Hyde on God's Media
June 2, 2009
Henry Gysen and the gents over at The Reformed Fellowship have just published Danny Hyde's latest book, In Living Color: Images of Christ and the Means of Grace. Don't let Danny's inability to spell `colour' correctly put you off. This is a fine exposition of the Second Commandment and, for those unfamiliar with Danny's work, is very much in the tradition of his commentary on the Belgic Confession, With Heart and Mouth: biblical, confessional, irenic, pastoral, and designed to help laypeople think more clearly about issues that matter.
This book consists of three chapters: one showing why images of Christ are impermissible and, indeed, wholly inadequate; and then two on the `media' God himself has appointed -- the word preached and the sacraments administered.
The chapter on preaching is worth the price of the book in itself. At last, we have someone who understands that preaching is not simply informational communication but rather prophetic declaration. Two sentences in particular bring this point home:[On Rom. 10: 14, 17]`[W]hat is so revealing is how Paul conceives of Preaching. It is not information about Christ, but it is the means whereby Christ speaks....Christ is the subject of this word, not the object; meaning, he is the one speaking, not the one being spoken of.' (p.100-01).
The book is well-written, pastoral in tone, and would make a great study for an adult Sunday School class. I hope it also encourages readers to get hold of more of Danny's writings. Highly recommended.
This book consists of three chapters: one showing why images of Christ are impermissible and, indeed, wholly inadequate; and then two on the `media' God himself has appointed -- the word preached and the sacraments administered.
The chapter on preaching is worth the price of the book in itself. At last, we have someone who understands that preaching is not simply informational communication but rather prophetic declaration. Two sentences in particular bring this point home:[On Rom. 10: 14, 17]`[W]hat is so revealing is how Paul conceives of Preaching. It is not information about Christ, but it is the means whereby Christ speaks....Christ is the subject of this word, not the object; meaning, he is the one speaking, not the one being spoken of.' (p.100-01).
The book is well-written, pastoral in tone, and would make a great study for an adult Sunday School class. I hope it also encourages readers to get hold of more of Danny's writings. Highly recommended.
