Book Review
VOW reviews Horizons Bible study
October 15, 2010
At a meeting in 2010, the members of the Voices of Orthodox Women (VOW) Board of Directors could not endorse the 2010-2011 Horizons Bible Study, “Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today,” despite several good aspects of the study.
Horizons is a magazine published by Presbyterian Women, the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (USA), for the women of the denomination.
Flaws in the Study:
1. The study’s apparent view of the authority of Scripture
VOW’s position is that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, more than just the words of human beings in which God’s word can sometimes be found. On p. 9 Dr. Barbara Rossing, the author, does say that “John makes clear that he is not writing for himself, but on behalf of God.”
However, Rossing contradicts herself in other places. For example, on p. 19, she says, “Though we are still able to find God’s word in this portion of Scripture, we can be sure that John’s practice of threatening violence” is not praiseworthy.
2. The study’s apparent political agenda
Rossing writes throughout as if the whole point of Revelation is to decry unjust empire, and give God’s people hope for resisting it. However, Revelation gives a more cosmic vision of liberation, from sinful life without God, and of hope for God’s people for a future in his perfectly good Kingdom.
Rossing does emphasize that our allegiance belongs only to God. Nevertheless, she reduces the interpretation of Revelation to references to the Roman Empire and political and economic empire in our day. For example, on p. 35, she writes, “We may learn from important insights found in John’s apocalyptic visions of the Roman Empire, as it gallops toward destruction. We can challenge ourselves to see the injustice of global economic inequality today in light of the seven seals of Revelation.”
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The hope Rossing says that Revelation offers is for resistance against empire. For instance, on p. 51, she writes, “we conquer by putting the unjust empire on trial and telling the truth about it.” Although Revelation does offer us this hope, it also offers us hope for redemption of all that is wrong, both corporate and personal, plus hope for eternal life.
3. The study’s apparent non-Reformed viewpoints
Rossing’s writings sometimes contradict Reformed theology. One example deals with salvation by grace rather than by works. On p. 74, Rossing writes, “John wants to wake us all up to be faithful to the vision of God and the Lamb, so that our names will be written in God’s book of life, so that we can enter as citizens into the holy city” (emphasis added).
But Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
4. Other details
Rossing says on p. 76 that Revelation “is a book not of judgment but of justice.” Yet Orthodox Christian theology includes the concept of judgment, which is necessary for justice.
There is also a somewhat uncharitable attitude toward Christians who believe in the Rapture, or who hold the Church’s traditional stance that the John who wrote Revelation is the Apostle John. Salvation does not hinge on these beliefs, and Christians of good will may differ on them.
Free Biblically-faithful, supplementary notes on Horizon’s “Journeys Through Revelation,”
available at www.fpconline.org/downloads/PWNotes10.pdf.
Lessons 1 & 2 available now. Additional lessons will be posted each month.
Good Points in the Study
There are some specific points that we would like to commend.
- Rossing continually emphasizes that Revelation is good news of liberation and hope, and should not create fear.
- Very importantly, Rossing stresses that God is the only one who deserves our worship and allegiance.
- Rossing places a valuable emphasis on the connection between Revelation and Christian music.
- Although Rossing’s guiding principles have minor parts that are slightly influenced by some of the flaws mentioned above, they are for the most part helpful for Christian learners.
- Some of the terminology is less divisive than in previous Horizons Bible studies. Terms such as “B.C.E.” are not used, and Rossing says “Kingdom of God” instead of “God’s reign.”
- We applaud Rossing’s suggestion that the book of Revelation be read aloud in circles or Bible study groups. This could be helpful to women who are auditory learners.
VOW is a network of Presbyterians committed to the work of reformation and renewal in women’s ministries in The Presbyterian Church (USA). Whenever possible, VOW supports the work of Presbyterian Women and other women’s organizations within the PCUSA. However, when necessary, the organization will oppose any effort to distort the historic Reformed faith in order to make it conform to the values of a contemporary culture that is in a moral and intellectual free fall.