Stemming from recent events in the worldwide fellowship of Anglican churches, Faith in a Time of Crisis unpacks the Bible’s teaching on human sexuality, at the same time showing how the gospel shapes our understanding of true love, true unity, and true faith.
Vaughan came to faith as he read through Matthew’s Gospel for himself as a teenager. After studying law at Cambridge University and a brief spell doing student ministry in South Africa, he moved to Oxford to study Theology at Wycliffe Hall and has lived in the city ever since. In 1991 he joined the staff of St Ebbe’s Church to lead the student ministry and since 1998 he has been Rector. He is also the Director of the Proclamation Trust, an organisation that encourages and equips Bible teachers. In his spare time Vaughan writes books and plays cricket and golf.
This timely book gets at the present crisis now unfolding across the church of Jesus Christ. Many Christian churches and denominations are walking away from Biblical truth as cultural pressures increase. Vaughan Roberts, a Church of England minister, ably explains the reasons for this crisis and expounds Biblical remedies to bring about spiritual health.
He bases each of his four chapters (True Gospel, True Sex, True Love and True Unity) on expositions of Bible passages, and shows how faulty ideas have emerged in our culture and seeped into the church both on the congregational and denominational levels. He then shows what a careful reading of the Bible can do to point us to the way of Christ. His references to the brokenness on display within our own Anglican Communion are handled with a sensitivity that refuses to surrender the truth of the gospel. This is a courageous call to stand for truth by a respected pastor.
The final chapter (True Faith) is contributed by the retired Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen. He carefully summarises the ways many have departed from the gospel and why it is critical that Christians refuse to go along with this trend. This is an excellent summary which would be useful in preparing the leadership of a church or denomination or Christian institution for the inevitable pressures which will come to conform to a cultural drift which stands in opposition to the true freedom found in following Christ as revealed in Holy Scripture.
There is an appendix which features the Jerusalem Declaration, an excellent example of standing for the truth of the gospel with love and clarity.
Just below 4 stars for me. Great book. I’m going to lend this to a few people to read. It’s short and easy to read. It speaks the gospel message loud and clear. It’s about the problems in the Anglican Church but also so much more. A good reminder of the gospel and all that Jesus has done for me. Thought provoking about when division might be needed but aptly and wisely speaks firmly about the importance of unity but just not at any cost.
Not bad. Brief but not concise. More a pastoral / biblical exhortation (i.e. a sermon) to be faithful rather than a detailed exploration of the current "issues" in the Anglican Church.
Would appreciate something a little more concise/informative and less preachy if anyone knows of any suggestions?
Simple and to the point. This addresses the topic of (homo)sexuality especially in the context of the Anglican Church. It only skims the surface of this issue so if you're looking for more indept discussion you'll have to go elsewhere. The proposed solution is to go back to the word of God for the basis of truth. Only then can we know what true love and true unity in Christ is.