Navigating a World of Grace: The Promise of Generous Orthodoxy

by Graham Tomlin

Overview

'A powerful defence of Christian orthodoxy, opening up its expansive, generous and life-giving vision.' ALISTER McGRATH

'Learned and wise, this is a book that achieves what even many Christians may find a startling feat: a demonstration that orthodoxy is far more radical and interesting a concept than heresy.' TOM HOLLAND

'Generous orthodoxy' is a liberating outlook that encourages the Church to embrace different traditions of belief, worship and prayer within a broad framework of Christian faith.

But is it really possible to be both generous and orthodox?

In Navigating a World of Grace, Graham Tomlin offers his own invigorating vision of a generous orthodoxy that is rooted in the creeds' description of a God who is, by nature, the essence of generous grace. Looking at the history of the church, he explores how orthodoxy can enrich and enhance our perception of the world. Rather than restricting us, it liberates us to be generous in our expressions of faith.

This tantalizingly different theology, that brings together the best from every tradition, shows why orthodoxy is so important to the Christian faith - and how it can bring us together as a revitalized, unified and visionary Church.

Accessible and insightful, Navigating a World of Grace acts as a companion volume to The Bond of Peace but can also be read by itself as an exploration and celebration how Christians of all denominations can show generosity and grace in embracing different traditions of worship while remaining united by a single orthodoxy of faith.

Ideal reading for anyone wanting to understand the meaning of generous orthodoxy better or how we can engage with different parts of the church with grace, this is an encouraging and inspiring vision for the future of the church. Navigating a World of Grace challenges us to see that adopting an attitude of generosity towards other Christians and those outside the Christian faith is part of orthodoxy, and will result in a deeper, fuller experience of God than we can possibly imagine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780281082858
Publisher:	SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Publication date:	04/21/2022
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin is Bishop of Kensington and President of St Mellitus College. He is the editor of The Bond of Peace: Exploring Generous Orthodoxy and the author of many other books and articles, including Why Being Yourself is a Bad Idea and The Widening Circle.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1 The Generosity of Orthodoxy

1 The origins of orthodoxy 11

2 Creator of heaven and earth 28

3 The only Son of God 43

4 Dead and buried 59

5 The giver of life 75

Part 2 The Orthodoxy of Generosity

6 The anatomy of generosity 93

7 Heresy 109

8 The household of faith 124

9 The bonds and boundaries of unity 139

10 The generous community 154

Appendix: The Nicene Creed 171

Notes 172

Bibliography 187

Editorial Reviews

Masterly . . . with his characteristic erudition and wisdom, Graham Tomlin rescues 'orthodoxy' from the darkness and shows how it reflects, for all of us, a great light.

Nick Spencer

With typical clarity and depth, Graham Tomlin shows that the life offered to us in the great Christian creeds is a life enabled by the reality of the sheer grace of God. We navigate the rivers of mercy, aided by these profound insights into the nature and purpose of God.

Jane Williams

A timely and highly relevant work. Dr Tomlin offers a powerful defence of Christian orthodoxy, and opens up its expansive, generous, and life-giving vision . . .

Alister McGrath on NAVIGATING A WORLD OF GRACE

A refreshingly honest book from a theologian who clearly knows that most of society doesn’t think the way the church does, and wants to do something about it

Stephen Cottrell

Here we have a gripping (even exciting) new approach to priesthood . . . almost every page is rich with biblical, theological, historical and practical wisdom – to be read, considered, and then read again!

Gordon Kuhrt

Learned and wise, this is a book that achieves what even many Christians may find a startling feat: a demonstration that orthodoxy is far more radical & interesting a concept than heresy.

Tom Holland

A refreshingly honest book from a theologian who clearly knows that most of society doesn’t think the way the church does, and wants to do something about it

From the Publisher