Vintage church

DIFFERENT
Living the Holy Life
By Simon Ponsonby
Hodder. 224 pages. £13.99
ISBN 978 1 473 617 810

This book is both refreshing and challenging! We need more books like this: more on this important subject – holiness.

Simon comes from a different part of evan-gelicalism from me and some of his illustrations, his quotes and his own story reflect this. That’s to be expected. However, that must not detract in any way from a clear, well-argued and important contribution. ‘Holiness is a privilege’, he argues and one the church needs to rediscover, embrace and rejoice in.

The trouble, writes Simon, is that unbelievers compare themselves favourably to Hitler (I’m better than him) rather than comparing themselves to the one who is supremely good, Jesus Christ. Believers fare little better, giving their attention to singing, programmes and conferences. Worship, he says, is no worship at all if it does not lead to holiness.

Clarity on repentance

So, this readable book is an argument for what the author calls ‘vintage church’ which for him means ‘holy church’. Alongside chapters on salvation itself, we get specific challenges in areas such as gnostic religiosity (yes, really!), kindness, idolatry, pornography (‘Satan is the great pornographer’) and drifting away, plus a timely chapter on integrity and how to cultivate it.

He is wonderfully and helpfully clear on true repentance and how this is worked out in the community of believers. ‘Telling someone your struggles may be a start – but it is not repentance… I have heard many people tell me they have addictions to sex, but not all were repenting; many were simply sharing.’ He also argues for the Bible to be at the heart of Christian life and church life – an always-needed warning – and finishes with a clear chapter on what it means for Christ to be in us, forming us in his likeness.

Simon doesn’t always quote authors with whom you would be familiar or, sometimes, even comfortable. That could distract you, but do not let it, for his overall thesis is well-made, strong, compelling and convicting, certainly for this reviewer. This is a book that would serve you well and may be a useful gift for a fellow believer, especially one who is in a slightly different kind of church from you and perhaps doesn’t always read the books you read. For holiness is truly ‘our will submitted to God’s will’.