The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and Glory of the Church by Dustin Benge seeks to show how the church, as created and intended by God, is beautiful in a multitude of ways. Benge attempts to show this beauty through detailing the Trinitarian relationship to the church, the offices of the church, the sanctification of its members, and several other elements. In each of these Benge keeps his stated goal in view. “The singular goal is to awaken your affections. Not affections for form, methodology, structure, organization, or programs, but affections for who she is and why she exists.”
Benge begins by making the case that the church itself is beautiful. The author does not focus on a specific ecclesiology, but rather that the church should become more like Christ. On this he says, “As we learn to become increasingly dependent upon Christ for all things, God is continually fashioning the church to mirror the image of Christ. In essence, the church in the world is the beauty of Christ in the world.”
Benge takes a chapter to focus on each person of the Trinity’s relationship to the church. Specifically in his chapter on the Holy Spirit the author focuses on the way that He “beautifies” the church. This beautifying reveals itself mainly in the equipping of the church. “The church becomes an instrument of Christ’s beaming radiance in the world through the individual expressions of the work of grace by the Spirit in the lives of believers.”
While most of the book covers topics that are often thought of when it comes to the topic of the church, the author’s final two chapters cover the less frequently considered topics of persecution and unity. From church history and Scripture the author expounds on the use of persecution in strengthening the church’s witness to a watching world and its effect in the “beautifying” of the church. On the topic of unity the author argues that “We’ve lost the beauty and loveliness that only comes when there is real and abiding oneness.” He goes on to explain, “Without this unity, the world is likely to see the church as a human organization devised by creative ingenuity, not a body of divine origin.”
Throughout the book it is clear that the author’s desire is for believers to recapture a love for the church and to see how it truly is beautiful. The author’s main goal is not to advocate for a specific ecclesiology, but rather to show the beauty of the church as God intended it. Although the contents of the book are true, this book can be quite simple at times and those who have previous exposure to the topics covered in this book may find it slow. This book would be best for those with little prior knowledge who are seeking to understand the Trinitarian relationship to the church, or those wanting to understand how the various elements of the church (offices, ordinances, etc.) further the purpose of the church.
The Loveliest Place is part of the Union series from Crossway which includes Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord, and Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners
| The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and Glory of the Church By Dustin Benge |
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I express are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.