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Unofficial God

Reviewed by John Matthews.

In this book, subtitled Voices Beyond the Walls, the author, who is Bishop of Tonbridge, acknowledges a variety of contemporary movements, including cell churches, dialogue with other faiths and new forms of monasticism, as some examples of God’s vitality outside the walls of traditional Christianity and the Church.

He recognizes that traditionally ‘inside’ means ‘pure’ and ‘outside’ means ‘impure’, but suggests that this too easily polarized categorization is challenged by the death, and also the ascension, of Christ.

The book includes some fascinating material on African theology, which is not so much systematic and verbal as expressed in singing and dancing, and on Korean ‘minjung’ theology, which is little known in the west.

An interesting chapter on folk religion, which, it is suggested, focuses on God rather than Christ, ends with the need for the church to discuss with those beyond the walls the role of Christ, but instead of pursuing this further the next chapter (which seems completely out of place in the book) is about hymns!

There is a brief attempt to show that rock music addresses issues of identity and even faith, but a two-page discussion of one album by Oasis from 1995 and another by the Manic Street Preachers from 1998 scarcely scratches the surface. What about Radiohead when it comes to the identity question and U2 as a band whose songs express faith?

There are some challenging sentences, such as the reference to “a church that is anxious to keep people happy rather than make them holy” (p.14), and some thought-provoking questions, such as: “how far can one contextualize without losing the heart of the gospel?” (p.50).

All in all, this is a readable book, with some new material, that would stimulate discussion at a ministers’ meeting or reading group.