Christian Daily International publishes book reviews because we believe that reading matters. Our conviction is that the Living God has revealed himself most clearly in the person of Jesus and in a book (the ‘Bible’, from the Greek word for ‘book’).
As an international publication, we look for books containing lessons that are transferable across cultures. This is such a book, with foundational principles that ‘work’ (like the Bible) in any language.
In Ron Man’s words, ‘There is a biblical framework for our worship, but also much cultural flexibility,’ and ‘There is an unchanging message, but many ways to communicate and celebrate it.’ And the question for us all to consider is, ‘How to be biblically faithful and culturally relevant in our worship.’
Man doesn’t shy away from challenges about form (styles of music, etc.). Yet he emphasises the privilege it is for human beings (made in the image of God, but deeply flawed by our rebellion) to draw near to God in Christ (Hebrews 10/22).
It’s full of deep insights. For example, in Hebrews 2:12, Jesus tells the Father “…In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’’ When believers gather for worship, Jesus has promised to be in our midst, lifting up his own praise and leading us in ours’.
Man also says, ‘…the New Testament gives us another perspective on heavenly worship: it is not only our future, but also our present privilege’ (Ephesians 2:6, Hebrews 11:13 and 12:22–24, Philippians 3:20). His summary of that chapter ‘Worship is central because God is central.’
Long before finishing the book, I decided that this gift to the global Church should become required reading for church leaders.
His foundational principle is that worship is a response to God’s revelation: ‘we love because He first loved us’ (I John 4:19).
In his words ‘Revelation and Response is the pattern of all of God’s interactions with humankind, and of all true worship.’
The diagrams, photos, extensive quotations from other authors, simple summaries of each chapter, and constant Bible texts all reinforce his arguments. These build on a lifetime of leading (and teaching about) worship.
Deep dives into worship in the Old and New Testaments all point ultimately to Jesus Christ and his role in worship. As Man explains, ‘Jesus Christ is the Leader of our worship.’
He points out (from John 4) that ‘The Father is seeking worshipers’ and argues for ‘a God-centered view of missions: as a call to worship for the glory of God.’ He goes on, ‘In missions, we aim to go and reach people for Christ, in obedience to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). But ultimately, we want to reach people for the sake of God. We want people to become the worshipers God created them to be, instead of the rebels they have become.’
He quotes John Piper approvingly (Let the Nations be Glad: The Supremacy of God) ‘Missionsis not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man’.
‘All true worship is in and through and by Jesus Christ. This is a supremely unifying understanding of Christian worship in all times and places and styles and forms’.
He concludes, ‘Worship is our gift to God.’
The book contains some repetition (as in Scripture and all good pedagogy), but it’s both justified and helpful. It draws the reader back to the lessons of different passages of Scripture and stages of history. A short book review can’t do justice to this Magnum Opus. However, we hope it encourages you to read it for yourself. We commend it to you.
Let Us Draw Near: Biblical Foundations of Worship. Ron Man, Cascade Books (an imprint of Wipf and Stock Eugene, Oregon). Paperback ISBN: 978-1-6667-6277-8; Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-6667-6278-5; eBook ISBN: 978-1-6667-6279-2
