"God's Grand Design" by Sean Michael Lucas

What was the center of Jonathan Edwards' theology?  That's a question that preoccupies and opens the wonderful book "God's Grand Design:  The Theological Vision of Jonathan Edwards," by Sean Michael Lucas. Lucas notes that to many biographers and Edwards scholars, the question of the center of Edwards' theology and ministry is a lively one.  But to Lucas, what mattered most to Edwards was driven by his role as a pastor:  to present back to God a complete Christian.  Edwards spent much of his time dedicated to thinking, writing, and preaching "about the Christian life, both for himself and then for his parishioners" (12).  However, though this pastoral concern drove his ministry, he was deeply theological.  Thus throughout his life, "Edwards set forth a vision of the Christian life that was deeply theological" (13).

What Lucas presents in this new book on the greatest American theologian in history is a survey of Edwards' theology of the Christian life from creation to consummation.  In part 1, the author walks the reader through Edwards' theology of redemptive history from the person of God and creation to the eschaton.  The theology here is really rich and the author presents a really robust survey of Edwards' thought, writings, and theology.

Central to why God created is, as we would expect, for His own glory.  The author writes:

Edwards's larger purpose was to raise his congregation's vision from its apparently mundane and petty daily concerns to find their affections engaged by the cosmic purpose that god has in his work of redemption.  And God's grand design in the work of redemption was nothing less than is own glory. (22)

He goes on to add:

Far from focusing on a merely individual salvation, Edwards rooted his understanding of the Christian life in the cosmic purpose of God himself - namely, for God to glorify himself and enjoy himself forever.


Far from wanting an abstract theological construction with little bearing on actual Christian living, Edwards recognized that only as Christians have their vision filled with God's grand purpose to glorify himself through his work of redemption are their affections transformed, their wills moved, and their beings engaged in benevolence toward all creation.  Yet in order for believers truly to grasp such a vision, they need to see that God's purpose to glorify himself through creation and redemption is an outflow of his own eternal being. (23)

This is just rich theology.  Unlike the stereotype of Edwards of a mundane, boring preacher who cares more about even more mundane, boring theology is simply untrue.  Lucas understands that it was Edwards' rich theology that led to his efforts in leading Christians to sanctification and the above is only one example of this.

This section highlighting and surveying Edwards' theology from creation to consummation is simply rich and worth the price of the book itself. This is one of the best survey's of Edwards' theology I have come across.  Though I am by no means an Edwards scholar or one who has read a lot of him, Lucas writes an engaging and helpful theological survey of the man. Lucas looks at Theology Proper, creation (remember that Edwards is pre-Darwin), the Fall, original sin, redemption, and eschatology.

But the book is more than just a survey of Edwards' theology.  There are plenty of books on that.  What Lucas spends much of his time on is how this rich theology is translated into practical ministry.  Central to all of this is Edwards book on the Christian Affections.  Regarding the question of what Edwards means by affections, Lucas presents a helpful explanation and discussion helping the reader better understand apart from all of the confusion of colonial English.

As a pastor and as a Christian I loved this section.  Here we meet not just Edwards the theologian, but Edwards the shepherd.  Though Edwards is known for his sermons (and we have many of them), we at times forget that he pastored real people and his theology shaped how he met the needs of his church.  The discussion on Edwards' Affections and how we can be self-deceived offer great insights for the pastor, the seminary student, the academic scholar, and the lay person.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Christian ministry (for obvious reasons).  Every pastor and Christian called into ministry ought to at least read what Lucas presents here.  Edwards' understanding of preaching, Scripture, and the gospel are really insightful and Lucas succeeds in presenting Edwards as a mentor for pastors instead of just another important dead theologian.

This is an excellent book.  I did not know if I would enjoy this book as I am one who frankly finds Edwards difficult to get through.  He is rightfully respected and honored as America's greatest theologian, but I have struggled in reading and studying under him.  Therefore, perhaps the greatest compliment I can give this book and its author is that Lucas made me realize what I have missed by all but ignoring Edwards.

I cannot recommend this book enough.  I was unsure of choosing and reading this book, but I am glad that I did.  I would highly recommend this book to academics, seminary students, pastors, and even advanced Christians.  Certainly the theology and writing would be difficult to the new believer, but for those who want a rich theology that is practical, this is a good place to turn too.

Another homerun by Crossway Books.


This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.


For more:
Reviews - "Jesus + Nothing = Everything" by Tullian Tchividjian
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
Reviews - "Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God's Word" by Stephen J Nichols  
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken 
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - The Beginning and End of Wisdom" by Douglas Sean O'Donnell
Reviews - "Thinking. Loving. Doing." by John Piper & David Mathis