Truth to Tell: The Gospel as Public Truth

by Lesslie Newbigin

Truth to The Gospel as Public Truth

Genres: Theology, Christian, Cultural, Christianity, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Church

108 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 1991

About the author

Bishop James Edward Lesslie Newbigin was a British theologian, missiologist, missionary and author. Though originally ordained within the Church of Scotland, Newbigin spent much of his career serving as a missionary in India and became affiliated with the Church of South India and the United Reformed Church, becoming one of the Church of South India's first bishops. A prolific author who wrote on a wide range of theological topics, Newbigin is best known for his contributions to missiology and ecclesiology. He is also known for his involvement in both the dialogue regarding ecumenism and the Gospel and Our Culture movement. Many scholars also believe his work laid the foundations for the contemporary missional church movement, and it is said his stature and range is comparable to the "Fathers of the Church".

Reviews

[Chris Frakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thoughts on the nature of truth and how the church must go about approaching and presenting the truth not as either objective or subjective but as an experimental approach to all of life. Tough to read at times with Newbigin’s vocabulary but overall an enjoyable quick read.

[Frank Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The objective of the book is well summarised in the title: Christians (that is followers of Jesus) have truth to tell to the world. But, what is truth? Thus Newbigin proceed to discuss the history of truth, and how with God’s help the church has adapted with society and has consistently been able to teach truth, even when the societies philosophical foundations are crumbling. After Descartes, the idea of any truth disappeared from much of society, only being retained in the scientific community. According to Newbigin, this separation between areas of scholarship that used to be allied ended up spilling over into the church: now manifested in what is referred to as “Liberal” and “Fundamentalist” Christianity. He then goes on to argue that both are messed up. “Liberal Christianity” because it has abandoned Jesus for the sake of doing good. And “Fundamentalist” Christianity because it is ignoring what Jesus told us to do, using a focus on the cross as an excuse. He argues that we need to be in the middle somewhere, and I agree. Oddly enough, I have just ready David Platt’s book “Radical”, which pushes exactly the type of Christianity that Newbigin advocates. In the final chapter, Newbigin discusses how the real church, the visible portion of the body of Christ, needs to tell God’s truth to the world. This truth is not an arbitrary set of rules agreed upon by a given church, but rather the Truth of God, which is absolute and has the power to transform our society from within.

[John Hayward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hans Küng's memoirs reminded me of Lesslie Newbigin's autobiography, though I got much less from his, some 30 years ago. Thought I'd better give Lesslie Newbigin another look, so read his "Truth to Tell: The Gospel as Public Truth": "All living creatures must come to terms with a reality beyond themselves which they have to explore and about which they can make mistakes. To abandon hope of speaking truthfully about reality is to abandon the adventure of life." "As Einstein used to say, what you call a fact depends on the theory you bring to it."

[Andrew Bondurant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The timeliness of this book book written 30 years about to address then current cultural issues speaks to the power of the truth contained in this brief book. The gospel truth is foundational, and a public truth that serves as the light to evaluate truth claims in our world. Such a simple concept seems as if it would have been a challenge 30 years ago when it was published, and yet is just as challenging for the church today. Let’s be a church who rightly speaks truth to Caesar.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was told by several people I needed to read this book. They were right. Written in 1991, Newbigin's assessment of a world in which fundamentalists and liberals, when existing in the extreme, both corrupt the Gospel is, in my view, spot on. He identifies the way the church must bear witness to the Gospel and the Lordship of Jesus, and must speak truth in the world today.

[Terry Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newbigin brings such clarity to the question of how the Church is to act as an ethical voice in today's world and at the same time avoid becoming mired in single issues. Remarkably relevant in a week consumed with DACA.

[Paul Pompa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Newbigin does an excellent job of making a short but effective case for why and how our faith should interface with culture (and politics). One thing appreciate about Newbigin is his ability to simplify.

[Eric Keel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gospel as Public Truth...absolutely!
The opinion that we should embrace both a fundamentalist and liberal view of political engagement...not so much.

[J Grimsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing book . As a Christian I believe in the creed but do not have a a priori belief in the bible as totally true. This book assumed it was so didn't help me.

[John B. MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is truth?

The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, asked that question, as he tried the Lord Jesus (John 18:38). Although he was facing the One who is “the Truth,” Pilate did not wait for an answer, whether because he was not interested, or it was irrelevant in his mind—after all, he had the full weight of the Roman empire, and “truth” was what he said it was.

Of course, “might makes right”—whether political, cultural, or ideological—does not determine truth. So, what is truth, and how should a follower of Jesus communicate truth?

Enter Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998), a British theologian, missiologist, and author who spent much of his career serving in India, who helps us grapple with our questions.

The material in this little book (90 pages) was presented as the Osterhaven Lectures at Western Theological Seminary. His concern is to confront and correct the dominant paradigm that determines what is considered acceptable truth in the public sphere. The book is set out in three lectures or chapters:

- Believing and Knowing the Truth,
- Affirming the Truth in the Church, and
- Speaking the Truth to Caesar.

In this work, he unmasks “the false ideal of objectivity which has the effect of devaluing all kinds of knowledge which are not amenable to demonstration by methods of natural science” (42). For instance, trustworthy witnesses are a legitimate basis for determining the truth in both historical and courtroom settings.

Newbigin further argues convincingly that the witness of the Bible—God’s revelation in Jesus Christ—is the legitimate starting point for public truth. He also provides glimmers of practical insights of how individual Christians and Christian congregations can be active as a “subversive agent” (82) in bringing about the needed shift in communicating the truth effectively.

This book is readable, relevant, and well worth reading.

This review first appeared on ‘living theology’ at https://www.johnbmacdonald.com/.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book. It does what all good books do--it made me think in a different way. Certain things I've been struggling with (faith and how it fits in with the present) now make more sense, or at least I have a stronger foundation upon which to wrestle with my pondering. It's a quick read, but packed full of really good, deep stuff.

[Dayo Adewoye · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but enlightening book on the epistemological significance of Christianity. Christianity is not just private truth (my own truth), rather it is universal truth(everyone's truth). Its principles are equally applicable to the public sphere as they are to individuals.

[Leroy Seat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine little book of three lectures the author gave at Western Seminary. I found things in it I will be able to use in the book I am writing, "The Limits of Liberalism."

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

no better small book to inform how to contend for the faith today

[Matthew Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to read more of this guy's books.