INTENDED FOR GOOD
The providence of God
By Melvin Tinker. IVP. 176 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978 1 844 745 708
Many pastors, the reviewer included, would agree with Melvin Tinker that the doctrine of God’s providence should be among the first refuges a Christian should seek in order to find strength and comfort.
His thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of the doctrine of providence is throughly biblical, perspective-giving and well illustrated. Illustrations include the advice of an older pastor to a suffering friend to keep on reading Romans 8.28 over and over to himself until he really believed it.
The book includes a helpful and humble consideration of the tension between providence and human responsibility, demonstrating from Acts 2.22-23 that the whole of the gospel of our Lord Jesus is dependent on this tension. It gives an exploration of the relationship between prayer and providence and an unpacking of providence and guidance that begins with an insightful ‘parable of the first supper’. It also has a heartwarming chapter on providence and conversion.
Am I glad I read this book? Yes. It stimulated thanksgiving for the all-encompassing relevance of God’s providence. Would I recommend this book to others? Wholeheartedly. It will be on our church bookstall.
Do I have any reservations? Minor ones. The print is quite small; it presumes a fairly high reading ability; and those without a pre-existing knowledge of the passages referred to may find some sections hard to follow.
Jonathan Prime,
by God’s gracious providence, pastor of Enfield Evangelical Free Church
