Reviews

BOOKS

Another way of seeing

Children and the Gospel, by Ron Buckland. Scripture Union £5.99 ISBN 1 87679 413 5

In this book Ron Buckland says: "Sometimes we need to know there are other ways of seeing things, and sometimes other approaches can be equally valid. But often we need to stand apart and say that 'the emperor has no clothes'."

I have looked at this book, stood back, thought it through, and can say that in this instance there is no case for saying: "The emperor has no clothes"! There are some well thought out themes in the book, some developed from previous books. OK, so I may not agree with some of his personal conclusions on the theology of children, but he does show us most of the other ways of seeing things and tries to leave us to draw our own conclusions, and that in itself is healthy.

There is much in this book that is good, and will make you think through where you stand. He is passionate about straight biblical teaching and not pigeon-holing children into developmental boxes, and to that I have to give a hearty Amen! He is all for children being encouraged to think instead of being told what to think, and again I feel this is great.

The end of the book has a list of 20 statements in seeking after excellence. No matter where you stand on theology, or whether you agree with the points put across, these statements are excellent! I would encourage readers to take all these statements, pray through the points raised in the first half of the book, and then apply them to the chapter on seeking excellence, and follow it through in practice.

This is not an easy book to read, especially when you consider that the starting point of most people reading this book will be at the "how to ..." end of children’s work and not the theological end, so the style may be a little heavy for them. But I do feel our starting point should be theologically thought out, and so I think this book is well worth reading, whether you have a heart for kids or not!

Kay Morgan-Gurr

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		BOOKS Another way of seeing Children and the Gospel, by Ron Buckland. Scripture Union £5.99 ISBN 1 87679 413 5 In this book Ron Buckland says: "Sometimes we need to know there are other ways of seeing things, and sometimes other approaches can be equally valid. But often we need to stand apart and say that 'the emperor has no clothes'." I have looked at this book, stood back, thought it through, and can say that in this instance there is no case for saying: "The emperor has no clothes"! There are some well thought out themes in the book, some developed from previous books. OK, so I may not agree with some of his personal conclusions on the theology of children, but he does show us most of the other ways of seeing things and tries to leave us to draw our own conclusions, and that in itself is healthy. There is much in this book that is good, and will make you think through where you stand. He is passionate about straight biblical teaching and not pigeon-holing children into developmental boxes, and to that I have to give a hearty Amen! He is all for children being encouraged to think instead of being told what to think, and again I feel this is great. The end of the book has a list of 20 statements in seeking after excellence. No matter where you stand on theology, or whether you agree with the points put across, these statements are excellent! I would encourage readers to take all these statements, pray through the points raised in the first half of the book, and then apply them to the chapter on seeking excellence, and follow it through in practice. This is not an easy book to read, especially when you consider that the starting point of most people reading this book will be at the "how to ..." end of children’s work and not the theological end, so the style may be a little heavy for them. But I do feel our starting point should be theologically thought out, and so I think this book is well worth reading, whether you have a heart for kids or not! Kay Morgan-Gurr © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.