In man we trust: The neglected side of Biblical faith

by Walter Brueggemann

This book suggests a fresh hearing of the Gospel in the traditions of the Old Testament. Israel's affirmation of faith is many-sided. One of the dimensions which has been largely neglected in our use of Scripture are those traditions which affirm the world, celebrate culture, and affirm human responsibility and capability. Such affirmations from the Bible sound strange to our ears, but they are no less scriptural and no less Gospel. This stress and the literature which express it are, of course, not all of Scripture but they are an important element. I have argued here that for our moment in cultural history, these elements in Scripture provide our best opportunity to make contact between biblical faith and the culture in which we do our 'faithing' To that end I have tried to penetrate the teaching and intention of the wisdom traditions, especially as they are embodied in the book of Proverbs. The study of the wisdom traditions of the Old Testament is only beginning and there are many unresolved questions. But we knowenough to suggest some directions for theological reflection. On the basis of the wisdom traditions I have tried to pay attention to the cultural world in which they had meaning, for that world was not unlike our own. -from the Foreword Contents 1. Religious Despisers of Culture 2. The Trusted Creature 3. Theology Fit for a King 4. Tempted to Commodities 5. The Meaning and Maturity for Current Theology 6. The Wise Man as a Model for Ministry 7. Uneasy Reflections from a Son of Neoorthodoxy

Genres: Theology

144 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1972

About the author

Walter Brueggemann was an American Christian scholar and theologian who is widely considered an influential Old Testament scholar. His work often focused on the Hebrew prophetic tradition and the sociopolitical imagination of the Church. He argued that the Church must provide a counter-narrative to the dominant forces of consumerism, militarism, and nationalism.

Reviews

[Margie Dorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brueggemann has become a theologian that I respect and will read and re-read. His take on Hebrew Scriptures I find refreshing, especially in this particular book regarding the importance for modern times of the Kingdom period of Israel as well as Wisdom Literature. He did write this book several decades ago, which is why I hope that through time he has come to re-evaluate his negative slants on followers of Paul and Luther, especially in the notion of "cheap grace" that he ascribes to them. I do not currently belong to a Lutheran church, but I was raised deeply Lutheran, and his notion of "cheap grace" is not something that was ever taught me anywhere. What Brueggemann misses, as a self-proclaimed "Son of Neoorthodoxy" is the growth that is produced by the deep paradoxes of human life as understood by Paul, Luther, Tillich, Bonhoeffer, and I must say, my father, all Lutherans except Paul. Luther, for example said: "A Christian is Master of All, Servant of None. A Christian is Servant of All, Master of None." My father followed that up with the notion that Grace frees us up for Responsibility (which, as he often pointed out, has the word "Response" contained within it.) Tillich grew the notion of paradox with his "Polarities of Being" which co-exist within all of us, and Bonhoeffer with the notion, as he wrote from prison, that we must live before God as though God did not exist (I interpret that to mean with grown-up responsibility). I give Brueggemann credit for a well-written, wonderful, pastoral book as is his usual. I just hope in the years that have passed since he wrote it that he has by now discovered that "Cheap Grace" is not such a universal as he seems to think it in this book.

[Aurora Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite Brueggemann book, and certainly important on my own thinking. In this book Brueggemann shows that the bible is as much about God's trust and surrender to humanity as it is about humanity trusting and surrendering to God. Almost no one talks about this humanist side of the bible in Christian circles, with evangelicals insisting that the bible be merely understood and obeyed. But God demonstrates tremendous faith in humanity to do the right thing and make their own decisions.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An Important Perspective"

Most likely I picked up a hardbound copy of In Man We Trust in perfect condition with no dust jacket, no bookplate, or owner inscription from a free books shelf or bin at divinity school. I've recently reviewed and blogged a few other books by Walter Brueggemann, so here's another, this time it's a first reading of the ©1972 book for me; there's a later 2006 edition.

Particularly for those of us within the theological and ecclesiastical traditions of the Reformation who tend to run with a Paul - Augustine - Luther theological focus and a Heilsgeschichte theological perspective, a strong emphasis on human freedom, responsibility, capability, and competence doesn't quite ring true. Wisdom literature? For sure I'm neither the first nor the last to believe on some level that Proverbs and Ecclesiastes don't really belong in the biblical canon--or in a third or a fourth canon, either. Although Brueggemann discusses Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes to some extent, more than anything he reminds us we discover the same ethos along with material from similar sources in the "J" or Yahwist Pentateuch source--supremely in the life and style of King David, to a more limited degree in the social, religious, and economic styles of United Monarchy bookends Kings Saul and Solomon. Beyond that, the author points out the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth (particularly in Matthew's gospel account) reveals Jesus as Son of David, as a King like unto David, and in human wholeness, freedom, and a rare ability to seize the day - including the day of resurrection - very much as the New David, dancing in the face of death.

We confess we follow the Way of the crucified and risen One. What does it mean to take his name upon us? An arduous journey to the cross? Possibly for a literally select few. What about assuming the fullness of responsible, responsive, humanity? Everyone in the Western world does not spend their days hung up with sin and guilt; in fact, even most protestants aren't mini-Luthers. This viewpoint isn't necessarily one to assume in place of Paul - Augustine - Luther; it's complementary to it in the sense of completing or rounding out, as a way to balance our days. At least since the late twentieth century, fewer and fewer have been walking that walk. Between a little too much, "God, be merciful to me, a miserable sinner, I'm here to claim forgiveness again" amongst church-going adults, and too many parents coddling their kids, absolving their offspring of taking charge of their own lives, every one of us could benefit from the wisdom literature's exploration of wise, fruitful living. You could call this celebration of human freedom, responsibility, capability, and competence a kind of "possibility thinking," and why not?

"They cut me down, and I leapt on high; I am the life that'll never, ever die. I am the Lord of the dance, said he."