InREVIEW: Book Look
By Michael J. Breznau
Doriani, Daniel, M. Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Application
Many pastors deal with continual angst as they face their congregations week-after-week and wonder, “Is what I’m saying connecting with their lives…is this message going to make a difference?” Doriani, long-time pastor and seminary professor faced the same consternation during his first fifteen years in the pulpit (pg. vii). When he approached other pastors about how to effectively weave together application, he was most often struck with the same concern – they were in the same boat as he was (pg. vii)!
We, as pastors, are fairly well-trained in biblical exegesis, theological method, and general homiletical form. But concentrated efforts on application are sorely lacking. Yet some pastors and teachers claim that one should not even include application in the sermon. “Teach the Bible with clarity and leave the application up to the Holy Spirit as you close in prayer,” so it has been said by one well-known expositor. On the other side of the spectrum, others jump from the felt-needs of their congregants immediately to application ideas as they cherry-pick Bible verses off their top of the heads for the next fireside chat with Pastor Chad.
Thankfully, Doriani is convinced otherwise. He writes, “Skillful application rests upon skillful interpretation” (pg. 3). The two essential methods go hand-in-glove. In Putting the Truth to Work he aims to provide the tools “for those who want to cross a river representing barriers to the communication of God’s word wrought by the passing of time and changes in cultures and language” (pg. 12). Moving from the bridge metaphor to concrete definition, the essence of biblical application may be defined this way: “knowing the God who redeems and conforming ourselves to him” (pg. 13, cf. pg. 39). The movement of knowledge to life-transformation according to God’s will can receive its impetus through faithful preaching with application.
Some greenhorn seminarians may naively believe that sermon application is as easy as a walk in the park, while battle-weary pastors or cynical skeptics may surmise that crossing the bridge from an ancient text to contemporary life is near impossible (pg. 32-33). But Doriani believes there is a way forward over the bridge. To add a metaphor (he’s a preacher after all), “one must find a coach and become a student of the game.” To this end, Doriani will “fill the gap and tread the seam between academic and pastoral theology” so that any dedicated pastor can learn to form consistent, creative biblical application (pg. 40).
Strong Points
One thing is clear: Doriani is an encourager par excellence. He is convinced that every preacher can put Paul’s promise into practice with their sermons, namely, that “Scripture is inspired and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” so that our church members will be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17) (pg. 41). He joyfully, enthusiastically persuades the reader like a good baseball coach: “You can do this! Keep it coming!”
The book is rich with examples, visuals, diagrams, and thorough explanations. The thirteen chapters logically plod forward and cover nearly all the significant questions that pastors face with the weekly task of sermon building and application. This is no mere handbook. More than three hundred pages are filled with key steps, advice, and again, encouragement.
Weak Points
Due to the book’s extensiveness it is also at-risk of being overly exhaustive. Doriani is clearly a preacher-at-heart. The chapters – especially the introduction – wax eloquent with illustrations, quotes, and pastoral persuasion. Some pastors may find themselves hurrying past some of the more florid material to access the meat of the book.
A cheap-shot at the news media is poorly taken on pg. 43, he writes, “News media can obscure this, since they convey masses of apparently useless information – what can we do about hurricanes, riots, or train derailments in distant nations?” A friend reminded me of the regular barrage of off-handed attacks he daily receives as the morning anchor at our local TV station. As a believer and son of a pastor, he has helped me see from the other side of the news desk. Doriani would do well to encourage pastors to not bash the news media when such an approach is unwarranted – especially if they desire to also reach them with the gospel.
Reflection and Interaction
Doriani contributes a powerful discussion on preaching God-centric sermons, rather than hovering in the rather depressing clouds of anthropocentric sermonizing. He also holds to a mainstream Reformed view of Christocentric interpretation. He writes, “The prophets anticipated him, the apostles looked back to him, and he continually pointed to himself as he handled the law, prophecy, and biblical themes. In doing so, he declared himself greater than Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Jonah, and Solomon; greater than temple and priest, David and kingship. He is the great prophet, the final judge, the wisdom of God” (pg. 58).
While these declarations certainly ring true to the argument of the book of Hebrews and related passages, one is left wondering if this also means that Christ is the overall theme of Scripture or the specific meaning behind every Old Testament verse? Doriani utilizes a somewhat peculiar word to emphasize his Christocentric approach: “Jesus’ reading and application of Scripture are relentlessly theocentric and egocentric” (pg. 51),[1] meaning the Scriptures are all about him. On the surface, that sounds noble and right. But it is unclear how Doriani would apply certain Old Testament narrative texts in light of this perspective. If every passage is all about Jesus, then one is inclined to believe we must find him in there somewhere, regardless of the genre and historical context.
Christians have been known to do all sorts of things out of literalistic obedience to the Bible. Doriani comments, “People make decisions by flipping coins because Israel cast lots (Josh. 7:14-23; Acts 1:23-26). Like Gideon they lay out “fleeces,” though Judges portrays Gideon as a weak man (Judg. 6:36-40). They divest possessions to imitate the early church and horde them to imitate the patriarchs” (pg. 211). Therefore, we must guide them to the one, singular point of narrative passages. Doriani shines with clarity on how to accomplish this task in Chapter 8. Our goal is not to form some “free-floating moral stories” (pg. 211). Instead, I concur with the author that we must ascertain the central, God-centric truth of the passage and weave application into the sermon that aligns with that primary idea. Our aim is to “lead hearers to God” (pg. 259) not into a reliance on themselves or some outlandish behavior.
Should application be direct or indirect? Doriani waffles on this point, “The center of application is not commanding but expressing truth so that its relevance is obvious” (pg. 39). While I agree that not all application should be overt, we can and should graciously express God’s Word with imperatives, commands, directives where appropriate.
One will be disappointed that more attention is not given to expressing dependence on God in prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit in the sermon development process. However, the obvious pastoral care of the author and his fastidious detail work in the scriptures makes this a book that will stand the test of time. Doriani’s emphasis on biblical integrity, shepherding sensitivity, and applicational relevance form a message that every preacher should devour.
FOOTNOTES
[1] Doriani goes on to use the term “egocentric” five times (see pg. 48, 49, 51, 280).
