2022/01/27

알라딘: 윌리암 로오, 내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력 2016

알라딘: 내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력

내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력 - 풍성한 삶을 위한 하나님의 거룩한 부르심  
윌리암 로오 (지은이),정은영 (옮긴이)
브니엘출판사2016-11-01
원제 : God's Power in You
------------------------

208쪽

책소개

저자인 윌리엄 로우는 새로운 도출 방식으로 하나님의 놀라운 창조 계획과 피조물을 향한 하나님의 크신 사랑을 이야기한다. 세상이 오직 하나님만을 위해 창조되었듯이 모든 사람은 자신을 하나님의 특별한 섭리의 대상으로, 그분의 동일한 보살핌과 보호 아래 있는 존재로 여겨야 한다.

인류를 향한 하나님의 사랑, 우리 마음속에 임하시는 하나님의 영, 하나님께로 가는 유일하고 확실한 방법, 하나님과 영원히 함께하는 삶, 하나님의 임재를 경험하는 방법 등 영적생활에서 결코 놓쳐서는 안 될 매우 중요한 진리를 발견하게 될 것이다. 그리고 인간 본연의 악행, 불행, 죽음으로부터 자유를 얻고, 처음의 거룩한 삶을 회복하며, 우리를 향한 하나님의 예비하심과 풍성한 은혜를 경험하게 될 것이다.

목차
옮긴이 머리말

Part 1. 당신 안에 있는 천국의 씨앗
01. 도대체 사랑의 영이란 무엇인가?
02. 사랑의 영에 어떻게 반응해야 하는가?
03. 인간의 본성과 하나님의 선이 하나될 때
04. 지속적인 인도하심이 필요하다
05. 당신 안에 천국의 씨앗을 품어라

Part 2. 진정으로 자신을 온전히 죽여라
06. 십자가만을 자랑하고 고백하라
07. 아는 것, 그 이상이 필요하다
08. 사랑의 영이 우리를 구원한다
09. 절대적인 믿음이 필요하다
10. 자신을 온전히 죽이고 내려놓기

Part 3. 하나님께로 가는 확실한 방법
11. 먼저 영육의 거룩함을 회복하라
12. 회복은 거듭남을 통해 비롯된다
13. 내면에 있는 구원의 진리를 확신하라
14. 모든 것을 버려 영원한 진주를 사라
15. 하나님께로 이르는 유일한 길로 가라

접기
책속에서
“축복 중의 가장 큰 축복에 대해 알고 싶은가? 그것은 우리 안에 하나님의 사랑이 거하여 온갖 세속적이고 이기적인 사랑의 고통과 아픔, 즉 모든 독선의 뿌리가 제거되는 것이다. 그때 비로소 모든 욕구가 만족되고 인간 본성의 무질서가 완전히 사라진다. 이제 삶은 더 이상 무거운 짐이 아니며 매일매일 평화로운 생활로 이어진다. 또한 보고 행하는 모든 것이 사랑이라는 부드럽고 감미로운 요소로 이루어지기 때문에 만나는 것마다 모두 유익하다. 사랑은 그 자체가 풍성할 뿐 어떤 숨은 동기나 욕망이 존재하지 않는다. 그래서 모든 것이 사랑의 불꽃을 활활 타오르게 하는 기름과 같다. 사랑은 자신이 바라는 것을 반드시 가져야 하며 절대 실망하지 않는다. 왜냐하면 사랑이 자기만의 방식으로 일할 수 있도록 모든 게 자연스럽게 돕기 때문이다. 또한 보상을 바라거나 영광과 높임받는 것을 원치 않는다. 오직 스스로 전파되어 사랑이 부족한 모든 이의 행복과 축복이 되고 싶을 뿐이다.”

Chapter 1. 도대체 사랑의 영이란 무엇인가? 중에서  접기
“삶은 단 두 가지 상태로 존재한다. 즉 하나는 본성적인 삶이며, 다른 하나는 그 안에 하나님이 명확하게 드러나는 삶이다. 또한 인간은 본성과 하나님 중 하나가 살아 역사하도록 원하는 것을 선택할 수 있다. 말하자면 마음속에 두 가지가 모두 존재하기 때문에 그중 하나를 선택해야 한다. 이 세상에 가만히 정지해 있는 것은 없다. 그래서 인생은 계속되며 어떤 식으로든 늘 현실로 나타난다. 선은 일종의 울림이다. 또한 마음속에 살아 움직이는 모든 것이 사랑의 영으로 호흡하기까지 강렬한 본성과 맞서 투쟁하는 힘에 불과하다. 사랑은 오직 축복과 선이며 하나님의 본성이다. 따라서 하나님인 사랑의 영이 마음속에 살아 역사해야 한다. 그렇지 않으면 인간은 진정한 신앙을 가질 수 없으며 실제로 하나님을 예배할 수 없다.”

Chapter 2. 사랑의 영에 어떻게 반응해야 하는가? 중에서  접기
“하나님이 존재하지 않는 자아와 본성 속에는 온갖 죄악과 불행이 분명히 드러난다. 그렇다면 정확히 자아의 특성이란 무엇일까? 무엇이 자아를 온갖 죄악과 불행으로 가득 채울 수 있단 말인가? 탐욕, 시기, 교만, 분노는 자아, 본성, 사탄이 가진 네 가지 요소로써 서로 분리할 수 없다. 다시 말해 이들은 그럴 수밖에 없으며 다른 모습은 있을 수 없다. 왜냐하면 본래 인간의 삶은 창조주의 높고도 알 수 없는 선에 참예할 때에 나타나기 때문이다. 하지만 실제로 높으신 하나님의 선을 간절히 원하고 바라지 않으면 이를 수용하거나 적합한 상태일 수 없다. 따라서 본래의 삶이 하나님의 거룩함을 상실하고 타락하게 되면 그 속에 이를 끊임없이 갈망하는 욕구와 간절함이 가득할 뿐이다. 그 결과 삶 전체가 정확히 본성, 자아, 사탄의 모습, 즉 바로 탐욕, 시기, 교만, 분노로 가득한 재앙과 고통이다.”

Chapter 8. 사랑의 영이 우리를 구원한다 중에서  접기
“그러므로 우리는 사람과 책을 통해, 혹은 심지어 바로 그리스도로부터 무엇이든 배워야 한다. 하지만 인내와 온유와 겸손으로 하나님께 자신을 맡기지 않고 배우는 사람은 생명수를 찾지 못해 불모지를 떠도는 불행한 방랑자와 같을 뿐이다. 그리스도는 이 네 가지 선한 능력 안에 존재하신다. 따라서 이러한 능력이 있는 곳이면 어디든지 주님의 나라이다. 아침부터 저녁까지 인내와 온유와 겸손으로 하나님께 자신을 맡기며 그리스도를 따르도록 하자. 그러면 세상의 모든 신앙적인 미혹은 물론 이기적이 마음에서 생기는 기만까지 완전히 벗어버릴 수 있을 것이다. 인내와 온유와 겸손으로 자신을 하나님께 맡김으로써 얻게 되는 구원은 진실로 그리스도를 통해 하나님께로 오는 것이다. 따라서 마음속에 이러한 거룩한 성향들이 삶의 목적과 정신이 되어 살아 있을 때 그리스도께서 우리 안에 거하실 것이다.”

Chapter 9. 절대적인 믿음이 필요하다 중에서  접기
“따라서 하나님이 우리를 구원하시면 내면의 모든 것이 바뀌고 변화되며 새로운 마음을 품을 수 있도록 도우실 것이다. 또한 이를 통해 반드시 삶도 구원받게 될 것이다. 마치 예수님이 소경을 보게 하고, 절름발이를 걷게 하며, 벙어리의 입을 열게 하셨던 것처럼 말이다. 그리스도께로 구원받았다는 것은 그리스도처럼 되었다는 뜻이다. 따라서 주님과 같이 겸손하고 온유하며, 고난을 감당하고 자기를 부인한다. 또한 마음속에 세상의 영, 지혜, 명예를 포기하고 하나님만을 바라보는 그리스도의 사랑이 존재한다. 더불어 아버지의 뜻대로 행하며, 그분의 영광만을 구했던 예수님의 마음도 있다. 이러한 것들이 우리 가운데 형성되고 나타나는 것이 그리스도께 구원받은 모습이다.”
Chapter 13. 내면에 있는 구원의 진리를 확신하라 중에서 

저자 및 역자소개
윌리암 로오 (William Law) (지은이) 
“세상이 오직 그분만을 위해 창조되었듯이 모든 사람은 자신을 하나님의 특별한 섭리의 대상으로, 그분의 동일한 보살핌과 보호 아래 있는 존재로 여겨야 한다. 어느 한 사람이 특정한 시기에 특정한 부모에게서 특정한 장소와 환경에서 태어나는 것은 결코 우연이 아니다. 모든 영혼은 하나님이 정하신 때와 정하신 환경에서 그분의 뜻에 따라 특별한 목적을 위해 육신을 입는다”고 말하는 윌리엄 로우는 요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등 거장들의 신앙생활에 지대한 영향을 끼친 영성의 대가이다. 특히 그의 논문 '경건하고 거룩한 삶을 위한 진지한 부르심'은 요한 웨슬리의 사상에 많은 영향을 주었다.
접기
최근작 : <내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력>,<경건한 삶을 위한 부르심> … 총 799종 (모두보기)


정은영 (옮긴이) 
서울여자대학교 영어영문학과와 성균관대학교 번역대학원을 졸업했다. 뛰어난 통찰력과 재치가 넘치는 문장으로 원작의 느낌을 잘 살려 내고 있는 번역가이다. 현재 번역 에이전시 베네트랜스에서 전문 번역가로 활동 중이다. 주요 역서로는 《다섯 씨앗》 《내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력》 《아이엠 에스더》 《본회퍼의 삶과 신학》 《넌센스: 하나님에 대한 13가지 오해》 등이 있다.
최근작 : <어린이 천로역정> … 총 11종 (모두보기)

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출판사 제공 책소개

요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등
거장들의 영적 스승인 윌리엄 로우의 대표작!

“풍성한 삶을 위한 하나님의 거룩한 부르심!”
예배받기에 합당하신 하나님이 우리를 부르신 이유는
하나님 안에서 풍성한 삶을 누리도록 하는 데 있다.

우리는 항상 모든 상황 속에서 하나님께 자신을 맡기는
간단하고 확실한 방법을 통해 풍성한 은혜를 누릴 수 있다.
고난이 가져오는 혼란이 크면 클수록 최고의 위안에 점점 다가서는 법이다.

하나님은 그 아들 예수 그리스도를 통해 우리를 구원하셨다. 인류의 구원은 아담이 창조되기 이전부터 하나님의 사랑으로 계획되었던 일이다. 그 결과 아담의 원죄로 하나님과 멀어졌던 인류는 그리스도의 구원으로 다시금 하나님 앞에 서게 되었다. 이 책의 저자인 윌리엄 로우는 새로운 도출 방식으로 하나님의 놀라운 창조 계획과 피조물을 향한 하나님의 크신 사랑을 이야기한다.
세상이 오직 하나님만을 위해 창조되었듯이 모든 사람은 자신을 하나님의 특별한 섭리의 대상으로, 그분의 동일한 보살핌과 보호 아래 있는 존재로 여겨야 한다. 어느 한 사람이 특정한 시기에 특정한 부모에게서 특정한 장소와 환경에서 태어나는 것은 결코 우연이 아니다. 모든 영혼은 하나님이 정하신 때와 정하신 환경에서 그분의 뜻에 따라 특별한 목적을 위해 육신을 입는다. 그러므로 우리는 거룩한 두려움 앞에서 어떻게 살며 죽어야 하는지 계속 점검하면서 스스로 노력해야 한다. 모든 의무에 대해 양심을 엄하고도 부드럽게 유지하지 않는다면 우리는 나태함에 빠지며, 결코 천국의 상급을 받지 못할 것이다. 마음속에 숨겨진 내면의 삶은 우리의 가장 소중한 보물임을 기억하면서 말이다.
이제 당신은 이 책을 통해 다음과 같은 사실을 발견하게 될 것이다. 인류를 향한 하나님의 사랑, 우리 마음속에 임하시는 하나님의 영, 하나님께로 가는 유일하고 확실한 방법, 하나님과 영원히 함께하는 삶, 하나님의 임재를 경험하는 방법 등 영적생활에서 결코 놓쳐서는 안 될 매우 중요한 진리를 발견하게 될 것이다. 그리고 인간 본연의 악행, 불행, 죽음으로부터 자유를 얻고, 처음의 거룩한 삶을 회복하며, 우리를 향한 하나님의 예비하심과 풍성한 은혜를 경험하게 될 것이다. 접기

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    9.6

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내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력

목회를 하는데 가장 필요한 것은 하나님의 능력을 받는 것이다. 그러므로 우리는 하나님의 능력을 받기위해 기도해야 한다. 하나님의 능력이 우리 안에서 고갈되면 역기능적 모습이 만들어진다.

 

몇 일전 내가 사용하고 있는 노트북에 배터리에 문제가 생겼다. 아무리 충전을 해도 배터리는 전력을 자신 안에 채우지 못했다. 노트북의 계기판은 전력이 충분히 있는 것처럼 보였지만, 노트북은 그 기능을 오래 유지하지 못했다. 곧 노트북의 전원이 꺼지고, 데이터에 큰 손상을 입혔다. 그리고 데이터의 복원을 위해 얼마나 마음고생을 했는지 모른다.

 

하나님의 창조 목적대로 우리의 삶이 전개되는 것이 바로 순기능이다. 우리가 순기능을 발휘하기 위해서는 하나님의 능력에 늘 접속해야만 한다. 그리고 하나님의 능력을 우리의 심령에 충만히 채워야 한다. 하나님의 능력이 고갈되면 우리도 모르는 사이 역기능적 요소를 드러내게 되는 것이다. 하나님의 능력이 없이는 아무 것도 할 수 없다.

 

이 책은 요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C. S. 루이스 등 거장들의 신앙생활에 지대한 영향을 끼쳤으며, 영성의 대가이신 윌리엄 로우가 구원의 기본적이며 핵심적인 진리를 명확하게 설명한다. 이제 내 안에 하나님의 능력이 살아 역사하시도록 우리는 자신을 온전히 내려놓고 하나님을 의지해야 한다.

 

이 책은 모두 3부로 구성되어 있다. 1부 ‘당신 안에 있는 천국의 씨앗’에서는 사랑의 영이란 무엇이며 사랑의 영에 어떻게 반응해야 하는지, 내 안에 천국의 씨앗을 품기 위하여 지속적인 인도하심이 필요하다고 말한다.

 

2부 ‘진정으로 자신을 온전히 죽여라’에서는 십자가만을 자랑하고 고백할 때 사랑의 영이 우리를 구원한다. 그러기 위해 절대적인 믿음이 필요하며, 자신을 온전히 죽이고 내려놓아야 된다고 말한다.

 

3부 ‘하나님께로 가는 확실한 방법’에서는 영육의 거룩함을 회복하며, 내면에 있는 구원의 진리를 확신하며, 모든 것을 버려서 영원한 진주를 사서 하나님께로 이르는 유일한 길로 가라고 강조한다.

 

이 책을 통해 인류를 향한 하나님의 사랑, 우리 마음속에 임하시는 하나님의 영, 하나님께로 가는 유일하고 확실한 방법, 하나님과 영원히 함께하는 삶, 하나님의 임재를 경험하는 방법 등 영적생활에서 결코 놓쳐서는 안 될 매우 중요한 진리를 발견하게 될 것이다. 뿐만 아니라 인간 본연의 악행, 불행, 죽음으로부터 자유를 얻고, 처음의 거룩한 삶을 회복하며, 우리를 향한 하나님의 예비하심과 풍성한 은혜를 경험하게 될 것이다.

 

이 책을 한국교회 목회자들과 신학생, 또한 일반 성도들이 읽는다면 모든 상황 속에서 하나님께 자신을 맡기는 간단하고 확실한 방법을 통해 하나님의 풍성한 은혜를 누릴 수 있을 것이다. 고만이 가져오는 환란이 크면 클수록 최고의 위안에 점점 다가가기 때문이다. “우리가 환난 당하는 것도 너희가 위로와 구원을 받게 하려는 것이요”(고후 1:6)

 

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다윗 2016-11-09 공감(1) 댓글(0)
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내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력

요한 웨슬리, 조지 휫필드, C.S.루이스 등 거장들의 영적 스승의 대표작이라는 어마무시한 카피문구를 달고 나온 책이 있습니다.
바로 윌리엄 로우의 <내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력>입니다.
 
책을 읽어나가면서 왜 윌리엄 로우가 웨슬리나 휫필드의 스승으로 불리우는지를 여실히 느낄 수 있었습니다.
이 책은 내 안에서 역사하는 하나님의 능력에 어떻게 순종하여야 하는지를 다룹니다.
나 자신을 온전히 내려놓고, 나를 괴롭히는 지긋지긋한 이기심과 자아를 죽이고, 하나님의 능력이 온전히 내 안에서 나를 다스리실 수 있도록 순종하는 일에 모든 것을 걸어야 한다고 이야기합니다.
 
우리 안에는 이미 역사하시는 하나님의 능력이 있습니다. 그런데 왜 우리는 그 능력을 체험하지 못할까요?
윌리엄 로우는 능력을 이야기하기 전에 관계를 이야기합니다.
단순한 능력이 중요한 것이 아니라, 하나님과 인간 사이의 관계가 우선한다는 것입니다.
우리가 온전함에 이르는 길은 하나님과 인간이 연합하여 함께 거해야 합니다. 그것 외에 다른 길은 없습니다.
하나님과 연합되지 못한 우리의 자아는 게으르고, 부패하고, 온갖 종류의 죄와 고통과 악을 뿜어낼 뿐입니다.
 
"사랑의 영은 생명의 영이다... 반면 이성은 단 1센티미터의 키도 자라게 하거나 영적인 삶을 변화시키고 온전하게 하지 못한다." (p.26-27)
 
결국 우리를 변화시키는 능력은 하나님의 사랑입니다. 그 사랑에 반응하고 무릎꿇고 나자신을 포기할 때에야 우리는 비로소 그 능력을 경험하게 될 것입니다.
자아는 오로지 이기적인 동기만은 갖습니다. 우리의 본성을 고치고 수리하는 정도로는 절대로 온전함을 취할 수 없습니다. 사랑과 관계에 뿌리내릴 수 없습니다.
 
자 이제 이것을 깨달았으니 다 된 것일까요?
윌리엄 로우는 아는 것을 넘어서 소유하는 수준까지 가야한다고 이야기합니다.
인식과 소유는 분명히 다르다는 것입니다.
절대적인 믿음을 가지고 나 자신을 철저하게 죽여서 하나님의 능력을 소유하여야 합니다.
이것은 오로지 거듭남으로만 가능한 일입니다. 다른 종류의 교육과 훈련으로는 되지 않습니다.
 
모든 것을 팔아서 이 진리를 사십시오.
당신의 인생에 지금 이 거듭남 외에 무엇이 중요합니까?
 
내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력은 처음부터 이미 우리 안에 있었습니다.
그 놀라운 능력을 회복하는 회심과 거듭남과 관계회복의 역사가 오늘 우리에게 있기를 소망합니다.

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트와이스 2016-11-10 공감(1) 댓글(0)
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내안에 있는 하나님의 능력

윌리엄 로우의 “하나님의 능력”정말 고전다운 책이네요. 고전을 읽으라는 말을 많이 들었었는데, 다시 한번 고전의 힘과 능력, 그 탁월성을 느끼게 됩니다. 고전을 읽으면서 느끼는 점은 고전에는 기복주의가 없다는 점입니다. 그리고 은사주의에 치우치거나 혹은 교회성장학적이거나 성공지향적인 그러한 내용이 없다는 것입니다. 그리고 그리스도를 닮는 사랑과 겸손, 자기부인 이러한 정말 순수하고 순전한 내용에 많은 은혜를 받게 되어집니다. 윌리엄 로우의 책은 꼭 한번 읽어보고 싶었는데, 정말, 느낌이 “그리스도를 본받아”를 읽을 때에 느낌이 많았습니다. 우리가 어떻게 그리스도를 본받아야할지, 그리고 어떻게 더욱 거룩하고, 겸손한 삶을 살아야 할지에 대해 우리를 도전해 줍니다. 어떻게 하면 하나님께로 더 가까이 나아갈 수 있는지를 설명해 줍니다. 특별히 저는 존 웨슬리에게 많은 영향을 준 분으로 기억하고 있었는데, 그 외에도 조지 휫필드나 많은 기독교위인들에게 영향을 많이 주었네요. 내 안에 있는 천국의 씨앗에 대해, 그리고 진정으로 나 자신을 온전히 죽이는 것에 대해, 그리고 하나님께로 가는 확실한 방법들에 대해 우리에게 귀한 설명을 해 줍니다. 영육의 거룩함을 왜 회복해야 하는지, 왜 우리의 모든 것들을 하나님께 맡기는 삶을 살아야 하는지에 대해 설명합니다.

고전중의 고전, 윌리엄 로우의 책을 통해 우리모두 하나님앞으로 더욱 가까이 나아가며, 기독교고전의 귀중함을 깨달았으면 합니다. 감사합니다.

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소나기 2016-12-06 공감(1) 댓글(0)

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내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력

오늘날 예수 믿는 사람들을 도리어 세상이 걱정하는 형국이다. 세상을 걱정해야 될 교회를 세상이 걱정스러운 눈빛으로 바라보고 있다. 세상을 향해서 아무런 능력도 발휘하지 못하고, 오히려 모든 믿는 자들에게 구원을 주시는 하나님의 능력인 복음이 싸구려 취급을 받고 있는 상황에 놓여 있다. 왜 한국교회와 성도들이 이렇게 되어버렸을까? 왜 세상은 복음의 진리를 외면하고, 무시하는 것일까? 나는 그 이유와 해답을 윌로엄 로우가 쓴 내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력에서 찾게 된다. 예수를 믿었지만 우리의 마음속에 존재하는 하나님의 생명의 능력을 회복하지 못하였기 때문이다. 이 책은 우리 안에 있는 천국의 씨앗인 사랑의 영에 대해서 말씀한다. 그 사랑의 영을 받기 위해서 우리가 치러야 할 대가가 무엇인지 정확하게 이야기 하고 있다. 그래서 하나님께로 나아가는 확실한 방법이 무엇인지를 통해서 오늘 우리의 현 주소를 낫낫히 보게 해 주고 깨닫게 해 준다.

 

저자는 도대체 사랑의 영이란 무엇인가? 라는 질문에서부터 이야기를 시작한다. 우리가 사랑의 영을 받으려면 그에 상응하는 대가를 치러야 하는데, 자신은 물론 아담의 타락으로 갖게 된 모든 것을 포기해야 한다. 왜냐하면 이 모든 것이 하나님의 나라에 들어갈 수 없는 육신의 삶이기 때문이다. 우리가 사랑의 영으로 충만하기 위해서는 전적으로 의지해야 할 아주 중요하고 실질적인 부분이 있다. 즉 마음속에 거룩한 사람이 나타나기 위해서는 아담이 타락한 이후 인간의 모습과 모든 소유를 포기하고 완전히 부정하며 거부해야 한다는 것이다. 왜냐하면 본래 인간은 거룩한 사랑과 완전히 반대되기 때문이다. 따라서 다른 모습은 불가능하며 자기를 죽이는 것이 유일한 치료법이다.

 

그런데도 불구하고 그리스도인들은 하나님 안에 거하는 삶에서 자기 중심적이며 자기애로 가득한 삶에 여전히 빠져 있다. 하나님을 믿는다고 하면서도 여전히 옛 사람의 모습으로 살아가기 때문에 하나님의 능력을 풍성하게 누리지 못하는 것이다. 이 책을 읽으면서 느끼는 것은 왜 하나님을 믿으면서도 내 삶에 풍성한 하나님의 능력이 나타나지 못하는지에 대한 원인을 진단할 수 있고, 지금 내가 어떤 대가를 치러야 만이 하나님의 능력을 누릴 수 있는지를 발견하게 될 것이다. 이 비밀을 이 책은 담고 있다.

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파레시아 2016-11-27 공감(0) 댓글(0)
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내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력 (브니엘)
God's Power in You by William Law


<내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력>을 요한 웨슬리, 조지 휘트필드, C.S. 루이스 등 거장들의 영적 스승인 윌리엄 로우에 대표작이라고 소개 한 글을 보고, 꼭 읽고 싶은 책 중의 하나였다. 하나님을 믿고 있지만, 때때로 하나님 보다 세상의 것을 더 좋아하는 마음이 생기기도 하고, 교만과 분냄으로 가득차기도 했다. 나를 힘들게 만드는 주변사람들 때문에 한동안 너무 힘들었다. 스트레스가 어찌나 심한지 이러다가 다시 암이 재발할지도 모르겠다는 생각이 들 정도였다. 그러다 아침마다 기도를 시작했다. 사랑하는 우리 아이를 위한 기도도 하지 않는 마당에 아침에 눈 뜨자마다 그 사람을 위해서, 그리고 그 사람과 내가 잘 지낼 수 있도록 기도하는 것은 정말 곤욕이었다. 아침에 기분 좋게 일어나 맞이하는 평화로운 아침은 기도를 시작하는 순간 깨지는 느낌이었다.
<내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력>을 읽으면서, 내가 정욕적인 유대인, 박학다식한 서기관, 학문에 정통했던 랍비, 종교적인 바리새인의 모습을 하고 있는 것은 아닌지 반성하게 되었다. 그들은 그리스도를 구원자로 받아들이기는커녕 십자가에 못 박았고, 그리스도를 구원자로 바라고 원하지 않았다(본문 158쪽). 그리스도를 구원자라고 믿는다면, 그리스도께서 주신 내면의 구원을 바라야 한다. 즉, 옛 사람의 모습을 버리고, 자신의 속성이 변화되고 내면의 타고난 기질이 파괴되기를 원해야 한다. 내 마음 속에는 상대방이 연거푸 실수를 할 때 나도 모르게 마음속에 분이 일어 화를 내었고, 내 마음속에 주님과 같은 온유함은 사라지게 되었다. <내 안에 있는 하나님의 능력> Chapter 10장에서 윌리엄 로우가 강조했던 ‘자신을 온전히 죽이고 내려놓기’가 힘들었다. 나는 평정심을 잃지 않으려고 노력했지만, 늘 감정에 치우쳐서 화를 내고 분을 삭히기 힘들었다. 저자는 '스스로 조급해지고 화가 나며 교만하고 완고해질 때 우리는 인내와 온유와 겸손으로 하나님께 자신을 맡겨야 한다. 이는 다른 사람이 교만하며 화를 내고 복합적인 감정으로 공격할 대 온유한 마음으로 인내하는 것보다 더 귀하고 유익하다(본문 118쪽)’고 말한다. 인내하지 못하고, 나를 내려놓지 못해 인간의 본성이 스물스물 올라오고 말았다. 저자는 우리 마음속에 초조, 불안, 분노, 교만과 화가 일어날 때마다 ‘사탄아 물러가라’고 선포하며, 이 모든 것을 거부해야하며, 분노에 굴복하며 기꺼이 받아들이는 것은 사탄에게 용기를 불어다 주는 꼴이라고 말하고 강조하며, 어떠한 상황에서도 분노를 참고, 온갖 갈등과 모순과 블의 속에서 온유와 겸손으로 행동하는 것이 기도하는 자의 최고의 모습이라고 했다(본문 112쪽). 생각해 보니 내 기도는 나를 위한 기도였고, 교만으로 가득 차 있는 기도였던 것이다. 이제는 즐거운 마음으로 온전히 나를 하나님께 맡기게 해달라고 기도해야겠다. 저자가 말한 것처럼 모든 상황에서 하나님께 자신을 맡김으로써 풍성한 삶을 누리며 살아가고 싶다.
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Amazon.com: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (Audible Audio Edition): William Law, Maurice England, christianaudio.com: Audible Books & Originals

Amazon.com: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (Audible Audio Edition): William Law, Maurice England, christianaudio.com: Audible Books & Originals


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A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life Audible Audiobook – Unabridged
William Law (Author), Maurice England (Narrator), christianaudio.com (Publisher)
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William Law’s classic book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life was a clarion call to action; to live a life worthy of one’s calling. “Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted to God.” The writings of William Law were challenging in the 18th century. Generations later the message is even more instructive and necessary.
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13 hours and 20 minutes
Author


William Law
Narrator

Maurice England
Audible release date

February 14, 2014




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Listening Length 13 hours and 20 minutes
Author William Law
Narrator Maurice England
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date February 14, 2014
Publisher christianaudio.com
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00IGIUFWQ
Best Sellers Rank #137,518 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,034 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Audible Books & Originals)
#15,155 in Christian Spiritual Growth (Books)






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serious call william law holy life devout and holy church of england call to a devout although it involves spirit of love chapter 16 recommends spiritual practice biographical information work serious state religion life given devoted to god certain times addition to being ordained bibliolatry accept born educated corrupt humanity

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Kentucky Painter

1.0 out of 5 stars The first paragraph is a disclaimer that as an historic ...Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2018
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The first paragraph is a disclaimer that as an historic text an- being created using character recognition software-may have typos. What an understatement-it is virtually illegible. Returning and buying a real copy made with human eyes. Maybe this was mentioned in the description and I didn’t notice.


19 people found this helpful

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Theophilus

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for serious believersReviewed in the United States on March 6, 2015
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I was aware of this book as a young believer, but not very interested in it because I was not that interested in living a devout and holy life. I wanted to be good and serve the Lord and did seek the Lord fairly diligently, but preferred to avoid radical holiness. After going through some rather severe chastisement from the Father (see Hebrews chap. 12) I became very interested in becoming a partaker of His holiness. I strongly desired the "peaceable fruit of righteousness" promised to them that are "exercised thereby." This book is great for helping the serious reader come into a devout and holy life. I recommend it to all believers -- that they take the Lord's demands for holiness seriously. It could help you avoid some serious problems. The cited chapter in Hebrews says that all God's children are partakers of chastisement, but some is much more severe than other spankings.
And our desire for holiness should not be mainly to avoid chastisement, but to please the Lord. That is one of Mr Law's main points -- Christians are not living holy lives because they have never set their hearts to please the Lord in all things. We need to do that.

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Bethany

4.0 out of 5 stars Very PracticalReviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019
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This is a fantastic book that illustrates what a “devoted” Christian looks like by examples: various characters are set in opposition to show what devotion to God looks like in daily life (the rich, the poor, the merchant, the clergyman, etc). The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that I agree with C.S. Lewis, in that William Law can at times lean towards legalism. I was also distracted by his constant reference to “spackling” and the horrors of makeup, but that may be my worldly vanity showing. :)

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R. Magnusson Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual resource both logical and uplifting ... BUTReviewed in the United States on August 22, 2011
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For putting us in a fitting frame of mind, for impressing upon us the deeper things of the faith, for shaking folly off, for directing our gaze heavenward, this book is worthy of being called "a classic in the realm of Christian literature".

I first read about "Serious Call" in a biography of Samuel Johnson. That brilliant man, who gave us our first important dictionary of the English language, was deeply convicted by it. If such a clear thinker as he, an unbeliever, found it compelling, it must be good! And indeed, it is. Very good.

My "but" is that having read more of his work, I realize that Law had some strange beliefs. Therefore I cannot fully endorse him as a teacher. These beliefs are, for example, expressed in

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Tobs

1.0 out of 5 stars I learned of a book seller to avoid.Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2018
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Do not purchase. Number of typos on the book is beyond annoying. 88 pages, 3 columns per page, 10% of the text on each page is garbled or in cypher text.


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D. Keating

5.0 out of 5 stars Law makes a solid case for pious livingReviewed in the United States on February 14, 2004
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I read this book when I heard Jack Hayford mention it during one of his sermons. Given the title and era in which it was written, I expected it to contain some pretty weighty material about Christian living. I was not disappointed.
In this book, Law challenges the reader to respond to his "serious call" (and he was very serious when he wrote it) to devout living. The author makes a very solid case for this approach to Christian living for two main reasons. First, he is dead right about most topics he covers. His main point is that many Christians (I fall into this category) take for granted what God has done for us. There is no higher call than to love and serve Him. Yet we do not place as much value on spending time in devotion (prayer, reading scripture, praising, worshiping, serving) to God as we should. Instead we lived unbalanced lives in which God has a secondary role, instead being the primary focus of our existence.
Secondly, as another reviewer mentioned, his message is as relevant today, if not more so, than when it was written. We live in a day were modesty and pious living are completely ignored. It was refreshing to read a book which calls Christians to a much higher standard - we should not crave the things of this world. It is something I have struggled with, and continue to struggle with everyday that I live in overly abundant America. This book has helped me regain a more proper perspective on the importance of living for God (and what that means) versus living for the world.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian looking for a well written resource about living a life devoted to God. Law provides a lot of deep thought about the subject, and practical ways to try and live it out. At times, he goes a little bit too much into legalism for my taste, but overall he is on the mark with his approach and logic for his "serious call".

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J M WILKINSON
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2018
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Downloaded OK. Haven't had time to read it yet
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James Maccabe
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 26, 2016
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Read this book by William Law, inwardly digest it and reap the rewards. Its a classic!
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Keith C Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2016
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great
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david80
4.0 out of 5 stars Commentary on another age.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2012
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Law's 'Serious Call' , in part, is an interesting commentary on an age very different from our own. It is valuable to see what he considers to be flaws in contemporary devotional life.It is good to reflect on his views and his understanding of 'the religious life' and see what they have to say to us in Great Britain today
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Daniel Brandt

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law | Goodreads

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A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

by
William Law
4.01 · Rating details · 564 ratings · 65 reviews
Originally published at the beginning of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, a time when rationalist criticism of religious belief was perhas at its peak, William Law's A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life succeeded in inspiring the most cynical men of the age with its arguments in favor of a spiritual life. More than simply articulating a set of rules to live by, Law's book examines what it means to lead a Christian life and criticizes the perversion of Christian tenents by the Establishment—whether secular or spiritual—whose real aim is temporal power. With a perface by the Reverend William Sloane Coffin, Jr., whose own direct engagement in social causes still finds inspiration in Law's argument, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is a book that can still speak to our time. (less)

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Aug 15, 2018Fergus rated it it was amazing
Let people call our age irreligious and atheistic.

Cause I disagree.

We live at the dawn of a NEW world, a NEW way of life!

Let me explain...

William Law wrote this book in a jaded age when folks were just GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS of religious observance. A beginning of sharp religious decline.

The folks Law addresses didn’t even SEE they were only falsely sanctimonious and basically hypocritical, because they were only ACTING as if they were believers.

But their lives were becoming empty.

But the good thing about William Law is that he cut through their layers of illusions, and told them their lives could be MUCH, MUCH deeper and satisfying.

You see, Law was just addressing the believers.

In his day, as in ours, many of them had lost their Devotional Centre of Gravity.

You know, life without a Centre is pretty discouraging. Without a Centre, we tend to drift - not knowing where we are going.

But once we find our Centre, we’re fine again. It may take a while, but it HAPPENS. That’s what Law is trying to show us.

Now, I look around me and see a whole new generation of avid seekers who have swept the old assumptions off the table and started afresh!

Take a listen to New Christian Heavy Metal & Hip-Hop. It RIPS THE KNOB OFF your Android. Or get a load of Progressive Christian Podcasts these days… just Born Again preaching? No. This stuff MAKES YOU THINK.

We’re no longer a Nation of Churchgoers. We’re not used now to comforting words of Reassurance.

It’s an Age of Disquiet. Kids are used to VOICING THEIR CONCERNS: People are Dying everywhere.

Who’s LISTENING?

THAT - in part what what dear old William wanted to accomplish - is where we ARE. At a Crossroads.

So Where do we TURN?

Though William Law would never have gone so far as to throw the Baby out with the Bathwater, as the media would have us do, he MEANS to start us AFRESH… as these progressive Apps do.

And somehow, I don’t think the new generation RESISTS that.

The new generation, if it’s not going along with this crass modern world of appearances, has a Heart.

And what you are in your heart is what you TRULY are.

THERE you will find meaning.

Because so many young people belong to a vibrant, hopeful part of this generation that believes good things can be accomplished in a bad world, I see lots of hope for them.

But you know what? That hope, for kids, is only the first step to finding a secure refuge from the evils of this world!

Along with its friends love and faith, it is just the FOUNDATION for the ONLY kind of durable yet always-threatened peace that is remotely possible in this sorry cynical place.

But one day the hopeful kids of this world will grow up. And later see their dreams and visions threatened and perhaps even tossed into the air by the relentless, stormy gales of middle age. Happened to me…

What then?

Why, they’ll need hope in Real Goodness BEYOND the storm!

And that’s no joke. Old age sweeps aside ALL our illusions and one day we’ll ALL be there.

But it can never sweep aside the One who watches over us, and constantly calls out to us.

And saves us.

William Law is right!

REAL things are so rare, that we can’t afford to pass them by.

The important thing, as young kids now know so well, is NOT how you appear in public…

The important thing is how you appear in private… to GOD.

And THAT’s why William Law is still relevant! (less)
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Sep 12, 2012Andrea rated it it was amazing
Shelves: favorites-for-growth, christian-living
William Law's A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is the most profoundly challenging, insightful and logical book I have ever read pertaining to my daily life as a Christian. His arguments for the purpose of and motivation for devotion to God (in its many forms) have impacted me in a way that I never would have imagined. I found myself challenged by every chapter and contemplative throughout. Law's arguments touched me intellectually, logically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is not necessarily a book of strict doctrine but it reveals to the reader the core of his or her actions, good or bad. He writes that if any part of our lives is owed to God in devotion, ALL parts are, otherwise we mistake the nature of God (or religion).

While some may feel that this book sets unattainable standards, I believe that the heart of Law's arguments should truly drive Christians to examine how they are living their lives and what that lifestyle demonstrates about the state of their hearts and minds. The magnitude of Law's "call" perhaps only seeks to accurately grasp the magnitude of a life lived fully for Christ, in which case, it is indeed unattainable without the help of the Spirit. For all of the strength and breadth of Laws's arguments, I think one would be hard pressed to deny the logic fortifying Law's conclusions or the spiritual motivation behind them.

On top of the raw challenge of what Law writes, I highly recommend reading this for the beauty in which Law communicates his "call." Written in the 1700s, this book has a unique, old-fashioned rhythm and variety of vocabulary that is unrivaled in anything I have read thus far. This work is not only a feast of content but of form as well. The artfulness of Law's writing, I feel, practically ushered in all of the hard-hitting challenges in such a way that I was constantly turning the page from both a compulsion to be encouraged spiritually and to be amazed by his literary style. I found his writing to be, at times, repetitive; but after gleaning such profound insight from a sentence or paragraph stated only slightly differently from the paragraph before, I resolved to read each section carefully for whatever nuanced morsel that I could take away. Just as I thought, after a couple pages of reading, that perhaps THIS chapter wouldn't hold as much impact as the ones before, I would be struck with a simple phrase, analogy, character story or piece of logic that made me laugh at the thought that Law's insight would run out before the pages of this book did.

I highly recommend the reading and re-reading of this book for any Christian would wants to take a serious look at their life and commit to the "serious call" that exists on that life as a follower of Christ. (less)
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Sep 14, 2012Barry rated it it was amazing
William Law's "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" (1728), deeply influenced the chief actors in the great Evangelical revival in England, George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley. I first read it while a ministry student in college and have re-read it several times since. It is on my personal list of top 10 life-changing books. A sample of Law is the following on prayer:

"Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. It is as much your duty to rise to pray as to pray when you are risen. And if you are late at your prayers you offer to God the prayers of an idle, slothful worshiper who rises to prayers as idle servants rise to their labor.
What conquest has he got over himself? What right hand has he cut off, what trials is he prepared for, what sacrifice is he ready to offer to God, who cannot be so cruel to himself as to rise to prayer at such a time as the drudging part of the world are content to rise to their labor?"
(less)
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Aug 09, 2021Barry rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: christian-living
Written in 1728, this Christian classic serves as a helpful guide for living a more God-centered life. Apparently, even Samuel Johnson found it to be convicting and life-changing.

This book often reminded me of Real Christianity by William Wilberforce (which I enjoyed more). Both books have versions that are edited and abridged for the modern reader, which is a plus.

I have to say that parts of this book strike me as a bit legalistic, focusing on works over grace, but perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised that a book written by a guy named Bill Law would tend toward legalism?

Of course that’s not to say he’s wrong in his prescriptions. Here’s one:

“Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of him that we are capable of in this life. It is as much your duty to rise to pray as to pray when you are risen. And if you are late at your prayers you offer to God the prayers of an idle, slothful worshiper who rises to prayers as idle servants rise to their labor.“

Ouch. (less)
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Jan 05, 2020B.J. Richardson rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Shelves: dnf
The Real Version:

But before I give a direct answer to this, I desire it may also be inquired, how it comes to pass that swearing is so common a vice among Christians? It is indeed not yet so common among women, as it is among men. But among men this sin is so common that perhaps there are more than two in three that are guilty of it through the whole course of their lives, swearing more or less, just as it happens, some constantly, others only now and then as it were by chance.

This version:

Before I give a direct answer to this, I want to ask why it is that profanity, including taking God's name in vain, is so common a sin among Christians. It is now just as common among women as it is among men. Some swear regularly, some let these words slip out almost as if by accident, and some have a different set of language for when they are in a church and when they are not.

The Real Version:

It is for want of this intention that you see men that profess religion, yet live in swearing and sensuality; that you see clergymen given to pride, and covetousness, and worldly enjoyments. It is for want of this intention, that you see women that profess devotion, yet living in all the folly and vanity of dress, wasting their time in idleness and pleasures, and in all such instances of state and equipage as their estates will reach. For let but a woman feel her heart full of this intention, and she will find it as impossible to patch or paint, as to curse or swear; she will no more desire to shine at balls or assemblies, or make a figure amongst those that are most finely dressed, than she will desire to dance upon a rope to please spectators: she will know, that the one is as far from the wisdom and excellency of the Christian spirit as the other.

This version:

It is for this reason you see even clergymen given to pride and covetousness and worldly enjoyments. It is for lack of this intention that you see women who profess devotion to God, yet dress in the latest fashion and styles in order to please themselves and others rather than God, who waste their time in idleness and pleasures and who prefer popularity and fashion more than holiness and modesty. If a woman's heart was full of intention to please God in all things, she would find it as impossible to swear and dress immodestly as to get drunk or steal. She would no longer desire to stand out at social events or dress in the latest and most worldly manner. She would no longer wear short skirts and dresses or tight clothing simply because others do. She will want to impress God and not others. She will be more concerned with fitting in with the Word of God than with her co-workers and friends. She will know that the one is as far from the wisdom and excellency of the Christian spirit as the other. How Christian women can dress in spandex or yoga shorts and pants and think they are pleasing God is difficult to understand. It is simply that many professing Christians do not really have the intent to please God in all that they do, say, watch, or wear.

--- My review ---

I had suspicions that this book had been radically altered with a lot more than just updated language throughout the first chapter. So when I saw "spandex and yoga pants" early in chapter two, I had to step back and check this. Fortunately, there are plenty of places that offer the complete text of A Serious Call online. In even a cursory glance it became immediately clear that pretty much every paragraph was not just slightly changed to reflect a change in language but drastically altered. Some times those changes are small and would barely be noticed. For example, in the second paragraph of the second chapter "not yet so common among women" has been changed to "just as common among women". Other changes are ridiculously obvious. Paul Miller throws in entire new paragraphs and goes on rants that do not exist in the original. Finally, PM seems to have excised everything William Law wrote on mysticism in this book.

So if you are here because you picked up it was free for kindle... delete it. There are plenty of copies you can get for free online. Or, if you must read it on kindle, then splurge on the $0.99 version. Even such a short way into this, it is clear that PM is drastically changing the meaning and intent of the original work. Also, I suspect he is a misogynist. Also, the language of the original is not nearly so difficult as to require a "revised and updated" version. It isn't Chaucer. (less)
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Oct 06, 2011Kim rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 2011-books, religious-thought, kindle-edition, 25-books-every-christian-should-rea
Simple but so profound!! It definitely stepped on my toes numerous times because it put so many things into true perspective. Our purpose is to live for the glory of God and that requires a constant spirit of devotion. It requires charity to those that we don't think deserve it (because we don't deserve the charity that God shows us). It requires not neglecting our Christian calling, a calling that all receive, regardless of occupation. Clergy are not to be considered more pious or righteous than we are as God holds us all to the same expectations of devotion. He speaks of humility, Divine love, and respect for God's creation and children (we are contrary to Christ if we despise anything that He loves).

There were just so many great statements in this that I was glad I had the Kindle version where I could highlight points that I want to easily refer back to. As an example, "If man will boast of anything as his own, he must boast of his misery and sin; for there is nothing else but this that is his own property." Christians have no problem stating that everything good that we have comes from God, but seldom do we think that all we truly have that is not from God is our own misery. It was statements like this that really made me think of many things in a new light.

At times, the book was difficult to get through. It was written in the 18th century so occasionally I got bogged down in his wording of things, and sometimes Law simply repeats the same thought in multiple chapters. However, he creates "characters" to serve as examples, and I liked how he did that. Those portions were much easier to read and understand his point. For anyone that desires to grow into a deeper understanding of his/her relationship with God, I highly recommend attempting to tackle this one. (less)
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Mar 07, 2014Jocelyn rated it it was ok
Shelves: religion
A diatribe against nominal Christians. Even though I sympathize with much of what Law says, I find his way of saying it a bit tiresome. I was about to quit reading it and return it to the library but then I came across this line: "[The impious Christian] will sometimes read a book of piety, if it is a short one, if it is much commended for style and language, and she can tell where to borrow it." After that, I had to soldier on for 295 more pages. (less)
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Dec 03, 2010Daniel Beasley rated it really liked it
As a 17 year old new Christ follower I was blessed to have a pastor who wasn't afraid to encourage me jumping in at the deep end. If memory serves, this was the third book he loaned to me and it helped set a fearless course out into learning from 2000 years of Christian wrestling with God. (less)
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Oct 31, 2009Pam rated it it was amazing
One of my favorite books of all time. I reread portions frequently!
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Feb 07, 2011Mark Thomas rated it it was amazing
Excellent book that is contemporary 200+ years after it was written...
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Jul 11, 2009Glen Grunau rated it really liked it · review of another edition
There is probably no one author that has had greater influence over my Christian journey than Dallas Willard. From Willard I learned that the Christian life could not be well lived out of willpower. An inner transformation was required to change my heart and my inner desires before my behaviour could be reliably altered. I always appreciated Willard’s humility, as evident by his frequent claims that his ideas were not original but were found in the writings of numerous ancient historical figures, encouraging us to check it out for ourselves. It was Willard who introduced me to William Law and particularly to the book for which he is most well-known: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. One of the chief delights for me in reading this book has been the frequent reminders of so many of Willard’s ideas that had such a great influence on my mind and heart. Law frequently appeals to reason in stating his case for the many benefits and virtues of living a life devoted to God. Although he was not a philosopher like Willard, it is easy to see the appeal in Law’s book for a brilliant philosopher like Willard.
It was necessary for me to periodically remind myself that this book was written in a different era. Law was born in 1686 and the first edition of this book was published in 1729. At times, Law’s writing came across to me as rather harsh and severe, highlighting some of what I have found aversive in the legalistic, often shame-based Evangelicalism in which I was raised. One of the gifts to me of a contemplative life has been the extolling of willingness over wilfulness and the invitation to rest in the initiative of God for a life of devotion rather propelling myself forward on my own initiative. I sensed from Law a bit of this forceful, determined approach to living a devout life that rang of legalism at times. Law seemed prone to dualistic, black-and-white thinking – so inconsistent with contemplative spirituality. Yet there was also a strong sense of mysticism in Law's writings. Apparently, he was significantly impacted by the mystics, with a Kempis and Ruysbroek listed among his favourites (Soulstream’s Jeff Imbach emphasized Ruysbroek’s ideas when he wrote The River Within and The Recovery of Love). I was happy to overlook some of Law’s severity in light of his frequent consistencies with a contemplative, mystical Christian life. There were times when I also appreciated Law’s intensity. In pointing to the straight and narrow path of a devout life, he spoke frequently of the importance of developing and adhering to a “rule of life” that focused on prayer as the primary means of inner transformation. In this respect, his teaching parallels the important contribution of Benedictine spirituality to the contemplative life.
I was convicted to reassess some of my common excuses for neglecting the poor and imprisoned in our society on the basis of their lack of merit, i.e. they deserve their plight because of their irresponsible wastefulness or horrific crimes. Here I was revealed as the severe legalist and Law as the essence of love and compassion when he writes: “You will perhaps say that by this means (charity) I encourage people to be beggars. But the same thoughtless objection may be made against all kinds of charities, for they may encourage people to depend upon them. The same may be said against forgiving our enemies, for it may encourage people to do us hurt. The same may be said even against the goodness of God, that by pouring His blessings on the evil and on the good, and the same may be said against clothing the naked, or giving medicines to the sick; for that may encourage people to neglect themselves, and be careless of their health. But when the love of God dwelleth in you, when it has enlarged your heart, and filled you with bowels of mercy and compassion, you will make no more such objections as these . . . it may be . . . that I may often give to those that do not deserve it, or that will make an ill use of my alms. But what then? Is not this the very method of Divine goodness? Does not God make "His sun to rise on the evil and on the good"?
As severely as Law scolds those Christians who are unable to rise at an early hour to pray, I had to laugh at his obvious intolerance for such slothfulness (maybe I am laughing at myself at the same time): “For if he is to be blamed as a slothful drone, that rather chooses the lazy indulgence of sleep . . . how much more is he to be reproached, that would rather lie folded up in a bed, than by raising up his heart to God in acts of praise and adoration! . . . Sleep is such a dull, stupid state of existence, that even amongst mere animals, we despise them most which are most drowsy (actually, I have developed a great admiration and respect for my “slothful” cat who can rest away the hours of the day in such peace and tranquility!)”.
I was particularly impacted by his pervasive teaching on the dangers of pride (he makes 100 uses of the word pride in his book) and the virtues of humility. In the conservative evangelicals church today, so much emphasis is placed on the sins of the body, to the complete neglect of the more important sins of the heart (chief among them pride) that Jesus so frequently emphasized in his teaching (which makes me wonder if we are all following the same Jesus). Law’s interpretation of I John 2:15 "All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" is particularly striking. He suggests that the “world” that we are to fear in this regard is not the “heathen world” that we normally think of when we read this verse, but the “Christian world” that has such an alarming tolerance for pride in its midst! He concludes that “there is nothing, therefore, that a good Christian ought to be more suspicious of, or more constantly guard against, than the authority of the Christian world”.
Law goes on to blame our education system for instilling such pride and vainglory in our citizens, with its high regard for competitive achievement in which “we stir them (our students) up to action from principles of strife and ambition, from glory, envy, and a desire of distinction, that they may excel others, and shine in the eyes of the world . . . how dry and poor must the doctrine of humility sound to a youth, that has been spurred up to all his industry by ambition, envy, emulation, and a desire of glory and distinction!”
Law asserts with confidence that pride is such a pervasive motive in every one of us that we can virtually be certain that when it comes time to repent of our sins before God, we can be almost certain that pride is chief among our sins in need of repentance: “For there is no one vice that is more deeply rooted in our nature, or that receives such constant nourishment from almost everything that we think or do: there being hardly anything in the world that we want or use, or any action or duty of life, but pride finds some means or other to take hold of it. So that at what time soever we begin to offer ourselves to God, we can hardly be surer of anything, than that we have a great deal of pride to repent of”.
I have been reminded through the reading of this important book that I do not necessarily have to agree with everything that an author says in order to benefit greatly from being exposed to him whatever truth may be offered. Law offers so much! I can appreciate why this particular book was recently included in the “Hall of Fame” 25 books that every Christian should read, noting that both Dallas Willard and Richard Rohr, my two favourite authors, were on the committee that selected these books. (less)
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Jul 04, 2020B.J. Richardson rated it really liked it
In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands us, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect."

His disciple Peter echoes this command when he writes "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do."

A Serious Call is William Law's 18th-century version answer to how these two commands can be lived out. Is this an impossible goal? Of course, it is! But just because perfection is unattainable does not mean we shouldn't strive for it.

From start to finish in this book, three different thoughts or emotions came bubbling to the surface for me. The first of these was the passion I noticed in William Law. There is no question that he desires to do good, to live right, to be holy. But he desires these not as ends in and of themselves but because of his love for God. The second was how challenged I frequently was in this book. First and foremost, his own passion challenged me to rekindle that same fire in my own life. I want to want God more after reading this. Beyond that, I was challenged to devote greater effort to living out the "Devout and Holy Life" that Law is writing about.

The third thing that I kept thinking was that Law skirts too closely the line between devotion and legalism. I don't believe Law was intentionally being legalistic, but when someone is imposing their extra-biblical devotional practices on to others, the opportunity for legalism does arise. It can be very easy for someone to pick up this book, read it and think, "Now I have to go out and do this and that just as Law says." Living a devout and holy life so that we might draw closer to God is a very good thing. Living that same life as an end unto itself is most certainly not.

So in all, even though this is clearly a book of its time, there is plenty to recommend it to anyone who desired to draw closer to God in our day as well. Just please make sure you are reading the actual book and not the "Updated and Annotated" version you can get for free at Amazon. That travesty is a butchery of this book. If you want it for free, use this link instead:
http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/ted_h... (less)
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Jun 16, 2009Michelle added it
Shelves: christian
Humbling and practical. Reminded me what frivolous and vain thoughts sometimes consume me!
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Jun 03, 2021Justine Olawsky rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Probably more of a 2.5 for me.

The best part of this book was the Foreword by Elton Trueblood wherein he recounted how this abridged, modern language edition of an 18th century religious exhortation came into being.

As for the actual William Law-ish parts of the book ... it was fine. Nothing to object to, really. It did not rock my world, and I'm not sure how long most of it will stay with me. Basically, living in a debauched age - which is essentially every age - of those who profess the Christian faith but don't trouble themselves much about living up to its precepts, William Law decided to call his fellow believers to a devout and holy life. And this was not just any sort of casual or light-hearted call. No sir. This was a serious call. Totes serious, guys.

He calls his readers through a combination of passionate exhortation and stylized character vignettes to illustrate how one is either living according to the faith or just dancing upon the edges. Unfortunately, to my mind, neither the right-living Christians nor the marginal ones seem very attractive under Law's labored pen, so, for me at least, this device sort of falls flat. Centuries later, C.S. Lewis would show us how this is done - creating characters who live and breathe and also happen to illustrate broader moral themes. Thinking here, especially, of The Great Divorce, though much of Lewis's nonfiction is peppered through with such juicy character sketches as well.

The second half of the book was better than the first. Here he tries to give a structure to daily prayer by delineating particular themes for each of five hours. Two particular points of enjoyment and edification come to mind:

1. His chapter on singing the psalms as a preparation for prayer charmed me, especially his assurances that one's own doubt about his qualities as a singer ought not to dissuade him from singing out praise to God, writing, "It is singing and not artful or fine singing that is a required way of praising God ... When [one's] heart feels a true joy in God, when it has a full relish of what is expressed in the psalms, he will find it very pleasant to make the motions of his voice express the motions of his heart" (99).

2. His chapters on intercessory prayer as an act of universal love were heart-filling. It is easy to forget that prayer is the best we can offer and the foundation of all our good, charitable works - and by God's mysterious workings through our intercessory prayers, He fills the gaps between what we can do for our neighbour and what we wish to do. Law writes:

You cannot heal all the sick or relieve all the poor. You cannot comfort all in distress nor be a father to all the fatherless. You cannot, it may be, deliver many from their misfortunes or teach them to find comfort in God. But if there is a love and a tenderness in your heart that delights in these good works and excites you to do all that you can—if your love has no bounds but continually wishes and prays for the relief and happiness of all who are in distress—you will be received by God as a benefactor to those who have had nothing from you but your good will and tender affections. (131)
A solid read for anyone in need of a spiritual kick in the pants. Less insufferable than St. John of the Cross. This edition is mercifully abridged. (less)
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Aug 05, 2015Aaron Downs rated it really liked it
Summary:

William Law’s A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life urges believers to consider pursuing piously as a comprehensive life task. His influential work specifically explains and describes devotion, especially in regards to times of prayer. He defines a devout man as one “who lives no longer to his own will, or the way and spirit of the world, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything, who makes all the parts of his common life parts of piety, by doing everything in the Name of God, and under such rules as are conformable to His glory” (7). This definition, he argues, “signifies a life given, or devoted, to God” (7).

Throughout the book, Law argues that devoted and holy living is all encompassing and does not apply only to regularly scheduled worship times, nor does it apply only to members of the clergy. Law offers a holistic approach to life, “As a good Christian should consider every place as holy, because God is there, so he should loo upon every part of his life as a matter of holiness, because it is offered unto God” (34). He makes clear argumentation that all Christians ought to pursue holiness and devout living. This distinction eliminates a separating the “sacred” and the “secular.” In combining the secular elements of life and the sacred elements of life into an all-sacred category before God, he urges Christians to consider why piety is so rare among believers.

Some Christians may be tempted to give push back to Law on this argument, perhaps saying that it is impractical for a non-clergy member to pursue a life as devout and holy as a clergy member, or, that those who are not ordained ministers have more license for pursuing things of this world than those who are ordained ministers. Law responds to such thinking by saying that there is no other kind of devotion that God desires from man than “living devoted to God in the common business of our lives” (41).

He continually compares the contemporary believers of his day to the primitive Christians of the early church; in his comparison he concludes that the difference in lifestyles finds it’s root in a difference of intentionality.

Intentionality, Law argues, is what is lacking. He says that if an individual lacks piety, the person lack piety “neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it” (17). He goes on to explain that unless Christians intend daily living as a duty of devotion to God, their daily living will be devoid of devotion to God. He does not say this as though the power for holy living is found in effort alone, because he concedes that people will fall short of the perfection of the Gospel; however, he points out that the average Christian does not come as near to the perfection of the Gospel as he or she could had the person only had sincere intention and careful diligence in daily living.

Daily living, without intentional devotion to God, results in living that cannot make true progress in religion. Law argues that most Christians aren’t living debauched lives that are keeping them from holiness and devotion, but that most Christians simply don’t include holiness and devotion into their lives. “More people are kept from a true sense and taste of religion,” Law writes,” by a regular kind of sensuality and indulgence, than by gross drunkenness” (67). He is writing in this book not to those who take interest in pursuing the “gross and notorious sins” (67), but those who have failed to “put the most common and allowed actions of life under the rules of discretion and piety” (67). Christians don’t miss devotion and holiness because they are drunk or living as a prostitute, but because they do not intentionally pursue the virtues of the Christian life.

Christians often devote much time and energy pursuing hobbies, or studying the details of their vocation, but never put the same amount of effort into studying the details of the Christian faith. Law argues that intentionality requires Christians to study the Christian faith with even more diligence than any studies in occupations or hobbies. Instead, Christians are to give themselves to their vocations only inasmuch as is necessary to glorify God in their work; the Christian’s passions should be devoted to pursing holiness in Christ.

After Law describes the intensity with which Christians ought to devote themselves to holy and devout living, he prescribes the primary method for that living: daily prayer—prayer at formal times during the day and continuous prayer throughout the day. He explains that Christians must prayer in all circumstances, primarily because the act of prayer cultivates affections toward God. This high duty requires that prayer “ought to have a great share in the forming and composing” (153) of private devotions. Prayer, however, takes time. And many Christians do not think that prayer is worth the time that it takes—at least the unhurried, contemplative, intentional prayers that Law prescribes.

Although prayer is time consuming, Law does not give any indication that people who are unusually busy are exempt from lengthy times of prayer. He does indicate that those who are free from the obligations to work for a living should devote themselves to prayer all the more. He explains, “Now though people of leisure seem called more particularly to this study of devotion, yet persons of much business or labour must not think themselves excused from this, or some better method of improving their devotion” (154). Prayer and meditation are those methods of improving devotion that all Christians are responsible to faithfully and thoughtfully pursue.

Law follows these methods of piety by explaining that without humility, they are useless. He teaches that the most difficult part of being humble is that the world teaches the exact opposite of humility, and because people are afraid of what others think about them, humility is hindered by fear. He persuades Christians to stop being afraid what unbelievers will think if they demonstrate true, Christ-like humility. “Will you let the fear of a false world, that has no love for you, keep you from the feat of that God, who has only created you that He may love you and bless you to all eternity?” (189) Christians can rejoice in God’s love and blessing when they cast off fear of man in favor of humble devotion to God.

Finally, Law concludes that devoted, holy living takes into consideration other people. He spends the majority of the book focusing on personal love toward God, but he argues that love toward God alone does not fulfill God’s requirements, “that no love is holy or religious, till it becomes universal” (241).

This book calls Christians to radically holy living, and it has made this call for centuries. I was surprised to read that this book affected John Newton. I was also surprised to read elsewhere that George Whitfield wrote in his journal about thanking God based on Law’s criteria. There were points in my reading that I felt that Law was developing a plan for holy living that is impossible to pursue, and without the energies of Christ, it is impossible to pursue. However, his explanations and illustrations helped me greatly. I especially appreciated the fictional characters he utilized to serve as examples throughout the book.
William Law taught me, “Devotion is nothing else but right apprehensions and right affections towards God” (158). His teaching makes me want to perceive God more biblically and respond to the perception more deeply.
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Aug 17, 2017Tyler Eason rated it really liked it
This is a helpful and convicting book. While he writes from a unique and often aberrant theological perspective (Christian perfectionism), Law gives practical steps to take on the path of holiness that are relevant for believers in every walk of life.
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Jan 08, 2015Nemo added it
Shelves: christianity
William Law in this work reminds me of Leo Tolstoy in his late writings. Both of them write with a limpid style, both make moral arguments that are undeniably logical and rational, both make severe and incisive criticisms of Christendom, and not surprisingly, both were excommunicated.

If a Christian reader tries to see things through Law's eyes, he would find himself in a dream world, where people, himself included, live in a way that defies logic and reason, either sleepwalking through the day never knowing where they were going, or habitually engaging in various kinds of activities that are beneficial to none but harmful to all.

The reader is then perhaps confronted with an uncomfortable choice: Either Law is a crackbrained writer, or something is seriously wrong with my way of life. If that is the case, the condescending and sarcastic, though urbanely controlled, tone in the introduction written by the Reverend Charles Bigg, DD is quite understandable.

(To judge for yourself, read an excerpt of "Serious Call"at Nemo's Library. It is representative of Law's writing and ideas.) (less)
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Oct 22, 2012Gregory rated it it was amazing
Recommends it for: Christians
Recommended to Gregory by: Discovered it in the Classics
Shelves: favorites
A must read classic.The author has a passion for Christ that is most uncommon for this modern age. With line upon line and precept upon precept, he lays down a solid, biblical foundation for understanding the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Once you take the time to carefully read this book, you will see that the work of sanctification in the believer belongs alone to the person of the Holy Spirit.

More emphasis is placed on the power of the finished work of Christ than on the struggling Christian's own will power to persevere. There is a call to come to God for holiness, and complete conformity to Christ. Yet the author never loses site of the yielded life and complete cooperation that must be given daily, even hourly, so that God may make the believer a true partaker of the divine nature of Christ. Receiving the Holy Spirit and coming under his complete control is to William Law, the true interpretation of authentic & genuine Christianity. (less)
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Apr 08, 2011Garland Vance rated it liked it
Shelves: christian-living, kindle, ministry
The first several chapters of this book were excellent--worth 6 stars! Law's challenges to Christians centuries ago reads as if he understands current believers. He says that most believers think that the only change in their lives are that they need to introduce devotional practices of prayer & Bible study. Law says that the problem is that we do not desire to please God in all decisions as the best & happiest thing in the world. The next few chapters unpack this & these chapters are outstanding.
About 1/3 of the way thru the book, I found Law going on beyond what was necessary. Most of the chapters are too long, and I found myself getting bored with it.
In spite of my dislike of the last 2/3 of the book, the first few chapters were WELL worth the cost of the book. (less)
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Sep 14, 2007Lacy rated it liked it
I don't claim to have read this cover to cover, but taken in small chunks it's a really interesting study of very dated moral behavior.
Law really hates people who gad away their time visiting friends in the countryside on Sundays, for instance. And women who care far too much about their own finery and silk dresses.
However, among all the leisure class admonishments are some really good, substantial beliefs about the importance of upholding morality for its own sake, not just for show - which probably was kind of an issue among mid 19th-century British society.
Anyway, definitely an interesting read, even if the language is fairly thick. (less)
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Nov 08, 2011Dad Bowers rated it liked it
Shelves: devotional
It was worth reading. Law has a dated 1700's style, for sure, but he expresses well our serious need for a devotional life and he gives lots of practical tips and reasons for this. I probably won't follow his method of dividing the day into various hours of prayer. He seeks that we each remain devoted to Jesus Christ all our days: a most worthy goal in life. (less)
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Sep 27, 2009Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Theh title of this encompasses the content of this book, with an emphasis on serious. My conscience was certainly piqued at times. This book was written in the early 1700s, so some of the examples seem trite for our modern age. But his chapters on prayer and worship are worth the read.
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Apr 30, 2009Richard Gray rated it it was amazing
who I am and who I am not in the greater scheme.
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Apr 05, 2012Ircolle Colle rated it it was amazing
Excellent read for Lent. Short chapters (~5 pages each) make for a great daily devotion. Extremely rich, challenging, and thought provoking.
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