The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission (Contours of Christian Theology) [Paperback]

Edmund P. Clowney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 1995 | Series: Contours of Christian Theology

At a time in which the very word church sounds a tone of dull irrelevance, the doctrine of the church has suffered the studied neglect of many Christian leaders. The persistent demands to market, manage and grow the church and to meet the felt needs of churched and unchurched all threaten to quench theological reflection on the abiding nature and mission of the church. But few activities bear greater promise as a starting point for renewing and reshaping the Christian church than the work of theology. In this book Edmund Clowney takes up that task, addressing along the way a variety of contemporary concerns: worship, mission, church and culture, church and state, church order and discipline, the ministry of women, baptism and the Lord's Supper, tongues and prophecy, signs and wonders. He draws on decades of thinking and teaching about the church as well as from his committed leadership and ministry within the church. Biblical, historical, systematic and Reformed, The Church is a timely and provocative reflection on the life, order and purpose of the household of God.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (October 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830815341
• ISBN-13: 978-0830815340
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Institutions & Organizations
  • #51 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Church & State

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christians - Please Buy This Book!, April 17, 2001

By 

David A. Vosseller "davhoops" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission (Contours of Christian Theology) (Paperback)

In our culture, the church is almost irrelevant in the eyes of many Christians. It ultimately becomes a consumer item, and and people choose to attend the one that meets their "needs" the best. Dr. Clowney, a gifted scholar, gentle spirit, and dedicated churchman, has written an important work on what the church IS according to Scripture. Dr. Clowney, an ordained minister in the PCA, does not argue that any one denomination is the most biblical, instead, he shows what the Lord has called His church to be.

"If [the church] is to stand against the gates of hell, it must know its own divine charter, its bond to Jesus Christ, and the 'Holy Spiritual' power of its calling. For the church to be the church in the year 2000, it must be more than 'seeker-friendly'; it must be 'Seeker-sent', thrust forth by the Lord to bear his gospel of the cross to the peoples." (from the preface).

Dr. Clowney deals with both the theological foundations of the church, and many issues that are controversial in Christendom today. But his arguments are Biblical, and his tone is gracious. Give this book a chance, and let the Lord use it to give you a greater love for the bride of Christ, his body- the church!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars God's Grace Makes a Glorious Church, June 24, 2003

By 

Sean J. Whitenack "Sean Whitenack" (Fredericksburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission (Contours of Christian Theology) (Paperback)

Clowney's book The Church is a work of theological art. In it, Clowney paints deep and "artistic" images of the church using her historical beliefs and many Biblical texts.
Recently a very good friend of mine left the Protestant church and joined the Roman Catholic church. In my discussions with him over the years he mulled over his decision, the beauty of the Church seemed to take precedence in his mind. In his final decision, the Roman Catholic church best represented the beauty and doctrine found in the Bible. Before he converted, he mentioned some discussions he had in a class with a well known Protestant church leader. He requested the Protestant definition of the church. In the end, he was not satisfied with the answer. I wish he had read this book before he switched as I think he would have seen a representation of the church that was both true and beautiful.
One of the things my friend did not do will with, in my estimation, is dealing with the polemics between Protestants and Catholics. He did not like polemical arguments, tended to avoid them, and when he did engage them, he found that popular Protestant arguments did not accurately represent true Roman Catholic doctrine. As a result, he would often defend the Roman Catholic perspective.
One reason I like this book is that Clowney deals with a number of controversial topics without (for the most part) using polemical arguments. It makes for an attractive and positive presentation of the Protestant doctrine of the church. He deals with issues such as whether Peter is "the rock", whether women should be deacons, and other "hot topics", with clarity, conviction, and charity. Clowney bears his sword and deals with error, but does not malign his opponents before doing battle. As I reader, I found I was in awe of the way he wielded the sword, and hardly even noticed that he left his opponent in tatters. The one striking exception to this non-polemic presentation is his discussion on the doctrine of his former student and friend Wayne Grudem in a discussion of the continued relvance of prophecy today.
Overall, Clowney's "The Church" is an excellent theological book that motivates his readers to work for the the unity and purity of the church. Not overwhelming or unnecessarily negative, it helps Christians who love the Church to see the magnificent bride God is preparing for His Son. It helps to keep us on track for the most important things in this world.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Examination of the Church's Nature and Mission, January 25, 2007

By 

Mark A. Landers (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission (Contours of Christian Theology) (Paperback)

Clowney sets out in 290 pages to address the issues of the church's "abiding nature and mission." This he accomplishes, addressing every facet of each of these categories, typically by juxtaposing Reformed theology with the most prevalent error of today in a given area. This has two results: to teach the reader what the Bible teaches, but also to bring to light fascinating details of, for example, the syncretism of the World Council of Churches, or the misinterpretation of Acts of the charismatics. The image of the church Clowney presents is probably unfamiliar to most Christians, as elements such as church discipline, proper worship, and a correct doctrine of the spiritual gifts are sadly lacking today, especially in my own Southern Baptist denomination.

Clowney's work is not incredibly detailed, but references a great many other works. For the seminarian or pastor, it is sufficient to grasp a basic understanding of what the church is, what it should be, and where it has fallen into error or misunderstanding. It is also suitable for the lay person (in fact, I would recommend it).

The binding is, of course, paperback, and seems sturdy and of good quality. My copy shows very little wear after its first thorough reading. I found only one glaring typographical error (bottom of pg. 283). I understand the economics of paperback publishing, but this work deserves a hard cover.