Transformative Vision

Inspired by the ‘the inseparability of theology and worship in the life-work of the Torrance brothers’ and its implications, seasoned pastor-worship leader Kevin Navarro has brought together an extremely readable, informative book which even the seasoned Torrance scholar will enjoy and find stimulating. Navarro has a fine understanding of Torrance theology and is able to make a careful, accurate characterisation of it. He is also very fair and balanced in his assessments of it and its critics. The seven chapters of the book slowly build on one another, each unfolding in some depth a central component of the Torrances’ life-work and laying the basis for following chapters. Together they present one united whole. The chapters in order, together with the briefest summary of their topic and its importance are, Chapter 1, The Biographical Background of TF and JB Torrance: personal faith, lived out communally in study, worship, life and mission. Chapter 2, Unitarian or Trinitarian Worship?: Trinitarianincarnational worship focused on Christ the one High Priest who embodies in himself both the God-manward movement in salvation AND the man-Godward. Chapter 3, The Trinitarian Faith and Worship: the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, divinity of Father, Son and Spirit, worship of the one God through the incarnate Son. Chapter 4, The Mediation of Christ: Christ as the one mediator, mediating the coming of God to man, AND, so mediating human response to God that his whole response is ours. Chapter 5, The Place of Jesus Christ in Liturgical Prayer and Worship: the importance of worship with Christ, for he is not only the God we worship, but the one true worshipper with whom we worship God. The Torrances used the researches of Jungmann and others to reveal how historical circumstances led to this aspect disappearing from the early church’s worship. It meant Christ was no longer the one High Priest, our fellow worshipper in whose worship we shared, but distant, necessitating the mediation of others, such as Mary, the saints and the church priesthood. Chapter 6, TF Torrance and Preaching: the pivotal importance of preaching Christ. For the Torrances there was an intimate relation between theology, preaching and worship. All three involve encountering the living Word, but in preaching the accent falls more on personal communication to others of the truth of Christ and in him and a directing of others to him. Everything the Torrances did, therefore, in their multi-faceted activities, was a form of preaching. Chapter 7, The Sacraments of Incorporation and Renewal: Baptism and Holy Communion, in union with the Word preached, are indispensable in strengthening faith and through them Christ makes himself livingly present as nothing else can. Navarro’s book can be highly recommended. It can be read and pondered several times, till its full import has been absorbed.