pdf - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Book Reviewslossians, like most of the NewTestament epistles, containsmuch instruction about the:;Christian's walk - instructionbased on the doctrinal materialof the epistle. It is doubtful,however, that the main point ofColossians is preeminence ofChrist in the walk o/the Christian.That shifts the emphasisradically from the placeofChristin the counsel and works ofGod,to the place Christ has in the lifeof the believer. The danger isthen that the emphasis is on theChristian making sure that hehas (makes?) Christ preeminentin his own life.Sadly, that is exactly theapproach Dr. Gannett takes. Thefirst page of chapter one declaresthat ~'Godwants, throughthe Book ofColossians, to bringus back to the centrality of ourLord Jesus Christ-who He is,what He did for us on the cross,and how He wants to live in andthrough us. In two words, Christpreeminent." (My emphasis,RJD.)When the commentaryreaches the very verse thatspeaks of the preeminence ofChrist (p. 37), there is but ashort paragraph ofexplanation,and then this telling question:"As far as you know, in the pres-ence ofGod, is Jesus Christ firstin your lifeT' Even more obviousis the first oftwo questionswith which the book ends (pp.104-105) - HIs Christ first inyour life? ... Will you nowhumble yourself, bow the knee,and crown Christ Lord?"That pathetic question indicatesthe reason why Dr.Gannett cannot give Christ theproper preeminence thatColossians does, namely, thathis theology is Arminian. Hegives numerous prayers that heurges upon the reader, addingthe assurance that if the individualwill pray these prayers,in his words, "God will saveyou" (p. 44; similarly, see pp.40, 89, 105, for examples). Heis blatant in asserting to the unconverted,~'Christdied for you,"citing, of course, John 3: 16 (p.47). He avers that Christ "longsto be your life, my friend" (p.88).With that theology, Dr.Gannett can only presenta Christwho is glorious in what He wantsto do and be for man, but whocan do nothing until man allowsit. In such a system, who has thepreeminence? Man does. Manholds the reigns of power, andmust be willingto "crownChristLord"(!).November, 200181