Andrew Wilson
The most enjoyable book I've read this year. Clearly written by a preacher-scholar rather than a scholar alone, the rhetorical flourishes made this book a joy to read.
I really wanted to read Schreiner's and Wilson's book close to each other, and managed to fit both of them in within a week. They were both written concisely and clearly and with a view to a general audience, but without holding back from entering into serious discussion when warranted.
This book was an exhortation, or, as Wilson describes it, an invitation, to "eucharismatic worship"; essentially this means taking tradition and in particular the liturgy more seriously, but also zealously pursuing the spiritual gifts. These dual perspectives made for a more well-rounded book than Schreiner's, although it's a little unfair to compare as Schreiner had only one purpose (to make the case for cessationism). Nonetheless, by combining them, Wilson well made the point that the two aspects (liturgy + charismata) both have a history which we discard to our detriment. To be a historically faithful Christian is to celebrate all that is in the liturgy (at the forefront is the eucharist but also the elements of confession, thanksgiving, creeds and so on) but also to pursue and practice the spectacular spiritual gifts (my term) in continuity with NT Christianity as well as the early church.
As Schreiner said in his ETS paper published in Themelios, the very least a cessationist should take away from this book is the importance of the liturgy. But this is similarly a very good case for an historically rooted and orderly practiced charismata.
Apart from being a joy to read, the overwhelming impression was the generosity with which his view and the alternate views were presented. There was no point at which anyone was called anathema (although perhaps those who refuse to celebrate communion might be in danger of this!), but rather people of differing opinions and histories were reminded firstly of the primacy of our unity in Christ. I'm very thankful to have read this book and will continue to reflect on the implications.
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