This first blog for 2007 begins a new feature on Law and Gospel in which we are going to comment on other items besides the regular readings for the various Sundays of the Church Year. The Rev. Dr. Peter Kurowski’s latest book “The Seduction of Extremes” is one of those rare books that you will read more than once. In fact, for those preaching or leading Bible studies, it is filled with material to last for a number of months.

The theme of this ground-breaking book is that the paradoxical nature of Scripture keeps one from falling into the left ditch of legalism or the right ditch of lawlessness. The phrase “Tension Deficit Disorder” rather than “Attention Deficit Disorder” focuses on how many in the Church grab for an extreme point of view rather than permit the Scriptural tension between two extremes to hold sway. For example, because some could not “understand” how Jesus Christ could have both a divine and human nature, errors resulting in his only appearing to be human or a division between the two natures were taught.

I’ll have more to say about this book both in my sermon blogs and in further articles. However, to whet your appetites, here are just a few of the paradoxes of the cross that Pastor Kurowski notes:

1) God’s severest judgment upon evil; his greatest manifestation of good.
2) The place of curse and the source of blessing.
3) Point of greatest sin and greatest revelation of sinlessness.
4) Worse day in history; best day in history.
5) God is separated from God.
6) The just dies for the unjust.

And these are only 6 of the 30 that are found listed at the end of chapter 4! This 178-page book is copyright 2007 and is now available at a cost of $17.00 which includes postage, handling, etc. To receive a copy through the mail, simply send an email using the email button “Email Tom Baker”. Include your name, mailing address and phone number. You will be sent a bill with the mailing.