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Clive Calver is president of World Relief

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This review formed part of the literature review for my dissertation, "Does God use people?"

http://carterclan.me.uk/dissertation

Calver and Delve (1983) write to call the people of God to radical discipleship, and more holy living, in order to fulfil God’s creation purposes. It is aimed at “ordinary” Christians who may believe that they are useless, or that they are not called to this kind of discipleship. It consists of three parts. The first focuses on the need in the world for faithful followers of Jesus. The second describes the answer in terms of the practical out workings of discipleship. The third part is an account of D.L. Moody’s life, written by R.A. Torrey.

The parallels are so sparse in this book, that they do not provide any insight into the meaning of “God uses” language. Only two Biblical characters are considered, and again there is no evidence that the Bible describes God as using them.

In an observation of how the world defines people, and as part of a call to live counter culturally, the authors write “Identity is swiftly established by how we earn our living. The life-style of the Kingdom speaks for a different standard of values.” (p.113) Perhaps one of the reasons that “God uses” language is found so thinly in this book, despite the title, is the acknowledgment that our identity isn’t formed by what we do for God, but that what we do for God is established by our identity in God. This possibility is reinforced by a comment made in the teaching on prayer “God wants willing companions, not slaves.” (p.65)

That said, the frequency of “God uses” language does rise significantly in the third section of the book. Here the main thrust is on Moody’s fundamental surrender to God and the necessity of that surrender for the work that he did.

“Is it too much to say that God is always looking for a man he can use? Notice the word ‘use’, for there seem to be four ideas concerning our relationship to God in service. Some teach that man is instructed of God. The divine command is given and man must obey. Others teach that in service man is helped of God. Still others, that he is led of God. All of these suggest a partnership with Deity. The fourth idea, and the right one, is that man can be used of God. This demands surrender and submission of a Christian. This looks to God for enablement and gives to Him the glory. Moody was used of God.” (p.161)

In this forthright assertion we find again intrinsic links between a particular conception of the sovereignty of God, utter yielding, and “God uses” language which will be considered in more detail later.

The first two sections of this book could have been written with no reference to “God uses”. This demonstrates that it is possible to write about strong and radical discipleship, encouraging those who feel useless, without insisting that the resolution is to believe that God wants to use them. However, the language of “God uses” is foundational to the third section. It is the primary lens through which Moody’s life and ministry is presented.
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tcarter | Jan 3, 2011 |

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