Hearing the Call: Liturgy, Justice, Church, and World

by Nicholas Wolterstorff

What is the Word of the Lord for a world of injustice? What does it mean to hear the cries of the oppressed? What does liturgy have to do with justice? These questions have been at the heart of Nicholas Wolterstorff’s work for over forty years. In this collection of essays, he brings together personal, historical, theological, and contemporary perspectives to issue a passionate call to work for justice and peace.

An essential complement to his now classic Until Justice and Peace Embrace, the forthcoming Love and Justice, and Justice, this book makes clear why Wolterstorff is one of the church’s most incisive and compelling voices. Between the Times invites us not simply into new ways of thinking, but a transformational way of life.

Genres: Theology, Justice

450 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2010

About the author

Wolterstorff is the Noah Porter Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology, and Fellow of Berkeley College at Yale University. A prolific writer with wide-ranging philosophical and theological interests, he has written books on metaphysics, aesthetics, political philosophy, epistemology and theology and philosophy of religion.

Reviews

[Jim Belcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply feasting on this book of essays by Nick Wolterstorff. I can't recommend this book enough.

[Ian Caveny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas Wolterstorff writes with joie de vivre and full of life as he engages in the complex network that is liturgical practice and just engagement. The result is a lovely navigation through the Scriptures, the writings of John Calvin, and plenty of reflections from the Dutch Reformed tradition.

All of Wolterstorff's Kuyperian values manifest in this well-organized collection of essays with utmost grace and style, revealing the heart of a philosopher who has dedicated his life's work to considering the problems of art, justice, liturgy, and philosophy.

Most intriguing, for me, were the sections dedicated most wholly to liturgy and architecture, where Wolterstorff's discourse led me thirsting for more and more discussion on those topics. I long for the liturgical imagination to reborn in the coming generations!

And though Wolterstorff's discussions on politics can be, at times, stubbornly one-sided, I found his commitments to justice and to the Scriptures to be over-and-above the central unifying factor of his writing rather than any individual political commitment. His biographical story recalling an interaction with Allan Boesak, in particular, is utterly compelling.

Altogether, the book is a worthy introduction to the problems of liturgy and justice in such a manner that will cause the pastor-theologian to give pause and reflect on his or her own life and practice. It is the sort of theological book that sits with you and teaches you, rather than just lecturing. And Wolterstorff is, perhaps above all, a great teacher.

[Wilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a mixed bag. Some parts are really good, such as the concise essay "The Troubled Relationship between Christians and Human Rights", dating from 2007. Others are out-dated and feel out of time, such as the essay "Contemporary Christian Views of the State: Some Major Issues", which dates from 1974!
The issues Wolterstorff raises are important enough. He approaches them consistently from a calvinistic point of view, which is why I read the book in the first place. He does a fine job, but I think it misses some urgency in this day and age.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear argument for Christians to view justice as part of liturgy that moves from a theoretical discussion to real contextual applications which challenges readers to think about their response (or lack thereof).

Doesn't hurt that Wolterstoff shifts easily from a theoretical discussion to effusive descriptions of what he clearly is passionate or concerned about.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Bible is a book about justice" - insightful perspectives and a moving personal account of the author's own journey to open our hearts to his message.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologies of essays are hard to rate, because oftentimes some are utterly forgettable, while others are unbelievably powerful. Given that the two dozen or so essays in this book cover fifty years of Wolterstorff's career, that is absolutely the case here. I found, however, that Wolterstorff has some incredible insights that are well worth contemplating. He speaks eloquently about the role of justice within the framework of faith, but not your politician's justice—a deeper, more life-giving justice. He makes several provocative (and indeed, somewhat radical—at least in the context of the Reformed tradition in which he writes). The first is the concept that God has a special concern for the poor, rooted in the idea that in the pain suffered through injustice, God himself suffers. The second is the idea that true justice is not merely retributive, but restorative as well. While this doesn't jive well with modern political sensibilities, it does have formidable Scriptural backing. Other essays touch on music, church architecture, women in ministry, the role of liturgy, and the experience he has had in seeking justice in apartheid South Africa and on behalf of the Palestinians. Overall, it's an excellent book, and its essays will, I believe, serve as useful references for a long time to come.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of essays dealing with topics of justice, liturgy, the church, and the world combines political philosophy, theology, personal reflection & testimony. Meditative, challenging, beautiful. Wolterstorff ably pulls together all the themes he addresses into the integrated whole of the Christian's call to pursue shalom. Or, rather, he shows us the integrated nature of shalom that always was there. I appreciate that the collection contains pieces that are intellectually rigorous and head-oriented, heart-oriented reflections that challenge our existential relation to injustice, and hand-oriented challenges to recognize the rights that our neighbors bear towards us to treat them justly and pursue their flourishing.

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 5 out of 5]

These days I’m slowly reading through a hefty collection of essays by Yale philosophy professor Nicholas Wolterstorff (more from him here, here, and here), published under the title, Hearing the Call: Liturgy, Justice, Church, and World (Eerdmans).

If you follow me on Twitter you’ve no doubt seen some scattered quotes I’ve shared. Here’s one that requires more than 140 characters, and more than a mere passing glance. In it he discusses the relationship between liturgy and justice, and how the two need not be at odds...

- See more at: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2012/0...

[Zack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though perhaps I am not as "progressive" as Wolterstorff, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Furthermore, I was challenged by his critique of the American Church. There were moments when I felt like Wolterstorff had put into words ideas that have been germinating in my mind for some time. There were other moments that I heartily disagreed (or at least took umbrage) with his exegesis of Scripture. Throughout, I was glad that I found this book among the millions at my university library, and put it on my short list of books to read. :)