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 The
book, LIFE IN THE SON, by Robert Shank, contains an Introduction
by William W. Adams that is every bit as challenging as the book
itself. We quote excerpts from this Baptist scholar by
permission.
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“We
are deeply indebted to those people who, rooted firmly in
tradition, are orthodox and regular. They are a necessary
bulwark against fanatical revels and reformers whose convictions
are weak and unstable, whose interests are in what is new more
than in what is true, and whose influence is negative and
destructive. If left to themselves, such people would wreck our
Christian faith and destroy civilization in one generation.
Fortunately they are never left to them- selves. Alert and
intelligent watchmen, securely rooted in the historic faith, are
ever ready to analyze and to challenge every departure from
traditional theology, belief, and custom. We are deeply indebted
to such people, for they are our defense against the erosions of
idle speculations and empty vagaries.
But
we are equally indebted to responsible thinkers who dare to
challenge tradition. They are the pioneers who explore new areas
of truth, clarify concepts, enlarge vision, and enrich our store
of knowledge by breaking the paralyzing grip of blind,
uncritical enslavement to tradition. But for such men, no
progress would be made toward a fuller comprehension of the
truth.”
“There
are certain people who should not read Life in the Son: People
who have already decided what they intend to believe and who
read only for confirmation of their present opinion.... The book
is not written for
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people with spring-trap minds that have
already sprung.
People
who prefer to determine their doctrine from a few proof texts
and ignore or wrest other passages bearing on a given theme...
People
who read the Bible with the conviction that they must be
dogmatic and final on all matters of doctrine, leaving no place
for humility and deferred judgement ...
People
who read only to augment their comfort and tranquility.... The
book is profoundly disturbing and will not serve the purpose of
those who intend to remain “at ease in Zion”…
Pastors
who never read except to gather material for next Sunday’s
sermon.... It would require months, even years, to prepare the
average Baptist audience to face the fresh Biblical exegesis
this book contains.”
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“Mr.
Shank, unless human nature has recently and radically changed,
there are some who will do their utmost to give your book the
“silent” treatment.... They will consider that their first
obligation is to their personal academic reputation and
professional interests. With great scholarly dignity, they will
carefully ignore your book.”
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Surely
none of “us” would be like those “awful Baptist”——
would “we”???
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