Lutheran CORE continues to provide monthly video reviews of books of interest and importance. Many thanks to Dr. Paul Hinlicky, professor emeritus at Roanoke College in Roanoke, Virginia, for giving us a review of Simeon Zahl’s book, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience.
Prior to the rationalism of the Enlightenment, during the early years of Reformation theology, part of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer was seen to be the giving of a new heart, new emotions, a change in one’s desires. This book helps regain that emphasis. Faith is not just a matter of intellectual conviction. It is also something that strikes home for us personally. It changes us and what we love.
Grace can be an abstraction – simply the idea that God is merciful and loving. Instead grace needs to be and can be a concrete experience of the merciful Jesus Christ, who finds His way into our hearts through the extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit.
This review, as well as twenty others, have been posted on our YouTube channel. A link to the channel can be found here.
