THE inherent diversity of Christianity is anciently enshrined in the scriptural canon of four different Gospels: four different stories of the Good News. It is also grounded and ensured by the absence of any definitive understanding of “the atonement”.
Anne van Gend celebrates and develops this in her book, which is both an introduction to Christian thinking about the meaning of “what Jesus has done” and a passionate case for enriching the stories that are used to communicate the endless facets of the truth that is good news.
She focuses on four: the story of sacrificial atonement, the story of victorious atonement, the story of covenantal atonement, and the story of theosis. At first glance, the book might seem like a balanced overview, but a quick look at the length of the four parts reveals that she gives far more space to the stories of covenant and theosis than sacrifice and victory.
Her section on covenant is about relationships, interconnections, and peace. Her concern is not only with contemporary social cohesion, but with the web of relationships that make up the whole global and historical ecosystem. She is right to make this lively and audacious connection, and this section rewards serious attention.
The final part of the book is about theosis and involves expanding on the deep and Eastern understanding of mystery which is so important to the author. This allows her to engage with the hugely important contemporary agenda of “identity”. I especially liked her suggestion that we might approach theosis by way of an analogy with fractals — in which every pattern both is made up of infinitesimally small versions of the whole and is infinitely expansible. To hold this in mind when pondering what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God is a profound theological meditation. The point of connecting theosis and atonement, as I understand it, is that we need to grow into our nature more than to be put right with a distant deity who is justly indignant at our sinfulness.
Anne van Gend is Ministry Educator for the Anglican diocese of Dunedin, in New Zealand, and much of the material presented here has the feel of having been developed through many teaching sessions. The teacherly voice also comes though, a little too frequently for this particular reader, but to others it may offer reassurance and give the sense of being guided by the hand through tricky terrain.
The tone is friendly as well as instructive, and there are many examples and illustrations of her points, and references to aspects of her own life journey. Great storytellers such as C. S. Lewis and J. K. Rowling add to the engaged and accessible style, which is thoughtful, pastoral, and positive.
In Restoring the Story, van Gend connects two great contemporary concerns with a doctrine that has often been held in stories whose day has largely passed, and, as she more than hints at towards the end, can be seen behind and within abusive attitudes and practices. This book is more than an introductory overview: It is a prophetic message, a call to think again.
The Revd Dr Stephen Cherry is the Dean of Chapel at King’s College, Cambridge.
Restoring the Story: The good news of atonement
Anne van Gend
SCM Press £19.99
(978-0-334-06619-4)
Church Times Bookshop £15.99