The Heart of the Gospel - A Review
The Heart of the Gospel
I love to study theology. As a result, I have a lot of systematic theologies on my shelves. Robert E. Coleman's The Heart of the Gospel: The Theology Behind The Master Plan of Evangelism is a systematic theology book. However, I think this one stands out as a particularly worthwhile resource.
The reason I recommend this book so highly is that Coleman always brings things back to the gospel. When theologians disagree, Coleman points these disagreements out. Instead of dividing himself against those who take a different position, Coleman then shows why both sides still require the same gospel focus. A truly great read.
I have written previously about how systematic theology can breed division and sabotage genuine Christian unity. I believe that Coleman’s theology is different. It acknowledges the different nuances of the various systems while pointing to the unifying conclusion that the gospel of Christ must be proclaimed in all the earth.
Greatest Strength
Coleman states plainly on page 13 that:
Getting to know this God and glorifying him is the purpose of evangelism.
I couldn't agree more.
Knowing God, being known by Him, and making Him known are the great privileges of the Christian. As a result of Coleman's focus, his systematic theology revolves around evangelism serving this basic and essential purpose.
This is a refreshing twist, since most systematic theologies treat evangelism as merely one aspect of their system. Evangelism often gets its own chapter or two. Not so with Coleman's system. This purpose of knowing God and glorifying Him is a steady current through all of the various aspects of theology.
The result is a volume that makes theology incredibly applicable. You should expect nothing less from Coleman, a man who has practiced what he preaches. I've had the joy of meeting and studying with Dr. Coleman in the past. That personal contact has only served to make me appreciate this volume even more. This is not merely the theoretical work of a scholar. It is a passion project from a mature and committed brother in Christ who has sought to faithfully preach the gospel and make disciples for a lifetime.
Coleman comes from a Wesleyan theological background. He has no problem acknowledging where Calvinists will take issue with his theological conclusions. He then moves from acknowledgment to the application that both views still require Christians of either view to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Instead of dividing, Coleman seeks to unify theological strands into a cohesive understanding of the truth of first and foremost importance: the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Greatest Weakness
I have reviewed The Master Plan of Evangelism as well. You can read that review by clicking here. My criticisms of The Master Plan of Evangelism are just as applicable for The Heart of the Gospel, since this is the foundation for the theology behind The Master Plan of Evangelism.
This disagreement becomes most obvious in Coleman's chapter on “The Church and Her Ministry.” Coleman and I agree on much. However, I believe that the leadership view he presents is inadequate in light of the biblical revelation. As a result, the accurate aims of the church and her ministry which Coleman rightly identifies are hindered in their implementation in the real world.
To be clear, I believe that Coleman’s overall intent would be enhanced and benefitted by tweaking his leadership model. It’s not that the leadership model Coleman presents is leading in the wrong direction but rather that it is hindered from the fullness that God designed which would allow for greater fruitfulness in the very direction that Coleman has so admirably described throughout this excellent systematic theology.
Conclusion
Although the criticism is a weighty one, if you are aware of it you will find much of value in The Heart of the Gospel. I love this book and think it is truly an excellent treatment of systematic theology.
I find Robert E. Coleman's The Heart of the Gospel to be a worthwhile and edifying read. It has been my favorite systematic theology to read from cover-to-cover. While other systematic theologies may be more valuable for particular topics, the unifying thread and focus of this work makes it exceptional. I highly recommend it.
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