"Following the Call" (Charles E. Moore)

TITLE: Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together
AUTHOR: Charles E. Moore
PUBLISHER: Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2021, (396 pages).

One of the most powerful teachings of Jesus is none other than the Sermon on the Mount. Even though many sermons have been preached on it, many books written about it, and many references made to it, these precious messages continue to astound us. If there is one theme about the Sermon on the Mount, it would be about the revelation of the Kingdom of God. This is where this book comes in, to help us learn from the different masters of reflection throughout the ages. Compiled from the writings and expositions from Early Church leaders like Irenaeus (2nd Century), Gregory of Nyssa (4th Century), and Jerome (4th Century); to modern writers like Wendell Berry, Stanley Hauerwas, Timothy Keller, Philip Yancey, and more, readers get to learn about kingdom character, kingdom commands, kingdom devotion, and kingdom priorities. Like having multiple preachers on selected sections of the Sermon on the Mount, we get many powerful perspectives on Jesus' teachings. E. Stanley Jones asserts that the Sermon is not about a Christian's duty but liberty to do all the good they can. On the beatitudes, Philip Yancey gives us a profound image of what it means to be poor in spirit, often making provocative observations about the virtues of poverty. There seems to be a correlation between the beatitudes discussed and the corresponding expertise or experience of the authors concerned. For instance, the beatitude on mourning brings together writers like Nicholas Wolterstorff who had experienced personal tragedies. The beatitude on purity engages Søren Kierkegaard's famous reflections on purity. The beatitude on persecution draws from the experience of Jerome and Oscar Romero, both of whom were persecuted because of how they practiced their faith convictions. Just reading the short reflections alone and a little knowledge of the contributors' backgrounds gives the reader a fascinating insight not only into the passage but also into the unique ways God has touched these individuals.

The section on Kingdom Commands shows us many new insights into what we commonly see as biblical law. The Sermon on the Mount does not replace the Law but elevates the Law to a whole new level. Not only is the fulfillment of it possible, it is vital for the greatest work of all: Love. On Kingdom Devotion, the focus shifts from the Law to the practice of righteousness, something which runs counter to the hypocrisy of the age. This includes meditations primarily on the Lord's Prayer, which essentially ties in what has been taught before into seeking God's will fully in order to venture into practicing it. Finally, on Kingdom Priorities, we receive a call to action. We learn what it means to be salt and light, about devotion to Christ, and many other teachings that are familiar to any regular Church-going believer. 

My Thoughts
In one volume, we get a treasure full of precious meditations on the Sermon on the Mount. This treasure comes from centuries of reflections by various authors and practitioners who had not only taught but received deep insights into Jesus' teachings. This is a gift for us to treasure and to build upon. Let me give three thoughts about this book. First, the meditations are brief enough for readers to pause and ponder regularly. In an age of text snippets and short attention spans, not many people have the patience to read thick volumes of theology or Christian literature. Thus, to have the many different authors providing short passages to read fits the timeslot of anyone claiming to be too busy to read. In that sense, this book can be used like a devotional. The Sermon on the Mount should in itself be meditation material. This book enhances the overall meditation process. Second, I appreciate the thoughtfulness behind the compilation. With each theme in the Sermon, Moore gives us several perspectives of the different writers to help us see the passage from different angles. Some of us would gravitate toward authors that we are familiar with. Reading authors that we find unfamiliar should enrich our library of spiritual writers. I find it helpful also to ponder on the background of each writer even as I read the short meditation. I ask two questions: Why did Moore include this person's work? What is the background of this person? Just the journey to answer these questions gives us a fresh understanding of the theme and its practice. The discussion questions at the end of the book provide more questions that we can talk about in small groups. 

Finally, I sense an overall unity in the entire book. The kingdom theme is the main point. Moore has captured the essence of the Sermon on the Mount from the different writers to give us a wide range of interpretations and applications of the precious sermon of our Lord Jesus. In one book, we get a whole list of other treasured writings from the past. At the end of it all, I have just one conclusion. Wow!

Charles E. Moore is a member of the Bruderhof community. He writes for Plough Quarterly and has compiled and edited several acclaimed books, including Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People; Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard; Everyone Belongs to God: Discovering the Hidden Christ; and Bearing Witness: Stories of Martyrdom and Costly Discipleship.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book has been provided courtesy of Plough Publishing House and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.