via VirtueOnline:
Reviewed by The Rev. Dr. George Naff Gray, Jr.
April 12, 2010
One of the more important books written, thus far in this new twenty-first century, is Trust in the Age of Arrogance by C. FitzSimons Allison. It is a treatise on society's most important intangible: trust. Allison clearly demonstrates how and why trust has been lost by society in general and misplaced by the Church in particular. The resulting societal quality is the label Allison uses to describe our time period: "The Age of Arrogance."
Trust in the Age of Arrogance is a plea to break free from the bondage of sinful arrogance and a call to embrace true freedom by trusting God's word through following, believing, and trusting in Jesus Christ. It is a book that deserves close and thoughtful study by Christians and non-Christians alike, for should we fail to heed the warnings based on historical facts then a "hazardous slavery," anarchy, and chaos awaits the world in the not to distant future. (p. 127)
Allison believes that the arrogance within our age has no historic parallel. He fears that "we are not sufficiently aware of the seriousness of replacing Christianity with secularism" (p. ix) and that the trends in Christianity are increasing distorting the Faith reflecting a society that has embraced the "big lie . . . that we are born free, free to do right or wrong, to do as we please, and worship however and whatever we want." (p. 150) The culprit of our current woes is the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees that has been finding its way into our thinking for centuries.
Jesus speaks in Matthew 16:6: "Take heed, Beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees is a form of mold that grows slowly, often unseen, and very deadly to the hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. Their yeast in today's world permeates.
Modern day Sadducees for Allison is secular society which maintains that the "I" of every individual is the standard reference of good and bad. He reminds his readers that this human self-centeredness was to be harnessed by two modern hopes: Nazism and Communism. Each sought to resolve our problem of self-centeredness through rational self-interest, but history's lesson is that these two rational theories failed losing millions of lives in the process.
Allison does not embrace Capitalism that no longer trusts in God as written on the dollar, but rather trusts in reason. His readers are reminded how Luther described reason as "the devil's whore." Within capitalistic structures secularism is "producing a large fraternity of aggressive atheists denouncing Christianity." (p.33) Allison states:
Capitulation to secularism, what Jesus warned us against, has become an almost universal assumption of Westerners. Its believers rarely acknowledge that their belief is based solely on materialistic conjecture or that nothing exists beyond this world." (p. 35)
Christian disengagement is not what Allison prescribes, because disengagement simply permits secular society to embrace a multitude of idols with reason being "one of the most subtle idols." (p. 39) Quoting numerous literary, philosophical, and religious giants over the centuries throughout his work, Allison often turns to T. S. Elliot who maintained that the great irony of the current secular Sadducee "sickness" was that such people "fear the injustice of men more than the justice of God." (p. 41) Sadly what has been lost in modern histories is what C.S. Lewis said: "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world, were just those who thought the most of the next . . ." (p.32)
The present age is a great opportunity for the Church, but its Good News has been poisoned with the yeast of the Pharisees. All too often its message is a mere reflection of our self-centered society groping for personal assurance, greater freedoms, and an ever increasing need for one's self-esteem to be improved. Allison laments: "The tide that carried out the Christian faith is returning, but it is composed of a complex and lethal mixture of neo-pagan and yet unknown dark powers." (p. 25)
Allison's solution to the current crisis is a return to the basics. Trust (or what would many would describe as faith) needs to be reintroduced to a society that today is never satisfied, often depressed, and searching for answers, but finding in reality increasing hopelessness. In so many words, the harvest is plentiful, but labors with true faith in the Good News are few.
The Good News that Allison speaks of as the remedy for the present age is what Jesus Christ did on the cross and His victory over death. In order for this simple message to once again be embraced, God's Word does not need to be criticized or doubted, but trusted. We need to trust again as believers and, therefore, follow in Christ's footsteps as servants bringing "his love to a lonely, hurt, and needy world, treating other sinners as God has treated us" with mercy while we were yet, but sinners. (p. 151) Lastly, Allison calls on us to once again trust in Christ because: "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
Allison's work, Trust in the Age of Arrogance, is a masterful Christian apology for this age. It is a call to return to basic Christianity rooted in the Good News and matured through the Reformation. It is a message that must be renewed within this arrogant age. Trust in the Age of Arrogance is a book that needs to be read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested today. Should this be done, at the conclusion, one could ask: "Got Trust?" The answer will be a resounding: "YES, and so much MORE."
Trust in an Age of Arrogance by C. FitzSimons Allison, 2009, can be purchased at WIPF Stock, Eugene, Oregon, www.wipfandstock.com. It is also available at Amazon.com
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