Proclaimer Blog
Lee unlimited
What did you do this jubilee weekend? I read Lee Gatiss' new book, For us and for our salvation, published by the Latimer Trust. (I know, I know, the Reynolds household is just one big bundle of laughs). It's a book about limited atonement (or definite/particular redemption – choose your terminology). I don't think I'm spoiling the book by saying that Lee is writing in favour – i.e. he believes in limited atonement. But, it has to be said, that's about the only thing that is limited about this book. It's really very, very comprehensive. In just 128 pages, Lee manages to outline all the major logical and exegetical arguments (for and against), give a brief but thorough overview of the historical developments from the church fathers onwards and work through some practical conclusions relating to evangelism and assurance.
Lee is amazingly well read. I suppose I could stand in amazement at the breadth of his reading list – but the benefit of books like this is we can all, as readers, just stand in the reflected glory. I'll go for that. It's dense then, but not unreadable. Lee's style is very engaging, even when the material does not always easily lend itself to such an approach. In this sense, Lee is truly unlimited…!!
But what about the content? It's inevitable that a book on this subject will reflect the views of the author. I don't think that matters. The question is, rather, whether Lee is able to give both sides a fair hearing – whilst still retaining integrity and coming to a conclusion. For my part, Lee does that. It would take someone who didn't share his views (definitely not me – geddit?) to say whether he really succeeds. Curiously David Instone-Brewer says that reading the book convinced him about his own views against limited atonement (I must say I find that slightly odd – to me, it seemed that the only two responses would be either "I agree" or "Lee has done a fair job of presenting our opposing views" – but there you have it).
It's certainly worth picking up. For my money I've not read anything on this subject that comes close in terms of brevity, thoroughness, winsomeness, clear Scriptural argument and helpfulness. I hardly dare make any criticism – my only one would perhaps be that the practical conclusions could have been longer – especially on evangelism. Oh, and when are Latimer going to use a proper italic font? It's quite frustrating (given that there are lots of italics).
Buy, buy, buy! (And read!)
The last word ('definitive' word?) should be left to pastor Lee:
True doctrine should never be hidden as if we were ashamed of things that God has taught us in his word. Yet it is potentially unedifying to use the ordinary means of grace, the regular preaching ministry, as a platform on which to carry out a theological battle between Calvinists, Arminians and Amyraldians. There is a time and a place, and these more controversial and difficult doctrines should not become the everyday heartbeat of our ministry unless we wish to earn a reputation as a theological Rottweiler and produce congregations whose growth is stunted because they are forever drunk on strong drink but cannot digest bread and milk.