The Royal Priesthood: Essays Ecclesiological and Ecumenical

As a collection of essays and presentations by Dr. Yoder, one must remember that each section is intended to stand alone leading to much repetition and incohesiveness. Divided into two parts, the first dealing with the scriptural reality of God's people is more useful. Dr. Yoder presents a strong argument of what the church of God should look like, act like, and think like. He thoroughly demonstrates the absurdity of the Constantinian view and later Reformed view of church and state, owing much of his insight to the Anabaptists who maintained that one's citizenship is in Heaven and not of earth, nor within its governments. Historically, he proves that when the church is independent and separate from the world's affairs, its witness is increased a hundredfold. Although his points are made adequately, it would still be more prudent for Mr. Yoder to premise his argument from Scripture more abundantly. The second half on the ecumenical view of the church is inspiring but, in reality, far too optimistic than will probably be achieved in our lifetime. He concedes with the Restoration view of Campbell and others that no Christian is excluded from the universal church except those who choose to support their division and differences upon later creeds rather than the authority of God's word. But Dr. Yoder does not continue to the conclusions necessary to achieve this, instead leaving the reader to conclude this himself. This may help not ostracize many, but it allows Christians to advertise their ecumenicality without having to concede to its necessary inferences and put these into actual practice. Overall, this book is lengthy and at times difficult to understand, but worth the investment of time and most certainly worth consideration, especially by the "leaders" of current Christian circles.