Journal: Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry
Volume: JDFM 04:1 (Fall 2013)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: David A. Gundersen

JDFM 4:1 (Fall 2013) p. 52

Book Reviews

David A. Gunderson

David A. “Gunner” Gundersen (M.Div., ThM., The Master’s Seminary; Ph.D. candidate, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Director of Student Life at Boyce College. He previously served as Dean of Men at The Master’s College in southern California. He and his wife Cindi have adopted four children from East Africa: Judah, Isaiah, Ember, and Brooklyn. Gunner blogs at http://www.rawchristianity.wordpress.com. He enjoys family, sports, words, and fall weather.

“Family worship” is an archaic phrase—and an increasingly archaic practice. It sounds austere and intimidating, like an outdated tradition for über-conservative, tightly sheltered, hyper-Christian families who care more about spiritual solemnity than family warmth.

Pastor Jason Helopoulos, assistant pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, puts the lie to these misconceptions and seeks to revive a joyful Christian practice with roots deep in Christian tradition. In A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home (Christian Focus, 2013), Helopoulos dusts off, rewraps, and re-presents this forgotten gift.

Summary

Chapter 1 (19-28) focuses on worship. The question is not whether we’re worshipers but what we’re worshiping. Helopoulos explains that worship is a lifestyle but that specific times of worship are also essential. Christians worship in three complementary spheres: secret worship, corporate worship, and family worship. Lots of pleasures and priorities—even good ones—can hijack the Christian’s passion and direction in life. It takes regular time and intentionality to reorient our hearts to God and his ways—individually, collectively, and as a family.

Chapter 2 (29-40) provides biblical reasons for family worship. Helopoulous agrees that there’s no scriptural command for a regular set-aside time of family worship. “However, there are plenty of commands that in our homes we are to teach our children, read the Word, pray: in essence—worship” (30). He highlights the joyfulness of the responsibility, its cascading effects on future generations, the value of weaving the biblical story into the lives of our children, and the essential role of male headship. He appeals mainly to Psalm 78:2-7, while also mentioning a handful of other passages (Gen 2-3; 18:19; Deut 6:6-7; Josh 24:15; Hos 6:7; Rom 5:14; You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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