Author- Thomas Smail
Publisher- Hodder and Stoughton
ISBN-0-340-39915-5
This book was first printed in 1980. It was written at a time when the ‘Renewal Movement” as it was called in the UK, (now known as the charismatic movement), was losing focus and not moving toward spiritual maturity. In this atmosphere Tom Smail, a Scottish reformed minister who had moved into the things of the Holy Spirit in the 1960’s wrote this book. It amounts to a Trinitarian theology for the layman. It lays emphasis where it should be laid always, that all things begin with God the Father and return unto Him and this takes place through the Son and by the Holy Spirit. This was a needed corrective when it was written and is as vital today. It is true to say that the charismatic movement in the early 21st century is still in a bad shape and this may be indicated in that many would probably find this book rather difficult to read and digest. Lighter fare is usually enjoyed nowadays! Yet it is a wonderful book, of about two hundred pages packed with helpful truth written in a gracious way and with the minimum of criticisms of the current trends as they existed in the churches a quarter of a century ago. Looking at one aspect of the book it will help to encapsulate its main thrust, namely the Biblical use of the word “Abba”. It is an Aramaic term for “father”. Aramaic was the family language of the Bible times in Jewish homes. The concept ministered generally concerning Abba is that of God being a beneficent Father who is genial, loving and ready to provide and supply all that His children may require. This idea encourages need centeredness in the sons, namely, the Father exists to satisfy my wants. Sometimes the word is translated ‘daddy’ by those who favor this notion. However, Smail consistently shows that the use of the term is ever linked to an intimacy based in the honoring of a father that a son should be rendering to him in the daily obedience to that father’s will. This is exemplified in the life of the Son, the Lord Jesus. The true Father has been forgotten, instead a preoccupation with the Spirit and the things which He brings from the Father is the general trend of thought ministered. However it is that which we bring to the Father as we live in the Spirit and abide thereby in the Son that reflects what it means to call God Abba.. There needs to be a rediscovery of the Father and a renewing of relationship with Him. The basic thrust of the book is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is essentially a “Father movement’ and not a ‘charismatic movement’. This book may not be easy to new although it was reprinted a year or two ago. Persevere to the obtaining it and there will be help gained through reading it.
