Book Review from Inter-varsity XII.2 Lent 1940
"Man in Revolt: A
Christian Anthropology" By Emil Brunner (Professor of Theology
in Zurich). (R.T.S.—Lutterworth Press. 15s.)
This book is the tenth,
and the latest, in what is called The Lutterworth Library — a
series of translations of works by leading European theologians. Two
former books by the same author in this series are "The Mediator
" and "The Divine Imperative." I have no hesitation in
saying that these two books have done more to promote a return to
evangelical preaching of the gospel in this country than any other
agency. This is particularly true of "The Mediator "— one
of the greatest theological works of this century. The Lutterworth
Press is rendering a service, in the translation and the publication
of these works, for which all who are concerned about a return to the
traditional Protestant teaching should be profoundly grateful.
Professor Brunner
discusses the various false views of man — the physico-chemical,
the philosophical, the romantic, etc., and then comes to the
exposition of the Christian view which constitutes the bulk of the
book. He says of it at once that it is not a theory or a philosophy
but "a statement of faith." His thesis is that man can only
be understood truly when he is considered "theologically "—
in other words, when he is considered in his relationship to God. The
central truth about man, he avers, is that he is a creature "in
responsibility "— responsible to God and dependent upon Him.
All man's troubles are due to the fact that he refuses to recognise
this and rebels against it. And yet he cannot escape from his
position. That is the tragedy of sin, that is why "there is no
peace, saith my God, to the wicked." This general idea is worked
out in terms of "the image of God" in man, "original
sin," etc., and we arrive at the picture of man as he actually
is in contradistinction to what he is meant to be. In the light of
this, various problems in the life of man are considered such as "the
human spirit and human reason," "the problem of freedom,"
"man and woman," "soul and body," "the
growth of man and the doctrine of evolution," "man in his
earthly life; and death," etc., etc. Finally there is an
epilogue in which is considered "the removal of the
contradiction between man as he actually is, and man as he is
intended to be."
The term "considered"
should not have been used, for this epilogue is really a typical
evangelical, or indeed evangelistic, address through which there
breathes a warm devotional spirit.
While reading this volume
I found myself repeating to myself as I had done when reading all the
previous translations of Brunner's works, "Oh! the pity of it,
the pity of it." Why? Because this man, who, in general is so
right, and who so effectively displays the utter superficiality and
total inadequacy of the liberal and idealistic view of man that has
held sway for so many years, nevertheless still clings to certain of
the presuppositions that were really responsible for those false
views. He accepts "the result" of biblical criticism and he
is prepared to accept as proved the evolutionary hypothesis with
respect to the origin of man. He says categorically that "the
Biblical narrative of Paradise and the Primitive State are
untenable," and he therefore tries to restate the doctrine of
original sin and the fall in a manner that will not come into
conflict with modern science.
"Why bother to read
him therefore?" asks someone. I would reply by saying that to
read him is a valuable and enjoyable intellectual exercise that
should lead to spiritual results also, as one is forced to re-examine
and to reconsider the fundamentals of the faith. His negative
criticisms of liberal theology are most useful and valuable, and his
comments on the teaching of Luther and Calvin are always enlightening
and most helpful. Moreover, I have a feeling that eventually he will
find it impossible to remain in this "half-way house" and
that his acceptance of the general teaching of the Protestant Fathers
will drive him to accept their teaching in detail also. To watch and
observe a soul struggling towards the light, if one is already in the
light oneself, is a process that should strengthen and confirm one's
faith. One observes the inconsistencies of the incomplete position
and one sees the many difficulties that arise in a purely artificial
manner as the result of that position. Positively, it becomes
increasingly evident that the whole teaching of the Bible "hangs
together." It is a logical whole, and each part must be
accepted. The more one reads the works of those who "pick and
choose" the more evident does this become.
Nothing could be more
regrettable in theory and practice than for evangelicals to dismiss
or to ignore men like Brunner and his many followers in this country.
They are "on the way," and our business is to try to
understand them and, with patience and sympathy, to pray for them and
to encourage them to follow the logic of their new-found position to
its own logical conclusion of complete Evangelical Protestant
Orthodoxy.
D. M. L-J.
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