Product Description

Develops the idea that our ordinary work is ultimately of heavenly good.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #289671 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

About the Author
Darrell Cosden is Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at the International Christian College in Glasgow.

Customer Reviews

When can we start living this together?
This book is pretty unique for published british theology. It's brilliant!

The book opens in its first 2 chapters by highlighting some of the really unhealthy dichotomies that Western theology has clung to for dear life from time immemorial. Cosden carefully unpacks where these things came from originally, thus showing the contextual nature of the original theology. This is helpful because we assume that the likes of - 'spirit versus matter' is a healthy one in our theology.

Part 2 exegetes several NT passages and the narratives of Genesis 1-4 with fascinating style. Cosden's exegesis of these passages a detailed and show a great deal of insight and care. Moreover, he even highlights his hermeneutical stance in a clear way too, so that people can imitate this method of interpretation. Consequently, his arguments of how work, as it is fully connected with the resurrection, are extremely compelling. By this exegesis Cosden shows that if we truly are to be saved, then the things that have formed us into the people we are along the way have the real possibility of being saved also.

The final part of the book demonstrates the practical relevence of this theology as a whole way of life for christian communities. But this will require more than just the odd individual living thus. This will require whole communities to embrace the potentialities of such a movement of the masses, to affect the masses.

When is the follow-up coming out Darrell?

Good work (that, perhaps, could go further)
The book provides a useful theological perspective on the important place of work for the Christian. It contains an insightful critique of evangelicalism's preoccupation with `the Lord's work', particularly as it pertains to `full-time Christian work' (correctly identified as an acutely corrosive concept). The concluding chapter helpfully applies the theological ideas Cosden develops to the subject of mission. All good stuff as far as it goes. For me, however, the most fertile area for theological reflection is raised by a question posed towards the end of the book (`But what about work in what some would see as a grey area - for example in the military or nuclear industry, or in aspects of the entertainment industry... violent video games or movie?'). Unfortunately this question, and the more important underlying issue of how Christians respond to `institutionalised sin' in the context of work, is simply not developed here. Left unresolved (or at least, unexplored) this nagging problem will remain one of the principal drivers of conscientious Christians towards work considered to be `full time for the Lord', where these more difficult questions seem to present less of a dilemma.

Refreshing
I've read the manuscript for this and loved it. Cosden helps us grasp an understanding of a theology of work that will help refresh how we view work and illuminate our spirituality of the workplace.