![Adventist Book Centre Australia [with ABC Christian Books, Better Books and Food and Christian Life Resources]](https://adventistbookcentre.com.au/skin/frontend/arw_sebian/default/images/logo.jpg){kind=logo}
Reviews and Endorsements
-
[ Bookshelf Review ]
- Life, and church, is never as simple as we would want” (page 25). Isn’t that so true? You may have read them before, others could be new to you; whatever the case, Salt, Not Mustard—And other thoughts on being church provides juicy morsels to consider, contemplate and put into practice about life, church and where the two meet. Sixty of Bruce Manners editorials from the RECORD over a 17-year period (1988-2004) are compiled in Salt, reminding all of us what it means to be church. These are the thoughts, dreams and concerns of Manners for the church he loves.
Readable, relevant, applicable and intellectual, Manners delves into the deeper level of what it really means to be a Seventh-day Adventist in the world today, and on a closer level, in the South Pacific Division. You’ll be reminded of events not so distant in our history, you’ll be encouraged with stories of real people, and you’ll be challenged through looking at personal experiences of church—both good and bad.
We are the salt in the world, of this we need to be reminded far too often. “Do we want to be known as a people with an antiCatholic, anti-Presbyterian, anti-Uniting, anti-Baptist message? Rather, shouldn’t we be known by what we stand for and that we have a pro-Christ message? Life enhancers will want to promote the One who is life” (page 48).
Salt takes a look at some of the most relevant issues in the church today—money, relationships, the death penalty, cloning, homosexuality and change to mention a few; issues we often push aside because they are embarrassing, too difficult to find an easy answer to, or just too close to home.
Manners takes a thoughtful perspective as he invites the reader to consider these issues with real faces on them—people like you and me. “Real church,” he writes, “is about a relationship with God, and a face-to-face relationship with others” (page 60).
Powerful and memorable, Salt gets you thinking—which is good! With Bible stories with a twist like “But . . .” the story of Moses (page 95) or “Peter” (page 97); reallife stories that might make you squirm, “A plumber goes a-plumbing” (page 18) and “If you were a guest to your church . . .” (page 54) and more. Each article and story provides a slightly new or different view on issues in the church.
Witty and funny, Manners is true to form as he paints the reality he sees in the church around him. It is best sometimes, to look at life and church with a sense of humour so we can be reminded that we are all human, which translates as imperfect.
Stop and consider God as a grandad “. . . calling heaven to a halt to point out what one of His children is doing. I see Him pulling out His photo album, or whatever recording means He has (the Book of Records, perhaps), and sharing the pictures there” (page 81). What a great picture? A God who loves you and me so much to halt heaven, or even the universe, to consider how much He loves you!
When it comes to relationships and people, Manners says it well, “The main business of the Adventist Church is not in keeping books balanced, but in helping to establish the kingdom of God. We have a Christ to share, a mission to proclaim, and a fellowship to build” (page 45). Through the stories and journeys of others, Salt, Not Mustard thoughtfully encourages the reader to reflect on their own journey.
- Julene Duerksen-Kapao
