(Part 1)

JBTM Book Reviews
146
We must make a genuine attempt to see things from the other person’s perspective. Being
able to appreciate why someone would hold a different belief is a necessary condition for
genuine dialogue. To do this, though, both sides have to genuinely listen to the other. All too
often, speakers pause only to plan their next salvo.
Effective proclamation sometimes requires diplomacy, and diplomacy should not
necessarily be regarded as obfuscation. Erickson cites the example of Nathan’s diplomatic
engagement with David in 2 Samuel 12. A direct confrontation would likely have been
pointless, but diplomacy resulted in repentance. Diplomatic discourse requires humility,
which is a distinctively Christian virtue. Unfortunately, society tends to prefer the proud, and
the temptation to exchange Christian humility for the world’s pride is an ever present one.
Finally, we should be willing to agree with others to the extent that we faithfully can. It is
rare when we can find no common ground with those who disagree with us. A key to finding
those points of agreements is to assume the best intentions of the other party. This is simply
to treat the other party with charity, something to which we are called anyway (26–33).
In the end, both authors emphasize the importance of proclamation—though perhaps we
have mistaken uncivil shouting for genuine proclamation. May we always be obedient to the
command in 1 Peter 3:15 to defend our hope in gentleness and reverence, remembering that
the gentleness is just as critical for the mission of the church as is the defense. Convictional
Civility serves as a greatly needed and highly recommended guide to these issues.
– Randy Ridenour, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma
Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption: A Developing and Diverse Tradition.
Edited by D. Jeffrey Bingham and Glenn R. Kreider. Chicago: Moody, 2015. 262 pages.
Paperback, $19.99.
Evangelical scholars differ on dispensationalism and covenant theology as well as their
resulting biblical-theological themes. Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption, edited
by D. Jeffrey Bingham and Glenn R. Kreider, is a helpful contribution to the discussion as these
essays define, clarify, and defend dispensational theology. D. Jeffrey Bingham is dean of the
School of Theology and professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
in Fort Worth, Texas. He has published numerous articles, and his books include Irenaeus’
Use of Matthew’s Gospel in Adversus Haereses, Pocket History of the Church, and The Routledge
Companion to Early Christian Thought. Glenn R. Kreider is the professor of theological studies
at Dallas Theological Seminary, and he has written God with Us: Exploring God’s Personal
Interactions with His People throughout the Bible. The contributors dedicate this book to the
late Charles C. Ryrie.