Page 34 - PC Fall 2023

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A Review of
PRESBYTERIAN
FALL 2023
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BOOK REVIEW
After Dispensationalism
400 pages are taken up by notes (placed at the end of the book rather than at the bottom of the page, and therefore less dis- tracting), an extensive bibliog- raphy, and both a subject index and an index of scripture pas- sages. While the subject matter is weighty, the book is written in a style that is accessible and at times humorous.
After Dispensationalism would be a good addition to any biblical or theological library and a valu- able resource for preachers as they engage with the scriptures on a weekly basis. It could also be read and discussed by congre- gational book study groups.
The book begins by quot- ing a well-known collect from the Book of Common Prayer: “Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and in- wardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life ...” After Dispensationalism in- deed offers many insights and interpretive principles that will be helpful in our common work of reading, marking, learning and inwardly digesting the scriptures.
By the Rev. Alex Bisset,
Westminster Presbyterian Church and Riverdale Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Ont.
After Dispensationalism: Reading the Bible for the End of the World
Written by Brian P. Irwin, with Tim Perry
Lexham Press, May 2023
Brian P. Irwin (Associate Profes- sor of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures at Knox College), with Tim Perry (Professor of Theology at Providence Seminary, Otter- burne, Manitoba), has written a book that is detailed and scholarly as well as readable and relatable. After Dispensationalism will be useful not only to ministers and academics but to Christian lay- people who want to understand the ways in which the end of the world is described in the Bible and in popular culture.
The book begins by noting that
interest in the end times seems to increase every few decades. It provides an overview of the history of such interest and speculation, and then discusses the history of what we know as dispensationalism, which it de- fines as a theological approach to understanding both the Bible and God’s action in the world, with an emphasis on the literal interpreta- tion of scripture and the precision and present-day application of prophetic prediction. The authors give brief sketches of the lives of prominent dispensationalists, including John Nelson Darby (1800–1882) and Cyrus Inger- son Scofield (1843–1921). They remind us that while dispensa- tionalism is a minority theological position in the church, its ideas permeate contemporary Christian culture and influence the under- standing that those outside the church have of Christian belief.
After noting that attempts to pinpoint a date for the end of the
world so far have had a 0% suc- cess rate, the authors offer a read- ing of the books of Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation that asks how their earliest audiences might have un- derstood them. The book points out that while prophetic scripture is for us, it is not all about us.
And while the book’s focus is on apocalyptic and prophetic writ- ing, almost all of the principles that the authors provide for reading such texts are applicable to read- ing any part of the Bible. The book concludes with 13 theses on how Christians should “read, think, and act on words that often mys- tify but were given to motivate us to greater love and labour for the Lamb.” I found all 13 of these theses insightful and helpful for all times in the life of the church and especially for our times, but these five in particular stood out as being generally applicable:
“It is wiser to use the Bible to interpret the news than the news to interpret the Bible ...”
WOMEN
“We are on the surest interpre- tive footing when we consider the whole of a biblical book, not when we piece together tiny portions of different books.” “Understanding some biblical passages symbolically is not to question the reliability, inspira- tion, or perfection of the Scrip- tures.”
“To live in expectation of Christ’s return does not require knowing when Christ will return.” “Looking for Christ to come again should not distract us from his presence with and in the church by the Spirit in word and sacrament.”
Roughly a quarter of the book’s
Teddies for Tragedies
By Mary Purdy
In 2013, Olive Lewis asked the women of Greenbrier Presbyterian Church in Brantford, Ont., if they would be interested in knitting ted- dies for “Teddies for Tragedies.”
Jump ahead a decade and the year 2022 marked our 10th anni- versary with the project, and we have donated 2,010 teddies and 1,010 bags! We donate at least 200 bears per year, contributing to projects like Brantford’s Nova Vita, an emergency shelter, Children’s Aid, the Fire Depar tment and Po- lice Special Victims Services. The balance of teddies go to Duff’s Presbyterian Church in Puslinch, Ont.
We have a great assembly line. Mary Purdy and Irene Phillips knit the teddies. Elaine Johnson sews
Update from Barrie Presbyterial
Pictured (left to right) are Elaine Johnson, Irene Phillips, Margaret Rutledge, Mary and Sam Purdy—and, of course, the teddies.
The Barrie Presbyterial WMS held their annual meeting in Elmvale, Ont., on June 24, 2023. President Janice Terry welcomed all and opened the meeting with prayer. A reflection on Ephesians 3:20 had been prepared as part of the devotions by the Rev. Tim Mason. Business was conducted and a memorial service was held for WMS members who had passed in 2022.
Our guest speaker was Mary Robinson. Mary is a registered nurse with anaesthetic experi- ence. In 2022, Mary joined Team Broken Earth in a surgical mission to Guatemala. Team Broken Earth is an organization that provides
care and education to people in remote communities. Poverty is often extreme in these locations and many children are malnour- ished. During the trip, Mary was part of a group who performed over 50 surgeries in five days, including orthopaedic, gynaeco- logical and general surgeries in a hospital where operation rooms were sparse and outdated (e.g., no IV poles and limited supplies).
Mary showed slides comparing the Guatemalan hospitals where she worked to Canadian ones. In the fall, Team Broken Earth will be at the San Pedro Hospital in An- tiqua, which is a mission church converted into a hospital.
them up and Sam Purdy stuffs them. Then Mary Purdy puts on the happy faces. Margaret Rut- ledge has made most of our bags.
This ministry couldn’t be done
without the prayers and donations of wool and cash from the con- gregation of Greenbrier Presbyte- rian Church and other community members.
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