Present Perfect
Published by Zondervan 2010
[I]n their scheme of spirituality, in one way or another, contemplatives are forced to deny the sin nature … Any denial of a sin nature affirms the “self” and the “self” neither wants nor needs a Savior!
Book Review by Larry DeBruyn
The “Spiritual Secret” of Greg Boyd.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8, KJV
On the cover of Gregory A. Boyd’s recently published book, Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now, this endorsement appears:
“Discover a spiritual secret that is as simple as it is profound. Highly recommended.”—Brian D. McLaren, author, speaker, and activist[1]
One “spiritual secret” in Boyd’s book may be discovered in a footnote to the second chapter, Finding Home.[2] The secret is: “We no longer have a ‘sinful nature’.” Wow! Assuming the author is writing about Christians, the author asserts they no longer have a sinful nature (i.e., nature equals the essential properties of a thing). In other words, our nature is “perfect now”! Within the Christian psyche there no longer resides an inner disposition to sin, a “sinful nature.” Possessing inner immunity against sinning, Christians can conduct their lives in the present perfect. As with Roman Catholics Brother Lawrence (c. 1614-1691) and Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751), and the evangelical Frank Laubach (1884-1970), there is no inner barrier that hinders Christians from contemplating God 24/7. They can sense God’s presence in everything they do throughout every minute of the day, which is what Boyd’s book is all about.[3]
Present Perfect
At the base of the contemplative experience lies the assertion, “We no longer have a “sin nature.” The assumption becomes necessary because Scripture states that sin is a barrier between people and God. The prophet Isaiah stated: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2, KJV). Granted, what the prophet denounces in this instance are specific acts of sin, but these sins stemmed out of a sin nature. The prophet Habakkuk also said to the Lord: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13). So to insure there’s no roadblock to contemplating God, the existence of a sin nature within Christians must be denied, something Boyd’s statement does. Click here to continue reading.
Related Information:
Are Christian Publishers Promoting Contemplative Prayer and Interspirituality?
