Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road in P&R Publishing

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Oct 24, 2019 Zack rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Imprecise and weak theology of the diaconate. Seems like a white suburban attempt to use service to the poor as a palliative against a guilty corporate conscious stemming from affluence. Also, his theonomic understanding of Christian cultural transformation is distasteful. The key to Keller’s appraisal of mercy ministries is found on page 57 (last full paragraph), where he trumpets mercy ministry as an instrument to woo unbelievers into accepting us. At points, Keller seems to suggest that Chris Imprecise and weak theology of the diaconate. Seems like a white suburban attempt to use service to the poor as a palliative against a guilty corporate conscious stemming from affluence. Also, his theonomic understanding of Christian cultural transformation is distasteful. The key to Keller’s appraisal of mercy ministries is found on page 57 (last full paragraph), where he trumpets mercy ministry as an instrument to woo unbelievers into accepting us. At points, Keller seems to suggest that Christians use the Word and the Spirit to transform society and culture, rather than rightly identifying the Spirit and the Word as effecting (not just instrumentally) any real change (31). At other points, he seems to get closer to the right articulation of the dynamic (55). Also, the introduction left me with the the impression that urgency for mercy ministry is derived from our current situation (as described through an avalanche of statistics) rather than from Scripture. Keller tries to critique political-economic liberals and conservatives, but he is unsuccessful in giving a balanced treatment of the excesses of both. There is no nuance in his political commentary, just an appeal to a nebulous - if not utopian - third way. Chapter 11 is very bad. He fails to distinguish between the visible church as an organization and as an organism, and so the corporate mission of the church is conflated with the mission of Christian men and women as individuals.

Despite the self-serving theologico-practical basis of the book, some of the exegetical observations and practical suggestions are useful. Chapter 9 in particular was quite good. His point that we must be on our guard against pride (“they looked down their nose at people who looked down their nose at people!”) was very well made (147). Some of his historical and recent illustrations/models of success are good. I hope that this book inspires compassion in the church, as well as hearty investigation into better resources for a theology of mercy ministry. ...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Jeanie marked it as to-read

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Jun 02, 2015 Jeanie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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