Caught Between Truths

by Barry L. Callen

This book has been written in the belief that both the demoralized "liberal" and the resurgent "conservative"elements of the present Christian community need to grasp again what G. K. Chesterton once called "the romance of orthodoxy." Many major beliefs of the church are actually a joining of atleast two coordinate truths that are delicately placed so as to form a larger whole, the higher truth. Very often, the components of a larger theological whole appear on the surface to be contradictory. Nevertheless, each contains a vital piece of the whole. Only together do they form the essential paradox that alone is able to express the real, the whole truth. We Christians find ourselves faced with a set of crucial paradoxes that are inevitable if our theology is to be adequate. We are challenged to avoid panic in the face of persistent paradox. The delicate ambiguities of paradox maybe the only path to true wisdom.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy

148 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2007

About the author

Barry L. Callen is University Professor Emeritus of Christian Studies at Anderson University, Editor of Anderson University Press and the Wesleyan Theological Journal, and Special Assistant to the General Director of Church of God Ministries. A college and seminary dean and professor at Anderson University for thirty-nine years, Dr. Callen has authored thirty-five books, including his autobiography A Pilgrim’s Progress (2008). Recent other volumes include: Discerning the Divine (Westminster/John Knox 2004); Authentic Spirituality (Baker Academic/Emeth Press 2001, 2006); and The Scripture Principle, with Clark Pinnock (Baker Academic/Emeth Press 2006, 2009). He holds academic degrees from Geneva College, Anderson University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Chicago Theological Seminary, and Indiana University. He is a founding officer and current corporate secretary of Horizon International, a Christian ministry to AIDS orphans in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Biblically revealed truth is available and adequate. It is simple enough for anyone to benefit, gaining eternal life now and later. It also is comprehensive and thus complex enough that it is always beyond our full understanding and control.” | Callen’s book provides a big picture overview of the central paradoxes of the Christian faith. While I did appreciate the general idea of the text, I sometimes found the supporting details to be a bit lengthy.