Clark H. Pinnock: Journey Toward Renewal: An Intellectual Biography

Rating:
Summary: An Instructive Journey
Review: Barry Callen has put evangelical scholars in his debt with this intellectual biography on Clark Pinnock's theological development. Pinnock's own journey is a sort of "microcosm" of evangelicalism itself, which makes these insights encouraging and instructive. (In this sense, the book reminds me a little of George Marsden's "Reforming Fundamentalism"--a history of Fuller Seminary which, as an institution, also provided a glimpse into the struggles and growth of evangelicalism as a whole.) Though *almost* bordering on the hagiographic at times, Callen does an excellent job of distilling the key themes of Pinnock's theology and allowing us to glimpse how Pinnock's mind has changed. By focusing on the process and development, Callen sketches Pinnock as a model of genuine evangelical engagement who is not afraid to engage broader currents, and not afraid to change his mind. Both Pinnock's work and Callen's account of it are exemplary in this regard.

Rating:
Summary: Dare to question!!!
Review: Barry Callen has shown in this exciting book that if one is truly open to the moving of the Holy Spirit, then change can take place. He shows how Clark Pinnock, who was totally sold out for the Reform doctrine, began to question these beliefs and search out the Scriptures. It is a story spanning over 30 years of Pinnock's life, and it is truly well done. Many have seen Pinnock as a deserter of the faith, but Callen shows how Pinnock's faith has only been strengthen by this truly spiritual journey. There will always be those who question and critisize anything that is different than what they themselves believe. But for those who want a truly inspiring book that shows how the rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor, then I recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Dare to question!!!
Review: Barry Callen has shown in this exciting book that if one is truly open to the moving of the Holy Spirit, then change can take place. He shows how Clark Pinnock, who was totally sold out for the Reform doctrine, began to question these beliefs and search out the Scriptures. It is a story spanning over 30 years of Pinnock's life, and it is truly well done. Many have seen Pinnock as a deserter of the faith, but Callen shows how Pinnock's faith has only been strengthen by this truly spiritual journey. There will always be those who question and critisize anything that is different than what they themselves believe. But for those who want a truly inspiring book that shows how the rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor, then I recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Pilgrim's Regress (Apologies to C.S. Lewis)
Review: More appropriately titled, 'Journey toward Newness/Novelty'. The main strength of the book is to show how subtly, gradually and unwittingly a journey away from evangelical core beliefs can be for anyone, no matter the intellectual horsepower or academic credentials or sincerity. Compare/contrast prior Pinnock quotes (1985 - How I Use the Bible in Doing Theology) with his current position (still evolving, progressing, 'renewing', 'maturing'): "theological novelty does not blend well with a high view of Scripture" "adherence to the Bible means acquiescence to all its teachings and a refusal to allow any rival to stand above it, whether tradition, reason, culture, science, opinion" "the theologian has no right to pick and choose between biblical doctrines" "reductionism has no rightful role in theology, nor is there a right to place in opposition one part of the Bible against another. I simply presuppose its falsity on the grounds of my confidence in scripture, the inspiration of which carries an assumption of its unity and coherence" "each text must be read and understood in the canonical context which resists an atomistic approach" "we must not conform theology to our situation" "use of process thought cannot be explained in terms of biblical reflection but must be explained in terms of the influence of secular modernity" "What divine revelation does not disclose cannot be incorporated into theology as truth. Only what is taught in Scripture is binding on the conscience" "the wise theologian accepts the tensions which are present in the Bible and learns to resist the temptation from reason to tamper with them. I cannot tamper with the data as regards sovereignty and human freedom just because it would be easier if one were at liberty to do so" "Reason is a God-given faculty which is of great usefulness in theology; however, it must be kept in its ministerial role and not allowed to rise to a magisterial role"

"tradition (the living faith of the dead, as opposed to traditionalism, the dead faith of the living) provides contexts in which Scriptural knowledge is pursued" "Tradition in its servant role alerts theologians to heresy" Prooftexting is suspect because "when the Bible is cited in support of some proposal, it must be apt, intelligent and discerning. I do not want to be sued by Scripture for exegetical malpractice" In other words, citing texts must be done in a way that is

illuminant, Spirit-friendly, plenarily representative and canonically/contextually balanced. "be wary of twisting Scripture to serve one's own interests and preferred views" "theology must not attempt to advance beyond the limits of the Bible" - do not go beyond what is written! "We cannot go beyond the evidence", especially if it is where no man has gone before, or where even angels fear to tread. "We cannot invent new data or eliminate any. We may even have to accept antinomies which offend the rational impulse"(apparent contradiction; paradox; antilogy) "Scripture may not always satisfy human curiosity which presses for answers in areas where sufficient evidence is not provided" That is, we have all we need to know, not all we need to want to know. The wise theologian must be careful to find even what he may not be apt to seek, rather than seek only what he is prone to find. "tradition serves to confront heretical teachers who advance their novelties in the name of some lost-sight-of exegetical insights" "A high doctrine of Scripture and theological novelty do not go well together" "we are not free to pick and choose between biblical doctrines or to perform theological reduction that marks the shift toward humanity in religious liberalism" "The biblical writers do not seem to feel that (divine sovereignty and human agency) are mutually exclusive, but instead they place the two ideas in juxtaposition at every turn and seem indifferent to our intellectual dilemmas" "Reason is a faculty of great usefulness to theology. Occasionally, it rises up to challenge Scripture and when it does, we ought to put it in its place as supportive,ministerial, non-legislative" "When confronting heresies, novelties, 'lost-sight-of exegetical insights', the creeds of the church, though not infallible, provide temporary respite by alerting to the time-honored convictions and conventions of multitudes of believers before our time and make one pause before accepting innovations" Even the most well-intentioned are "quite prepared for and adept at twisting Scripture to serve their own ends; no one is immune from doing the same thing"

Truer words were never spoken! This biography highlights the importance of guarding against any violation of the above principles of using Scripture in theology. Caveat Emptor!

Rating:
Summary: Pilgrim's Regress (Apologies to C.S. Lewis)
Review: More appropriately titled, 'Journey toward Newness/Novelty'. The main strength of the book is to show how subtly, gradually and unwittingly a journey away from evangelical core beliefs can be for anyone, no matter the intellectual horsepower or academic credentials or sincerity. Compare/contrast prior Pinnock quotes (1985 - How I Use the Bible in Doing Theology) with his current position (still evolving, progressing, 'renewing', 'maturing'): "theological novelty does not blend well with a high view of Scripture" "adherence to the Bible means acquiescence to all its teachings and a refusal to allow any rival to stand above it, whether tradition, reason, culture, science, opinion" "the theologian has no right to pick and choose between biblical doctrines" "reductionism has no rightful role in theology, nor is there a right to place in opposition one part of the Bible against another. I simply presuppose its falsity on the grounds of my confidence in scripture, the inspiration of which carries an assumption of its unity and coherence" "each text must be read and understood in the canonical context which resists an atomistic approach" "we must not conform theology to our situation" "use of process thought cannot be explained in terms of biblical reflection but must be explained in terms of the influence of secular modernity" "What divine revelation does not disclose cannot be incorporated into theology as truth. Only what is taught in Scripture is binding on the conscience" "the wise theologian accepts the tensions which are present in the Bible and learns to resist the temptation from reason to tamper with them. I cannot tamper with the data as regards sovereignty and human freedom just because it would be easier if one were at liberty to do so" "Reason is a God-given faculty which is of great usefulness in theology; however, it must be kept in its ministerial role and not allowed to rise to a magisterial role"

"tradition (the living faith of the dead, as opposed to traditionalism, the dead faith of the living) provides contexts in which Scriptural knowledge is pursued" "Tradition in its servant role alerts theologians to heresy" Prooftexting is suspect because "when the Bible is cited in support of some proposal, it must be apt, intelligent and discerning. I do not want to be sued by Scripture for exegetical malpractice" In other words, citing texts must be done in a way that is

illuminant, Spirit-friendly, plenarily representative and canonically/contextually balanced. "be wary of twisting Scripture to serve one's own interests and preferred views" "theology must not attempt to advance beyond the limits of the Bible" - do not go beyond what is written! "We cannot go beyond the evidence", especially if it is where no man has gone before, or where even angels fear to tread. "We cannot invent new data or eliminate any. We may even have to accept antinomies which offend the rational impulse"(apparent contradiction; paradox; antilogy) "Scripture may not always satisfy human curiosity which presses for answers in areas where sufficient evidence is not provided" That is, we have all we need to know, not all we need to want to know. The wise theologian must be careful to find even what he may not be apt to seek, rather than seek only what he is prone to find. "tradition serves to confront heretical teachers who advance their novelties in the name of some lost-sight-of exegetical insights" "A high doctrine of Scripture and theological novelty do not go well together" "we are not free to pick and choose between biblical doctrines or to perform theological reduction that marks the shift toward humanity in religious liberalism" "The biblical writers do not seem to feel that (divine sovereignty and human agency) are mutually exclusive, but instead they place the two ideas in juxtaposition at every turn and seem indifferent to our intellectual dilemmas" "Reason is a faculty of great usefulness to theology. Occasionally, it rises up to challenge Scripture and when it does, we ought to put it in its place as supportive,ministerial, non-legislative" "When confronting heresies, novelties, 'lost-sight-of exegetical insights', the creeds of the church, though not infallible, provide temporary respite by alerting to the time-honored convictions and conventions of multitudes of believers before our time and make one pause before accepting innovations" Even the most well-intentioned are "quite prepared for and adept at twisting Scripture to serve their own ends; no one is immune from doing the same thing"

Truer words were never spoken! This biography highlights the importance of guarding against any violation of the above principles of using Scripture in theology. Caveat Emptor!

Rating:
Summary: Book reviews vs personal attacks
Review: Mr Scott's review is egregious because it is not a book review at all but a personal attack on Dr Pinnock. This is a well done volume that provides helpful information for both supporters of Dr Pinnock's work (myself eg) and detractors (Mr Scott eg). One does not have to agree with all of a theologian's conclusions in order to appreciate and even be inspired by their love for truth, for God, and for the church. But perhaps this assertion is precisely what is a matter for contention in evaluating Pinnock's personal journey.