Proclaimer Blog
Perspectives on the extentof the atonement – review
I’ve just finished reading the new Broadman and Holman book “Perspectives on the extent of the atonement; three views“. It’s one of those books where each person puts his view (definite, Carl Trueman, general, Grant Osborne and multiple intention, John Hammett) and then replies briefly to the others.
This is a vexed question and one you may have little time for. I urge you to think again. For our view of this doctrine might (not must, notice) lead us down some funny paths. Whilst it is not true, for example, that believing in limited atonement will make you a poor evangelist, it might do so, and so on (every view has a risky outcome).
In other words, we’ve always got to be thinking pastorally about our theological positions. We don’t change our positions because they become pastorally difficult (that’s precisely what some are doing with same sex marriage). But we are not naive either. We do think carefully. This volume really helped me do that – I appreciated both the brief outline of each position and the gracious interaction that followed.
It all felt like an important debate conducted in a proper manner. Top marks all round – and ultimately more helpful for me (I think because of size) than the enormous From heaven he came and sought her. Oh, and the conclusion by David Naselli is absolutely first class.