When the Roll is Called: Trauma and the Soul of American Evangelicalism

by Marie T. Hoffman, Lowell W. Hoffman (Foreword)

For more than one hundred years, North American Christians have been choosing one of two stories about the gospel of Jesus Christ. One story, often referred to as the "true gospel," holds forth a narrative that this world is a "sinking ship" without possibility of redemption. For adherents to the "true gospel," human suffering in this life is mostly a distraction to be ignored, for all that truly matters is to "win souls for Jesus" so that as many as possible can be assured of eternal life. The other story, known by many as the "social gospel," holds that the gospel of Jesus promises a new beginning in this life that includes the possibility for abundant life in this present world. Followers of this story devote themselves to alleviating human suffering and working for charity and peace. Prior to the Civil War, these two stories--of salvation in this life and salvation in the life to come--were one, never to be separated, together comprising the good news of Jesus Christ. When the Roll is Called recounts the traumatic tearing asunder of this beautiful good news and offers hope for the restoration of a whole gospel.

Genres: Theology, History

150 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2016

Reviews

[Dave Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend down the street loaned me this book and it was an enlightening and fascinating read. Psychoanalyst Marie T. Hoffman analyzes conservative Evangelicalism as a whole and traces trauma that is felt by its adherents as a result of some of the teaching. She does all of this being a committed Christian. She dives into the history of dispensational theology (sudden rapture, escape from this world, etc) and an overview of the personal history of its purported founder JN Darby (with an assist from the Scofield Reference Bible). She talks about dissociation from pain and suffering in order to keep up a good image to non-believers and other methods of unhealthy separation from the world and our bodies. At only 113 pages (paperback), this is a very accessible read that is worth consideration and thinking deeply about.

[Terrence D. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The unfalsifiable psychobabble was almost enough for me to put down this book.

However, I did find it helpful in attacking the dualistic nature of Dispensationalism (or more accurately, its roots), and its implications upon society and man's responsibility to his neighbor. As if Radical 2-Kingdom theology weren't bad enough, Dispensationalism even goes so far as to render the natural rights of man, as inferred from God's Law, as mere privileges granted by arbitrary governing authorities.

My qualms with the theology from which I've become estranged (Dispensationalism), is the major reason I read this book. Apart from the practical implications of Dispensationalism and the historicity recorded herein, I found this book to be incredibly wanting otherwise. The thesis put forth was facile and weak.

NOTE: To see my comments on certain parts of the book, see my highlights and notes.

[Amy Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is basically an apologetic for paying attention to suffering in the church—we cannot afford to be afraid of feelings or suffering, because when we avoid it, it comes out in important things, like, oh, our theology.

Hoffman shows the trauma and loss in Darby’s and Scofield’s lives, as well as excerpts from their writings that demonstrate an inclination to dismiss their suffering rather than attend to it, a coping tool that came through in their theology as they developed the fragmented system of dispensationalism and emphasized conversion as a sudden event with future hope rather than a long-term relationship with present realities and future hope.