Abstract
An acquaintance of mine shared that she had recently converted. In addition to attending her Episcopal Church and reading her Bible, she was looking for a short introduction to Christian beliefs as well. I struggled to come up with something both substantive and accessible. I wish I had known of Justo L. González’s Knowing Our Faith.
With over one hundred books to his credit, many of which can be found in university and seminary classrooms, González proves once again his ability to handle themes of Christian belief with quiet authority and crisp clarity. His new book consists of ten chapters covering the major doctrines of revelation, Trinity, humankind, redemption, the church, worship, baptism, communion, eschatology, and Christian life. Each chapter ends with group discussion questions.
González’s style is refreshingly concise and unburdened of jargon. For example, speaking about the doctrine of the Trinity, he compares it to “fences at the edge of the plateau . . . on the one hand, this doctrine prevents us from believing in three gods, and on the other hand, it reminds us that we must not confuse the three persons” (p. 37). Or, in addressing “worship wars,” he reminds us that “what is important in worship isn’t how we worship, but whom we worship. If the God whom we worship is one, our various forms of worship are all addressed to the same throne. And if the God whom we worship is love, our various forms of worship must also promote and express mutual love” (p. 102).
González deftly avoids theological shibboleths and sticky wickets that often ensnare believers. He navigates controversial issues like inspiration and inerrancy by focusing on the broad consensus: “in general believers agree that Scripture is the Word of God by reason of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit” (p. 21). The divine inspiration filling the text does not turn it into a mysterious riddle that can only be unlocked with a secret key or mystical number. God has given us, in addition to Scripture, the means of interpreting, exploring, and explaining Scripture. Our making use of those means is imperative, recognizing our own human limits all the while. Our interpretations, “even though they’re guided by the Holy Spirit, are not infallible” (p. 23). Humility must guide the way.
Similarly, González addresses the conundrum of predestination and free will by pairing the two beliefs in a complementary rather than competitive relationship. Predestination affirms the truth that salvation is the work of God, whereas free will affirms the truth that God does not force belief upon us. Here, González’s questions for reflection and discussion prove especially helpful: “What would happen if we thought only in terms of predestination, as if there were no such thing as freedom of the human will? What would happen if we thought only in terms of free will, as if our salvation didn’t depend on God’s will?” (p. 69). When posed as questions, the doctrinal value of upholding both divine predestination and human freedom becomes evident.
In the last chapter, González applies the doctrines covered in the book to life and ethics. Addressing the doctrine of the incarnation, he reminds readers that God in Christ shared humanity’s total existence, glory, and suffering. In that sense, faith in Christ “is not limited to believing that he is truly God and truly human, but implies and demands that we follow his example of being present not only in peaceful and pleasant places, but also where evil and suffering seem to reign” (p. 150). If we follow the way of the incarnation, we will go to every corner of the earth and extend the hand of friendship and peace to those we meet, regardless of tribe, race, economic status, or politics.
Some readers will be disappointed that González has not incorporated more scriptural support. For example, in his discussion of the church, González limits himself to four Scripture citations, and those are toward the end of the chapter. The Trinity receives only a handful of references from the Gospel of John. Granted, this feature of the book may reflect the author’s preference to keep the text as streamlined and uncluttered as possible, but it does leave certain sections feeling unsupported. Similarly, the text could use more specific applications and extended examples to illustrate concepts.
Nevertheless, González achieves his overall aim: to present “what is and has been the faith of the Christian church throughout the centuries, and why those doctrines are important for us today” (p. 5). In part, the broad ecumenical approach of this volume reflects its point of origin. A few years back, various denominational leaders, church pastors, and people connected with theological education in Puerto Rico approached González and asked him to write an introduction to the faith in Spanish. González worked closely with church representatives in Puerto Rico to produce a short guide, Conoce tu fe (2017), which he then translated into English as Knowing Our Faith. The final, translated product surpasses expectations and is a true gift to the global church.