I'm currently reading Miroslav Volf's book Free of Charge which I bought at lent. I gave it to a friend to read and just remembered I'd bought it after seeing the book in Waterstones the other week. I'm very impressed that it's kept in stock in the book store, though that may have something to do with the fact that the Archbishop of Canterbury recommended it for Lent. He says this about the book.
“Miroslav Volf, one of the most celebrated theologians of our day, offers us a unique interweaving of intense reflection, vivid and painfully personal stories and sheer celebration of the giving God ... I cannot remember having read a better account of what it means to say that Jesus suffered for us in our place.” – Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
I have to agree with him, on every count! Volf is Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and I managed to hear him speak in Glasgow a few years ago, talking about another of his books and the thinking behind it. He's a kind of Pentecostal Episcopalian (a bit like myself at the moment), very down to earth (also like myself) and has the most amazing theological insights on how we should be church (something I'm continually striving towards). His book After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity is a must for anyone grappling with ecclesiology. The Trinity and self-giving/submission are areas that I am particularly interested in reading as much as possible on. Free of Charge speaks to these areas and is, in my humble opinion, an excellent book and a must in trying to understand the self-giving God (particularly when grappling with substitutionary atonement) and how we are at our human best when we give and forgive. If we don't do theology well then our practice is equally poor. You can check out what Brodie McGregor (an old classmate of mine) has written about the book. He says he may even be changing his mind about God's wrath and penal substitution after reading this book!! He says:
'Volf asks on p144 if by putting forward the Son as our substitute is the Father not abusing the Son. His answer, p145 is no, because the Father could only be abusing the Son if the Son were a third party to the offense. But as the Father and Son are one then Jesus in not a go-between us and God but "stands firmly on the side of the forgiving God". He quotes Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:19 and comments,
"Not: Christ was reconciling an angry God to a sinful world.
Not: Christ was reconciling a sinful world to a loving God.
Rather: God in Christ was "reconciling the world to himself".'
This is trinitarian theology at it's best and I'd seriously recommend this book to any Christian - regardless of how long they have been walking with the Lord. It will not only enhance your knowledge of God in a new way but will help you know Him more.
