Clark H. Pinnock: Journey Toward Renewal: An Intellectual Biography

by Barry L. Callen

2000, trade paperback edition, Evangel Publishing House, Nappanee, Indiana. 297 pages. The author is a scholar-teacher, a professor of Christian Studies. "This is a careful and accurate account of the theological pilgrimage of perhaps the most significant theologian of the last half of the 20th century."

293 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2000

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

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN ILLUMINATING 'INTELLECTUAL BIOGRAPHY" OF THE PIONEERING EVANGELICAL THEOLOGIAN

Clark H. Pinnock (1937-2010) was a Christian theologian and apologist and author, who was Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at McMaster Divinity College. Although he began his career as a conventional "evidentialist" apologist (e.g., 'A Defense of Biblical Infallibility,' 'Set Forth Your Case'), he eventually rejected his former view of the Bible (see 'The Scripture Principle'), embraced the "Open" theological view of God (see 'The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God' and Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God's Openness,') and rejected the notion of Hell as eternal torment ('Four Views on Hell'). There was an unsuccessful attempt in the Evangelical Theological Society in 2002 to expel him from membership, because of his views.

Author Barry Callen (a professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University) wrote in the Foreword to this 2000 book, "This intellectual biography of Clark H. Pinnock is an attempt to highlight the needs and point toward promising solutions. The means used is the story of the eventful career of one key player in the contemporary evangelical community of scholars and church leaders. Narrating the stages and struggles of Pinnock's own journey is judged an excellent way to name the issues and point in good directions. His experiences and thoughts may not be the last word, but at least it is a committed, informing, stimulating, and sometimes inspiring word." (Pg. xvii)

He notes early in the book, "After years of theological searching, Pinnock placed himself in the 'moderate' category of theologians. His intention has been to function between the 'conservatives,' who concentrate heavily ... on what they see as the unchanging biblical revelation, and the 'progressives' who seek... to update Christian foundations by so connecting them to today's issues and experiences that they become almost unrecognizable as distinctly Christian." (Pg. 9) He adds, "Pinnock particularly notes C.S. Lewis, whom he trusted as an orthodox thinker." (Pg. 23)

In 1967 Pinnock and his young family began attending a different church: "Here was found an authentic 'charismatic' renewal in progress in a mainline church. Pinnock found this congregation 'immensely nourishing.' ... Pinnock came to soften his negative critique of pentecostalism, but without granting spiritual experience a position of equal partnership with biblical authority." (Pg. 78) He even attended the "Toronto Blessing" congregation in Canada for the first time in 1994 (Pg. 199).

Commenting on Pinnock's book 'A Wideness in God's Mercy: The Finality Of Jesus Christ In A World Of Religions,' he states, "it is God's will to save all people even if they have no opportunity in their earthly lifetimes to hear about the gospel of Christ... 'Surely God judges the heathen in relation to the light they have, not according to the light that did not reach them'... universal salvation is not guaranteed; what is guaranteed is the universal possibility of salvation." (Pg. 163)

One need not agree with all of Pinnock's evolving views, but this book will be immensely helpful to anyone who wants to follow the process through which he developed them.

[Doug Adamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall Callen did a good job tracing Pinnock's theological journey--not an easy thing to do. He is sympathetic but critical--perhaps more to the sympathetic side but that may be a subjective call. On a number of occasions, I thought that Callen's descriptions of Calvinists, Calvinism, and fundamentalism were often not fair or accurate. Calvinism and Calvinists are described as rigid, scholastic, rationalistic, and unconcerned with the Spirit, the heart, or with living with love. These are caricatures at best and do not advance one's argument.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare to read a theologian's personal faith journey these days, but it's a must if one wants to understand their current positions and thought patterns.

While I don't agree with all of Pinnock's conclusions, I appreciate his honest search for truth and his openness to new ideas and questions. What a journey.