Book Review: A Taste of Heaven

Sproul, R. C. A Taste of Heaven: Worship in the Light of Eternity. Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2006. Hardcover, 173 pages. $15.00

(Review copy courtesy of Reformation Trust.)

Purchase: Ligonier Ministries | WTS
ISBNs: 1567690769 / 9781567690767

Excerpt: Chapter One

Subjects: Public Worship, Reformed Church Liturgy

R.C. Sproul is a respected teacher, theologian, and pastor known for his unique ability to clearly communicate deep, practical truths from God’s Word. He is founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries, featured on the international radio broadcast Renewing Your Mind, general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, executive editor of Tabletalk magazine, and author of more than sixty books. He serves as the senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida. (bio from Ligonier Ministries)

Much has been said on the topic of worship in the past few decades, and with open eyes to the future, it is certainly probable that much more will be said before the fervor wanes. Sproul adds a few more words to the discussion and attempts to establish an overarching principle that will potentially answer some very tough questions. His preface captures the imagination by describing how birds and fish are uniquely created for their own specific mode of transportation. He then shifts that thought to concepts of man and discusses how man is uniquely created with the capacity to worship God. Since man’s fall brought sin into the world, however, God has been eclipsed (p. 11), and we have lost our sense of awe.

Sproul succinctly states his thesis this way:

I believe we can discern principles in the patterns of worship that God revealed from Heaven to His people in the Old Testament, and that those principles can and should inform the patterns our worship follows. (p. 19)

The thesis makes logical sense, and because it appealed to my desire for answers, I was immediately hooked. At 173 pages, however, I was skeptical that I would find real answers between the book’s covers. Also, it is imperative to remember that Sproul is looking at this issue through thoroughly Reformed lenses; and while the Reformed/Dispensational debate is not even broached in this short book, Sproul’s arguments and thoughts clearly flow from a Reformed pen.

The book presents a panoramic view of the concept of worship. Chapters range from “The Form of Worship” to “The Sound of Worship.” The hot button topics of musical style, performer lifestyle, commercialization, shallow lyrics, etc., are briefly mentioned, if at all; and the book makes no real effort to apply his thesis practically to the divisive issues being debated in the here and now. Sproul develops this thesis by discussing the concept of sacrifice in Old Testament worship and then by drawing out a New Testament correlation in Romans 12. However, he stops there and misses other significant New Testament sacrifices for the believer’s worship. Sproul then moves on to explain the symbols of worship with an emphasis on the ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. He closes with a few philosophical chapters that attempt to explain the role of beauty in worship and the need to involve the whole person (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) in worship. It seemed to me that as the book unfolded, Sproul drifts away from fully developing his thesis. He merely restates it here and there with little connection to it.

The best part about this book is its thesis. We can glean and apply much from the Old Testament, especially in the area of worship. The Old Testament gives us God’s specifically prescribed method for presenting an acceptable sacrifice. Praise the Lord for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, which abolished the Law. But those Old Testament passages were most assuredly written for our learning.

Another highlight of this book is Sproul’s thorough explanation of the symbolism and significance of baptism in chapters 6 and 7 (pp. 67-92). I hate to say this since I am a convinced, card-carrying Baptist to the core, but I think I learned more from a Presbyterian about baptism than I have learned from any other Baptist.

Now I don’t plan to convert anytime soon because Sproul lost me in chapter 8, which he devotes entirely to the issue of infant baptism. The chapter begins with some good analysis comparing the arguments both for and against pedobaptism. He then appeals to what he calls the “covenant language” (p. 104) of 1 Corinthians 7:14 to construct a substantial argument for infant baptism. Finally, he concludes the chapter with the ever-wearisome passing of “the burden of proof,” which does very little to serve any further discussion of a topic.

It also seemed that this book was made overly accessible. Sproul begins most chapters with personal anecdotes, which serve little to explain the thesis. Sometimes the logic was also hard to follow, and I felt like we were on a rabbit trail. Since this topic is so feverishly debated, it needs a lot of Scripture and a lot of sources, but neither were used much.

My expectations of this book were not met, and I do not recommend it. Other books more effectively address the issue at hand. This would be a profitable read only for loyal Sproul fans and those already predisposed to Reformed theology.

The book’s excellent thesis calls for interested attention and deep thought. The need for serious evaluation of our worship practices has never been greater. As a believer, I will give an account for the worship decisions I make, and if I love God as I ought, I will do whatever He deems necessary to please Him. As a church leader, I have to consider the worship lives of those under my watch; and while they give individual account for the choices they make, I still give corporate account to God for the direction I set. This debate is not going away, but as long as it goes on, we must strive to be able to put it aside at the time when our focus and desire must only be on Him.

Discussion Questions:

• Why don’t we follow the Old Testament system of worship?
• Didn’t Jesus worship by following the Jewish system?
• What is the difference between a baptized infant and an unbaptized infant?
• What is the difference between a baptized believer and an unbaptized believer?
• Because salvation was attained in the same way by both Old Testament and New Testament saints, are Old Testament and New Testament steps of obedience displayed in the same way?

Anthony Hayden currently serves as the music director of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church (Lebanon, IN). Prior to his present ministry, he and his wife, Mary, taught for two years at a Christian school on the island of Saipan in the western Pacific. Anthony graduated from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC) in 2000 with a B.Mus. in Church Music and an M.A. in Teaching Bible in 2002. Anthony and Mary have two daughters, Mercy and Naomi.