August 3, 2005

believe in the Holy Spirit: Michael Green

Here is my review of Michael Green’s book, I believe in the Holy Spirit. 🙂

In Michael Green’s book I believe in the Holy Spirit we are presented with a scholarly work of immense interest and debate to the

Church
of
Christ

. His academic background has not hindered his approach and to the contrary complimented his research into the person of the Holy Spirit.

It is clear from the beginning that this is going to be an easy to read book. His approach is broad and encompasses many view points, which is essential when dealing with the apparent confusion surrounding the Holy Spirit, His work and ministry in our lives and the Church. In the initial chapter the author proceeds to provoke the reader from what ever denominational background into the discussion by asking some pointed questions on the subject of the Holy Spirit; is the Spirit Discounted? Imprisoned in Church..? or Bible? ..or Theology? .. or congress? .. or wider?[1]. Cleverly I was drawn into the discussion through these questions which have a shot gun effect and cannot help but strike up curiosity in even the most indifferent reader.

Green’s look into the Old Testament and the evidences of the Holy Spirit’s presence there is really instructive; I especially appreciated the examination of Hebrew word for the spirit.[2] The comparison of the Spirit of God coming upon David[3] as Rûach Adoni while the Rûach Elohim came upon Saul[4] as a result of his disobedience.[5] Through the author’s inclusion of this example I have became more conscious of the wealth of references to the Spirit of God in the Old Testament.

Green’s writing style is both historical and familiar. It is very easy to understand his train of thought and clearly see the progression of understanding leading to an ultimate revelation of the Holy Spirit. I particularly enjoyed a mention by the author of the Rabbis’ teaching on the Spirit of God.

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man”>Sometimes as a gentile believer my failure to see the word through Jewish eyes has hindered my understanding and ability to interpret the Bible as Paul has done so insights like these are precious to me.

Quite early into I Believe in the Holy Spirit the author confronts the misunderstood passage which deals with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit[6]. With clarity and fresh insight he reveals the context of the verse explaining the origins of the statement[7] and the path it leads to, I was pleased to read this as I have discussed the unpardonable sin and Green’s explanation has made it all the more clearer for me.

Looking at the life of Jesus and the Holy Spirit with specific reference to the ending of Jesus’ earthly ministry the author comments on the Holy Spirit being another Jesus.[8]

In a word, the Paraclete takes over the role of Jesus. Just as the world refused to accept Jesus, so it will refuse to accept the Paraclete (1:10, 11 and 14:17). Just as Jesus had to bear his witness against a background of hate because he told people the unwelcome truth so will the Spirit (16:8). Whether we look at the Paraclete’s role in the world or among the disciples the answer is the same. The Holy Spirit is ‘another Jesus.’[9]

Although I understand where Green is going with this line of thinking I believe there is a little confusion over the will of the father. The real key to understanding the cross over element that touches both the ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit is the will of the father. It is the Holy Spirit’s guidance that steers Jesus throughout His life, from the beginning to the end of His earthly ministry He leads Jesus clearly into the will of the Father.

The rest of the ministry of Jesus as well was conducted in the power and by the direction of the Holy Spirit.[10]

Further more, the ministry Jesus and that of the Holy Spirit complimented each other and created an avenue for the other to operate however they operate in distinctive roles.

As this discussion on the work of the Holy Spirit develops the author suggests that at the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost where ‘every man heard in his own tongue’[11] it was in effect the reversal of the curse[12] that God had put upon mankind at the

tower
of
Babel

.[13] This was totally new revelation; I had never considered this to be an aspect incorporated in the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. It is clear to me now that the Holy Spirit unified the church and that finally the Holy Spirit of God has united men and women of different tongues and enabled them to truly reach God.

Continuing in this theme of translating the activities of the Holy Spirit from the person of Jesus, to the Church, now he comes to the individual. Green makes a comment that does not sit well with me regarding baptism and its significance to the believer.

Just as it is proper for me to look back to my wedding day as assurance that I am really married, so it is proper to look back to my baptism as a mark given me by the Holy Spirit that I am really born again. [14]

In all fairness an act such as Baptism does flow out of an encounter with God, it is the out ward sign of an inward work. However, the real litmus test of a born again soul is not baptism but a vital and living relationship today. Countless people can look back at a marriage ceremony but that does not mean they are still married it is decided by their daily intimacy.

Looking at the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of freedom within the context of a living relationship with God, Green describes those who observe the law rather than considering it to be a needle pointing to the Christ.

The whole principle of merit militates against the personal God whom scripture depicts as wanting to have personal relations with His creatures.[15]

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ce=”Times New Roman”>I had never really seen it this way, although I did believe there is no salvation through the law I hadn’t quite appreciated the true significance that observance of the law was directly opposed in scripture as it would be irreconcilable with our personal God and Savior and God is never inconsistent that failing is ours. He goes on to hit the nail on the head when he says.

How could the heavenly father be satisfied with mechanical obedience devoid of love and trust?[16]

Examining the activities of the Holy Spirit within church development, Green highlights the communal living and sacrifice exhibited within the early church.[17] This is another area of Christian life that has become of greater significance to me over recent years. The ramifications of the family of God behaving as such towards each other would spill over into a more effective witness to a selfish and lustful world.[18]

In chapter eight of I believe in the Holy Spirit the author examines the different understandings by various denominations of the phrase ‘baptized in the Holy Spirit’. I really found this section of particular interest as my understanding was purely from a Pentecostal perspective.

His explanation will help me in future to understand the connotations that different groups put upon this phrase which is so often taken for granted or used as an almost throw away line among those who have had a Pentecostal experience.

I was a little disconcerted to find no mention of the fruit of the Spirit, except for a brief mention here and there. Personally I believe that the author missed an opportunity to tie the whole gamut of the Holy Spirit’s ministry together and show His existence as tangibly expressed within the body. I also feel that it would have been important to discuss certain aspect of the Holy Spirit especially with regards to those who appear to seek a relationship with Him to the exclusion of the Father or the Son[19].

The style which Green employs is informal at times; it almost seems like a personal chat rather than a doctrinal exploration of the person of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, the text occasionally can get a little laden down with explanations of what appear to me as minor points, however, keeping in mind that this book hasn’t been written from one denominations position but the wider Body of Christ’s the closer examination of all points is valuable and there is a great need for such deliberation. Green does not appear to lean towards one denomination or another but rather explores all the angles and returns to the plumb line of the word of God for clarification.

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