SALT, LIGHT AND CITIES ON HILLS.
Evangelism, Social Action and the Church.
How Do They Relate to Each Other?
By Melvin Tinker
EP Books. 119 pages. £6.99
ISBN 978 1 783 970 438
This small book explores an important topic which has generated a lot of heat and light amongst evangelicals for a while now.
It starts with a brief historical overview before reflecting on important passages and some key leaders’ thinking. For passages, the Sermon on the Mount and the parable of the Good Samaritan amongst others are discussed, and amongst prominent thinkers John Stott and Tim Keller come in for attention. He most helpfully explains the teaching of Jesus about salt, light and cities on hills from their OT context, particularly in Isaiah, but also takes it forward into early church practice in the Acts. The book concludes with a description of the practice of the church in Hull where he serves.
Not afraid
Positives abound: Melvin Tinker isn’t afraid to be direct and critical where he feels it is necessary. He raises useful exegetical insights. His description of his local church’s work is suggestive of ‘very good practice’. Reservations? Some chapters are very brief, and left me feeling, ‘Yes, but...’ He also makes the significant point that evangelism and social action must be linked, but doesn’t make the case strongly enough that the bridge for that linkage is often the strength of the relationships formed when people's ‘felt needs’ are met by both personal and corporate loving action. Without emphasising the importance of the ‘R’ factor, it can be hard to keep the proper tension between ‘word’ and ‘deed’, or show how the latter can lead to the former quite naturally. Clearly the church in Hull has worked hard at this, but I would have liked it more clearly spelt out.
