the faith as a form of Moral Therapeutic Deism and he shows how a robust understanding of union places us in a relationship with God where we are being graciously conformed to the image of his Son rather than us morphing a detached God into an idol made in our own image and for our own convenience. In chapter 2 Billings discusses Calvin's doctrine of union and how, rightly understood, it counter balances the tendency to misunderstand the doctrine of total depravity in a number of ways by either proponents or opponents of the doctrine (which can have the effect of eroding a right doctrine of the Imageo Dei). Chapter 3 shows how the Christian's union with Christ is central to and essential for our communion with an otherwise unknowable and incomprehensible God. In Chapter 4 Billings explores how a partial recovery of the doctrine of union with Christ formed the basis for some of the steps taken in the church of South Africa helping to kick start the end of Apartheid and how systematic segregation first came about through a racial division at the Lord's Table stemming from a neglect of the doctrine of union. Billings rightly sees this as a functional denial of the doctrine of the unity of the body through union with Christ at the very place which ought to be the most clear demonstration of union with Christ and its implications for the unity of the church. He goes on to show how the liberal church focus on social justice is devoid of its power without a robust belief in union with Christ and conversely he calls the orthodox and conservative to recover this neglected aspect of its own theology in order to restore justice to both thought and way of life. Finally, chapter 5 explores the recent trend to view the incarnation as the model for missional ministry. Billings demonstrates that, while many of the proponents of incarnational ministry are working toward some truly admirable goals and reforming some erroneous practices, when they hold up the incarnation as a pattern, they are doing something that Scripture itself never does. Rather, as the author convincingly shows, it is our union with the crucified and risen and indwelling Christ (by his Spirit) that is the basis and model, as well as the power, for our gospel mission. Not sure if I would agree that there are no implications of the incarnation which the church can look to as exemplar and incorporate into mission, but Billings certainly does put the emphasis in the right place when he points to the cross and resurrection and our resulting "in Christ" status.

Again, there are depths that this book does not plumb, and it was not the purpose of this study to go all the way down into the doctrine of union with Christ. Those looking for a deep exegetical exploration or a systematic treatment won't find it here, although both aspects are present and certainly stand behind this work. This study is just right to reintroduce the church to this oft neglected doctrine and to give us a tantalizing taste for the rich fruit that awaits the church that recovers a right theology and reintegrates a right practice of the implications of the union of the church (and the individual Christian) to Christ. I recommend this to pastors, students, well-read laypeople and armchair theologians everywhere.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a a Reformed exposition of the doctrine of union with Christ by a professor at Western Theological Seminary in Michigan. Billings seeks to use the image of "union with Christ" as a way of understanding how we as Christians might be engaged with God in the work of redemption, a work that is entirely in the hands of God, but through union Christians can engage in this work of grace. This is a deeply reformed book, rooted in Calvin and Barth. Those in the missional community may want to attend to his discussion of incarnational ministry, the theology of which he finds lacking, and offers union with Christ as a better alternative -- that is, we cannot truly incarnate God as did Christ. That is a unique revelation of God, and thus theologically the idea of incarnational ministry is found wanting.

If, like me, you're not as deeply rooted in Reformed theology this book may not be as helpful, but I think for Reformed types, this may have great value.

[Roy Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billings employs a creative theology of retrieval to address current concerns in the practice of ministry. Union with Christ becomes the focal reality - real participation in living union with the living Christ - that changes the conversation around such topics as incarnational ministry, social justice and the Lord’s Supper, and missional practices. He offers a sharp critique of "Modern Therapeutic Deism" and offers an alternative perspective that brings John Calvin's theology to life in astonishingly fresh ways. Originally a set of lectures, these chapters present a subtle and radical recasting of ministry. For those who are interested in the current conversation about the Belhar Confession of South Africa which addressed Apartheid, Billings gives an appreciative critique that is quite helpful.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a phenomenal book. Billings work on the doctrine of union with Christ is thought provoking and convicting. Throughout this book, he has an emphasis on doing retrieval theology and I think he does this well, by primarily looking at Reformed theologians. I appreciated the chapter in which he put Calvin and Bavinck in conversation with one another. His critique of Incarnational ministry and his solution of Participation ministry was also very helpful. I encourage anyone who desires to delve deeper into the ecclesiological call of God's people to read this book. You will not be left disappointed.

[Peter Bringe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book as far as it went. It explains the Calvinist doctrine of union with Christ and gives a few implications of this doctrine for ministry. This doctrine was central to Calvin's thinking, and central to his conception of our salvation. Justification and sanctification both result from our union with Christ. Union and communion with God through Christ is the other side of the coin to the doctrine that man is enslaved to sin when he is apart from Christ (when he has no communion with God).

[Kylie Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billings in his theology of retrieval of the great and mysterious doctrine of Union with Christ, not only retrieves a fulsome theology of Union, he liberates Calvin from cliches and challenges some of Western evangelical sacred cows like the notion of incarnational ministry. It is a thought provoking read on the two-fold grace of salvation and sanctification and how that should, according to Billings work it's way into community, justice and ministry. Worth the read!

[Anthony Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first three chapters were terrific reading. Chapter four was surprising in its turn to more practical matters but ultimately very good. I found chapter five overly long and seemed to be a particular issue that probably mattered more to the author than most readers (the terminology of "incarnational ministry"). It was a good point, but took up too much space for such a small book. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I'd actually probably give it 3.5 stars, but why not just round up?

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book engaging a few prominent ministry models (such as the pervasive Incarnational model) and doctrines (exceptionally good chapter on total depravity and decently solid chapter touching on the Lord's Supper).

Definitely more on the academic side, but it would definitely benefit pastors and ministry leaders. In fact, I would challenge most pastors to read, if not at least engage, the concepts therein. Highly recommend it!

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review forthcoming, as soon as I have access to a keyboard that isn't a phone

Here it is: http://www.pres-outlook.org/reviews3/...

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very deep thinking

I read this book as part of a reading group. If I was reading it on my own I would not have finished it. Not by any means that it is poorly written. It is very academic and not a quick read. I will say that I appreciate the author's insights and I found chapter 5 to be my favorite.

[Alex Houston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd Billings covers a subject that should shape the Christian's life, this is a major doctrine that is sadly neglected in much of the Church. Who we are in Christ is an implication of the gospel that needs to be focused on every day.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good read. Dense but rich. I'd probably recommend reading a more accessible book on Union before you sink your teeth into this. Overall this was a great book and my understanding of adoption, mystery and "participation ministry" have been deepened because of it.

[Hannah Gourley · Rating 2 out of 5]

started out enjoying it...wandered too far into uninteresting topics