Author THOMAS H. McCALL
Publisher IVP ACADEMIC
ISBN 978-0-8308-3958
Thomas McCall is a theology lecturer at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and also writes pastorally. This book, whilst being scholarly is not excessively so and is therefore an excellent way to examine some very serious questions. The subtitle captures what is contained here “The Trinity and the Cross, and why it matters.” The title “Forsaken” comes from the cry of dereliction found in both Matthew and Mark’s account of the Cross of Christ. What does it mean, this cry of agony that came from the lips of Jesus as He suffered there? This is far from easy to answer. McCall shows that the older traditional interpretation did not embrace the idea that the Trinity was broken as Jesus hung and bore the sin of the world. Popularized more lately has been the idea that “the Father turned His face away”. Jurgen Moltmann, fifty years ago made much of this so called ‘break’ in the Trinitarian relationships and has been adopted by many as being the legitimate explanation of what took place. Thomas McCall argues ably for the traditional interpretation. His reasoning is clear throughout this little book as he then goes on to consider the question “did the death of Jesus make it possible for God to love me?” This is based upon the idea that God, the Father was full of wrath and killed His Son as an answer to that anger, thus making it possible for Him to love mankind. Again, such good argumentation is employed to refute this idea. God IS love and in that love has wrath against all that offends in part of the discussion of this matter. The third chapter concerns “was the death of Jesus a meaningless tragedy” and looks at the foreknowledge of God, His determinate will and the fulfillment and plan of the Triune God. It is good to emphasize the ‘Triune’ in that sentence because the blessing of this book is very much linked to its Trinitarian emphasis, rooting everything in the Father, Son and the Spirit. The questions examined in this book are thorny, theological ones. The book is not long, but well written and to the point and contributes helpfully in every chapter. The last of them covers the ground of justification and sanctification showing how God has and does accomplish both of them. Some call these ‘imputed righteousness’’ and that which is imparted but the subtitle McCall employs is excellent, “the brokenness of humanity and the unbroken work of the Triune God.” That sums it up so aptly. All in all a refreshing, compact and concise book written with clarity.
