Redeeming Sociology: A God Centered Approach is written by Vern Sheridan Poythress, Professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Poythress challenges believers in this book on the foundations of their relationships and shows the importance of a biblical worldview as it relates to relationships. This book is very well-written and while it is highly technical and academic, the author’s explanations are easy to understand.
The crux of the argument of this book focuses on three attributes or perspectives of lordship: authority, control and presence. The author explains that authority means that God is the Lord and He has authority over all his relationships to human beings and over all our relationships to one another. God controls the relationships that He controls everything in human relationship and institution and artifact and culture throughout the world. The final aspect the author touches on is that God is presence in his wisdom and truth in the midst of human meanings, purposes and attempts at control.
Dr. Poythress in my opinion accomplishes the goal of his book in that he helps equip believers to think through the foundation for how one approaches a variety of relationships. Relationships are often messy and often time’s believers struggle to live out the truth of the Lordship of Jesus in their relationships with fellow believers and non-Christians.
In the last chapter Dr. Poythress gives biblical teaching on “living in relationships” and explains that in every relationship the believer is to depend on God. Relationships take many different shapes and forms depending on how a person was raised, their life experiences and more, but this book goes beyond just what one has experienced in their life and goes to the foundations for why we think and act the way we do. Jesus is Lord and His Lordship begins with who He is, and what He has done in His death, burial and resurrection. The truth of Christ ought to extend down into every fabric of every part of our lives as we seek to grow not only in knowledge of Him but in implementing His life into our daily lives and then reflect His life which dwells within us through the work of the Holy Spirit into our relationships with others. I recommend you pick up this excellent book by Dr. Poythress and learn what it means to have a biblical worldview in regards to relationships.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Crossway as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
