CHRISTIAN REALITY AND APPEARANCE

This book was written forty years ago and is only available second hand.  Its Author developed it from a series of lectures given in 1952.  He himself wasat the time of writing President of Princeton Theological College and had beenprominent in the emergence of the ecumenical movement, especially in its earlyDays.  Although an old book, its message, though strongly intellectual in tone, hasa powerful prophetic element.  As the title suggests the crucial comparison between Christian reality and appearance is examined in four areas.  The writerexplores certain of the central realities of the Christian faith and the specific shadows which betray them.  First, the reality of God and the way He revealsHimself to men can be eroded into the shadow of doctrine and Christian ideas.The personal encounter between man and God, true conversion and transformation can be distorted by emotionalism.  The church as true vibrantCommunity degenerates through enslavement to power by its leaders thus bringing ot to a mere structure and finally true Christian obedience all too easily becomes a series of ethical standards.  As the author proceeds he shows how these dangers were present in his own day among the churches and his message has deep contemporary relevance.  The titles of some of the chapters will go a long way to give clarity as to the thrust of the book.  “God’s self-disclosure and the idolatry of ideas”.  “The transforming encounter and the idolatry of feeling”.  “The Community of Christ and Churchism”. And finally “Christian obedience and  Ethicism”.  Leaders and ministers will benefit from reading this little book.  Consideration of the present state of some of the churches with which some of us