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Latest Issue August 2003
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Church
Symbols for Today
by Dr.N.J.
Gourlay |
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| 314pp,
£9.90, published by Walterick Publishers (U.S.A.) and available
from Muasdale Evangelical Books, Siavonga House, Muasdale, By
Tarbert, Argyll, PA29 6XD |
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| There
is an enigmatic quality about the book's main title, so that we
are grateful for sub-titles on the front cover, and title-page,
that state the following:‘ye do show forth’ and ‘The
Water, The Head, The Bread and the Wine’. Here is added
information sufficient to stimulate our interest, for most would
concede that these matters, where symbolic representation is
involved in our activities, are of tremendous importance to all
Christians. Dr. Gourlay has moved into a veritable minefield of
debate in attempting to deal with his subject. With all the
discussion, sometimes ‘heated’, that prevails at the present
time, one is convinced that there is a genuine lack of
understanding of such matters. The author looks at his subject
from an assembly perspective, and makes claim to write with a
view to sharing these scriptural beliefs with Christians from a
wider evangelical background. In the first chapter he considers
the use of symbolism in Scripture - in figures of speech, in
symbolic acts and in symbolic objects - marking the differences
between Old Testament and New Testament symbolism. In succeeding
chapters, he considers the three great symbols that affect God's
people today (baptism, headship and in celebration of the Lord's
Supper). Quoting L. S. Chafer, ‘A man is on weak grounds if he
speaks dogmatically about his own views and yet does not
understand what his opponents believe’, he presents as
alternatives the whole range of practices that prevail in
churches of all denominations. His survey is entirely reasonable
in that he traces in each case the progression of events leading
to the present situation, and then presents his criticism in the
form of a positive statement from Scripture that supports good
assembly practice. His ‘in-depth’ study brings to light many
issues that are outside normal discussion, and are to be
welcomed inasmuch as they encourage us to look again at
well-known passages of Scripture in order to justify our actions
when we assemble as members of a local church. The index of
references indicates how widely Dr. Gourlay has researched in
preparation of his book – there is also an index of
scriptures, and of persons. Throughout the book, in making his
case Dr. Gourlay uses non-technical language wherever possible
and writes in a style that is easily read. I warmly commend this
book to a wide readership - it deals fully, and effectively,
with matters often regarded as difficult to handle in a local
assembly and must be of benefit to all who would follow the
scriptural |
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