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The Myth of the Universal, Invisible Church Theory Exploded
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August 6, 2016
First off, maybe I should specify that I read the Kindle edition. I've never heard of Mason before yesterday, and I saw someone whom I like to read recommend this book for dealing with ecclesiology, specifically the local-only church view.
I'll not turn my review into a dissertation on ecclesiology, which is what I'm tempted to do. Instead, I'll just make a few remarks about the book's style and general content.
The book is an easy read. It's not very long and not very deep. I finished it in less than two hours (perhaps some would find that attractive). Mason doesn't spend much time giving exegesis on relevant passages, but simply brushes over most verses with a "church always means assembly" pronouncement. 1 Cor. 12:13 and Heb. 12:23 are handled in short order. The book could've been greatly enhanced if Mason had spent more time giving opposing interpretations of difficult passages and carefully showing why they are wrong.
Also, Mason's bombastic style is immediately revealed even in the title. "The Myth of the Universal, Invisible Church Theory Exploded." Kaboom. Not really. More like "meh." His book moves by the same gears as a lot of fundamentalist revival preaching: lots of bluster, chest-beating, corny humor, and failure to deliver content as spectacular as the title claims.
Oh, and he is a Baptist-brider. I read a comment on an Amazon review of this book where someone denied that Mason was a Baptist-brider. Apparently this person never finished this book because Mason is most certainly a Baptist-brider. He states in the final chapter that "The time for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is not far beyond this. It will the be revealed that the Bride will be composed of all saved ones of those local, visible assemblies who have witnessed for Christ and carried on His work, gathered together in one happy group." Previously in the book he states that only Baptist churches can be the true "local, visible assemblies" and that all other churches are false. So, his logic is:
1. Only Baptist churches are the true church.
2. Only the true church will be the Bride of Christ.
3. Therefore, only Baptist churches will be the bride of Christ.
So, he is a "Baptist-brider," any denial of which is just plain caviling. Mason even goes so far as to say that denying the Baptist bride theory is to make Christ a philanderer, i.e., it makes Christ to be like a man who was engaged to one bride and then marries a different one. If the local church is the betrothed bride of Christ, then she will be the Bride of Christ, and those who are not in the betrothed bride will not be the bride. Non-Baptists who are saved will go to heaven, but they will not be honored as the Bride.
I do not say this to argue for or against Mason's view, but just to clarify that he is indeed a Baptist-brider. No need denying it.
I gave this book an "ok" rating according to the Goodreads rating system. It briefly gave the local-only ecclesiology in a brief work, so it accomplished its purpose. But honestly, there are better, deeper, and more extensive woks on the subject from the local-only ecclesiology view available for free on the internet. Skip buying this book, save yourself a few dollars, and read this for free instead: http://faithsaves.net/ekklesia-church...
I'll not turn my review into a dissertation on ecclesiology, which is what I'm tempted to do. Instead, I'll just make a few remarks about the book's style and general content.
The book is an easy read. It's not very long and not very deep. I finished it in less than two hours (perhaps some would find that attractive). Mason doesn't spend much time giving exegesis on relevant passages, but simply brushes over most verses with a "church always means assembly" pronouncement. 1 Cor. 12:13 and Heb. 12:23 are handled in short order. The book could've been greatly enhanced if Mason had spent more time giving opposing interpretations of difficult passages and carefully showing why they are wrong.
Also, Mason's bombastic style is immediately revealed even in the title. "The Myth of the Universal, Invisible Church Theory Exploded." Kaboom. Not really. More like "meh." His book moves by the same gears as a lot of fundamentalist revival preaching: lots of bluster, chest-beating, corny humor, and failure to deliver content as spectacular as the title claims.
Oh, and he is a Baptist-brider. I read a comment on an Amazon review of this book where someone denied that Mason was a Baptist-brider. Apparently this person never finished this book because Mason is most certainly a Baptist-brider. He states in the final chapter that "The time for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is not far beyond this. It will the be revealed that the Bride will be composed of all saved ones of those local, visible assemblies who have witnessed for Christ and carried on His work, gathered together in one happy group." Previously in the book he states that only Baptist churches can be the true "local, visible assemblies" and that all other churches are false. So, his logic is:
1. Only Baptist churches are the true church.
2. Only the true church will be the Bride of Christ.
3. Therefore, only Baptist churches will be the bride of Christ.
So, he is a "Baptist-brider," any denial of which is just plain caviling. Mason even goes so far as to say that denying the Baptist bride theory is to make Christ a philanderer, i.e., it makes Christ to be like a man who was engaged to one bride and then marries a different one. If the local church is the betrothed bride of Christ, then she will be the Bride of Christ, and those who are not in the betrothed bride will not be the bride. Non-Baptists who are saved will go to heaven, but they will not be honored as the Bride.
I do not say this to argue for or against Mason's view, but just to clarify that he is indeed a Baptist-brider. No need denying it.
I gave this book an "ok" rating according to the Goodreads rating system. It briefly gave the local-only ecclesiology in a brief work, so it accomplished its purpose. But honestly, there are better, deeper, and more extensive woks on the subject from the local-only ecclesiology view available for free on the internet. Skip buying this book, save yourself a few dollars, and read this for free instead: http://faithsaves.net/ekklesia-church...
Displaying 1 of 1 review