Sacraments Books

Understanding Four Views on Baptism (Counterpoints: Church Life)

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Discussion of Christian Views About Baptism 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This is a great addition to the Counterpoints series. The format of previous volumes is retained. Each theologian has an essay about his view of baptism, and the others give brief replies.

The first one up at the plate is Thomas Nettles, who represents the Baptist view. He points out that the pattern for baptism is that it is something which follows belief. Therefore, Nettles would not baptize an infant. Nettles struggles somewhat as he tries to explain how difficult texts such as 1 Peter 3:21 and Acts 22:16 fit into his system.

The Reformed view is presented by Richard Pratt, Jr. He contends that infant baptism has a similar function to circumcision in the Old Testament in that it incorporates the child into the visible community (even though it does not confer saving grace on the child).

Nettles and Castelein countered Pratt by noting that Pratt placed an equal amount of emphasis on the Westminster Confession as he did the Bible, and that non_Reformed Christians would object to this. They note that our doctrine should come straight from Scripture.

Robert Kolb presents the Lutheran view, and it is very similar to the Reformed perspective. The main difference is that Lutherans believe that babies ARE born again when they are baptized. Nettles counters this by noting that that there are no known instances of salvation in the New Testament apart from hearing and responding to the gospel, an argument which struck me as quite cogent.

John Castelein presents the Church of Christ view. His presentation is very similar to the Baptist view. The one difference is that Castelein contends that baptism is the occasion for justification, a teaching that Pratt and Nettles effectively challenge.

Armstrong has a short essay encouraging continued dialogue, then there are appendixes which list all the scriptures about baptism and some of the confessional statements issued by the Church in the past.

I don't think that any one of the writers delievered a knockout punch, but my own understanding of Scripture fits best with the view of Thomas Nettles. I am surprised that non one discussed Acts 2:41, which says that "all who accepted the message were baptized." I wonder how infant baptizers would respond to this.

But I thought the essays were crisp and clear, and I like how each one ended with practical questions that people might ask, along with some good answers. Buy this book if you are sifting through your understanding of baptism.

Editorial Review:

Christians have long differed with one another on both the meaning and the practice of water baptism. Using the classic Counterpoints forum of presentation-critique-response, this insightful book explores four prominent views of baptism held by different branches of Protestantism: Baptist, Christian Church/Church of Christ, Lutheran, and Reformed.

Seven Vital Steps To Receiving The Holy Spirit

Kenneth E. Hagin

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good Basic Guide for the Infilling 4 out of 5 stars.
10 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Hagin has written an easy to read tome that if followed will result in the infilling of the Holy Spirit. However, the steps outlined seem to coincide with Hagin's experience at times rather than the Word. Not to say that it isn't Word-based but there are some things that seem to be based more on his ministry experience.

For instance, Hagin states that if you pray for the infilling and do not "sense" anything moving upon you, you have a lack of faith. And if you do "sense" something but do not yield, it is a lack of yielding.

First, the Holy Spirit is received by faith not by a "sensing". The book of Acts makes no statement that proves the veracity of Hagin's claim. Second, if a person doesn't speak forth, it doesn't necessarily mean that they did not receive; it only means that they did not cooperate due to fear or lack of instruction.

I know many readers hold to the "initial evidence" to such an extent that they feel that unless you speak in tongues, you weren't filled. But I would suggest a little thought and meditation along this line to my friends.

Since we receive by faith, and since it is our job to speak (the Holy Spirit will not do it for us) it is possible for God to do His part and for us to fail to do our part. Don't get me wrong, tongues were the evidence in Acts to prove to the Apostles one had received but they used this as a gauge since they couldn't see nor hear the Spirit without some manifestation. And it was also the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy--"This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel."

However, it is possible for one to be filled and yet not speak in tongues for a variety of reasons. Some of the Bible teachers who believe this are: Jay Snell, Kenneth Copeland, Andrew Wommack, and Dave Roberson, among others.

Otherwise, a good book for outlining the basic steps.

Editorial Review:

There are several questions why people speak in tongues. This book will answers the Day of Pen-tecost and if it serve a purpose. To receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.

Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries

Everett Ferguson

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The Lord's Supper: Five Views

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Lord's Supper. Eucharist. Communion. Sacrament. Ordinance.

While it's the meal that should unite us as followers of Christ, it sometimes appears we can't even agree on what to call it, let alone how we might share a common theological view of its significance. Even if we cannot reach full agreement, how can we better understand one another and this central observance of the Christian faith?

Gordon Smith has invited five representatives of differing views within Christian tradition. Each holds his or her views with conviction and makes the case for that tradition. Each responds to the other views with charity, highlighting significant areas of agreement and disagreement.

The views and contributors include The Roman Catholic View--Brother Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C., Professor of Church History, Memphis Theological Seminary, Memphis, Tennessee The Lutheran View--John R. Stephenson, Professor of Historical Theology, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catherines, Ontario The Reformed View--Leanne Van Dyk, Academic Dean and Professor of Reformed Theology, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan The Baptist View--Roger E. Olson, Professor of Theology, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Waco, Texas The Pentecostal View--Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Professor of Systematic Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California

Here's a book that offers more light than heat on an important topic.

Sacramental Theology

Herbert Vorgrimler

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Sacramental Theology from another point of view. 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Herbert Vorgrimler has written a very clear, scholarly study of the Sacraments. Most Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Eastern Orthodox Christians accept that there are seven (7) sacraments. Vorgrimler broadens the sacramental base to include the Creation as a sacrament; Jesus, the Christ is a sacrament as is "The Body of Christ" - the Church.
After reading this book I selected it as the basic text book for a course in Sacramental Theology at The Episcopal School for Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Vorgrimler expands the discussion of the sacraments but seems to limit the sacramental scene to the Roman Catholic Church.
Roderic D. Wiltse, Priest of the Episcopal Church
Diocese of Missouri, based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries (Michael Glazier Books)

Kilian McDonnell, George T. Montague

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Invaluable for Protestants and Catholics Alike 5 out of 5 stars.
35 of 36 people found this review helpful.

In this excellent book, Kilian McDonnell and George Montague, both Roman Catholic priests and well-respected scholars, have addressed critical questions regarding the role of Baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts in the life of the Church, particularly with respect to the celebration of baptism and confirmation. In doing so, the authors have provided an important contribution to the question of when spiritual gifts -- or at least the more notable gifts such as glossolalia (tongues) and prophecy -- passed out of the common experience of the local church. I was fascinated by the role played by those preparing catechumens for reception into the church in this story. Upon reading this text, one wonders which is the chicken and which is the egg: did the charismatic gifts die out because new christians were taught not to expect them, or did those preparing catechumens simply state the obvious truth that charismatic gifts were no longer being experienced in the church? Given the 20th experience of Pentecost in the Pentecostal/charismatic churches and in the mainline denominations, the answer to this questions is probably "yes" and "yes" -- that the charismatic gifts were less evident, but that the expectations resulting from formative teaching contributed to the demise of such phenomena in the church. At the very least, this book provides contributes to the body of historical evidence that the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by such gifts as tongues and prophecy, did not die out with the close of the New Testament canon, as is taught by some protestant churches. This book would be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of those interested in the history of the church, liturgy, or the role of spiritual gifts in the life of the church.

The Life in Christ

Nicholas Cabasilas

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wonderful Book on Sacraments and Salvation 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book has normally been described as a book about the sacramental life in the Orthodox Church. That is true, but it might better be described as a book which lives up to it's name: it really is about the "Life in Christ," and not just one particular aspect of that life. The concept of synergy, so often employed by Orthodox theologians, is touched upon frequently in this book, but always within the context of a wider discussion. The discussion is never *just* about Sacraments, or *just* about free-will, or *just* about salvation. If it is about one of them, it is about all of them (and a good deal more).

Perhaps the most intriquing thing about this book is its unintended ecumenicalesque content. It goes without saying that Orthodox Christians will identify what St. Nicholas is saying as their own. But Catholics will have a similar reaction, as St. Nicholas spoke more freely, and not in the guarded way that Orthodox theologians do today, always trying to distinguish between Anselmian views of salvation and Eastern views. St. Nicholas has no problem talking about the cross as payment on a debt, as atonement, as sacrifice. He speaks as very few modern Orthodox theologians would (which is not a knock on modern theologians, but simply a statement about St. Nicholas).

Even some Protestants, if they can get past all the sacramental stuff, could find much of value in this book. St. Nicholas articulates the Orthodox view of free-will very well, and while some armchair theologians would call it semi-pelagian, it is in fact perfectly orthodox. The other thing that it is is rarely known in the west. The intriquing thing, then, is that while Orthodox and Catholics will be perfectly fine with what St. Nicholas says, for many Protestants what he says will come as something of a shock and a revelation. It has been said that there could have been no free-will/predestination dispute in the East, because a better solution than this artificial dichotomy had already been arrived at. This book describes this solution well.

And, again, if it does anything, it speaks of the life in Christ.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem's Lectures on the Christian Sacraments: The Procatechesis and the Five Mystagogical Catecheses

Saint, Bishop of Jerusalem Cyril

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

With parallel Greek text.

These six Lectures on the Christian Sacraments were delivered in Jerusalem in the middle of the fourth century. They belong to a period of rapid transition for the Church. Less than forty years before, Christianity had been an illegal religion, the object of intense persecution. Now it was the favored religion of the state. Potential converts thronged the shining new basilicas, built through the beneficence of Constantine and his successors. Catechetical instruction was needed. It was provided by gifted preachers and teachers like St Cyril of Jerusalem.

The first of the lectures, the "procatechesis," is a hearty welcome to the candidates for baptism and introduces them to the periods of doctrinal instruction which lies ahead. The remaining five, the "mystagogical catecheses," are an exposition the rites of Christian initiation - baptism, chrismation, and the Eucharist - for the newly baptized. A rich source of information on the history and worship of the forth century, the lectures remain a source of instruction and inspiration. The present edition, with its scholarly introduction and Greek text as well as its eminently readable English translation, makes this remarkable text available to the specialist and non-specialist alike.

On the Christian Sacraments is part of the POPULAR PATRISTIC SERIES.

The Eucharist: Our Sanctification

Raniero Cantalamessa

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A life-changing, insightful little book. 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 17 people found this review helpful.

This is my favorite book written about the spiritual life. Cantalamessa helped me see the Eucharist from dozens of perspectives that changed the way I attended daily Mass and how I live every day. I found that reading just one short chapter gave me enough to medidtate on for close to an hour. Very, very powerful.

Great journey to the rich well of the Eucharist 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Excellant meditation tool. Fr. Cantalamessa is a scholar as well as mystic when it comes to the greastest prayer of all times-Eucharist. I have to admit my first impression of the book was half favorable. With many text books during my seminary trainning I consider this one as one too many. But it was during my secend year of priesthood that I found this little book, a great tool and assistance in my priestly ministery.

The Eucharist, Our Sanctification 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This is an excellent book because it addresses the issue of the Eucharist in ways that go beyond the standard answers. Raniero Cantalamessa paints a picture that has texture, smells and richness that have really helped me to understand the depths of the Eucharist and how it has a necessary meaning for my life and the Church. I'm a protestant, and Raniero Cantalamessa has given me a lot to "chew". I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about the subject.

The Awe-Inspiring Rites of Initiation: The Origins of the Rcia

Edward Yarnold

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Baptismal Homilies 3 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

An interresting book.

First you are introduced to the subject by some introductory chapters. These will be particularly interresting for Roman Catholics, but for me, as an Orthodox they contained no more than a few interresting remarks.

The good parts of the book are the translations of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Ambrose, St. John Chrysostom, and especially Theodore the Interpreter (of Mopsuestia). The Baptismal Homilies of Theodore are the most interresting ones in the book. Just these are worth the money you'll pay for this book. But the other translations are also wonderful. If you've been reading from "older" translations, these selected homilies will be a welcome addition in readable in English. The footnotes that accompany the introductory chapters and the translations are a real bonus too.