Readers will never guess this book’s contents from its title! To the initiated, the subtitle (‘The missiology of the three forms of unity’) might give a clue; the overall title of the series — ‘Explorations in Reformed confessional theology’ — also helps.
This is not a contemporary ‘how to’ book on applied theology. Instead, it is a defence of three historic Reformed confessions against accusations that they have fostered a ‘maintenance only’ approach to church life, rather than one that is missional or evangelistic.
The three main chapters deal with the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort. Those readers more familiar with the Westminster Confession of Faith and its variants will rightly guess that the author’s background is one of lowland European Calvinism. Bredenhof’s current position is pastor of Providence Reformed Church in Hamilton, Ontario.
Why was this short book written, and what is its intended readership? I would surmise that it was to counter tendencies to be inward-looking and hypercalvinistic, present in some Reformed churches in the Netherlands or North America. The author shows that the classic, seventeenth century statements of faith are not to blame for this state of affairs.
The author, editors, publishing house and those offering commendations are all North American. It is there that this book might be most popular.
Kerry Orchard
Cardiff
