An Anthology in Memory of Michael and Libby Weed
A Voice in the Wilderness: An Anthology in Memory of Michael and Libby Weed gathers fifteen select essays originally published in the Faculty Bulletin and in Christian Studies, publications of the faculty of the Institute for Christian Studies and Austin Graduate School of Theology from 1980 to 2019. Collectively, these chapters showcase a vision for the church and an approach to theological education characteristic of the Austin school of thought in Churches of Christ. The “scholarship for the church” exemplified in these pages is biblically focused, theologically astute, historically aware, and practically oriented, chock full of incisive diagnoses and salutary prescriptions for churches making their way in a culture that would seek to dilute the church’s faith and practice.
The title, A Voice in the Wilderness, alludes to the often prophetic subject matter and tone of the journal, particularly within Churches of Christ. These select essays were prescient, they pointed to the fellowship’s coming identity crisis, and they were willing to say important things that, at the time, almost no one else was saying.
The Center for Christian Studies now releases these timeless essays for a new generation of readers, in memory of the journal’s founding editor, Michael Weed, and his wife, Libby.
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Praise for A Voice in the Wilderness:
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading these essays! Creative, perceptive, and prescient, they embody distinctive insights from the Austin school of theological thought. This collection contains penetrating studies of such subjects of perennial concern as tradition, scripture, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, preaching, worship, and prayer. Michael Weed, to whom (along with Libby) the collection is dedicated, captures the challenges of living in a pluralistic, secular culture. His analysis is as relevant today as it was in the 1980s and 1990s. Ministers, church leaders, and students will benefit greatly by taking these essays to heart. I highly recommend this book.
Ronald Highfield, Professor of Religion, Pepperdine University
Probing, provocative essays that are incisive, timely, constructively critical, and prophetically visionary in calling the church to shape its mission, identity, and ministries by the gospel of Jesus Christ as reflected in the New Testament. This collection should be required reading for congregational leaders and university leaders among Churches of Christ.
Carl R. Holladay, C. H. Candler Professor Emeritus of the New Testament, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Once I started reading the intriguing entries in this volume, I couldn’t stop. There are plenty of Christians currently writing about the ills of modernity, with its false gods of individualism, consumerism, and presentism; and there are plenty who decry the church’s tendencies to accommodate rather than resist these pressures. But each of these highly readable essays, which span four decades, manages to enter this conversation from a fresh perspective, taking up concerns that are contextually focused and yet opening into analysis that transcends time, place, and ecclesial affiliation. They will enliven your resolve not to settle for techniques for this-worldly success, but instead to (re)claim the life-altering convictions that have animated the Christian movement from its very beginning.
Lauren Smelser White, Assistant Professor of Theology, Lipscomb University
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The Center for Christian Studies’ endeavor to keep these essays from the former journal, Christian Studies, available to the church is a welcomed achievement. As the title indicates, the articles, some of which are over 40 years old, are not only timely, but truly prophetic. While reading them, I found myself wanting to quickly get them into the hands (and minds) of my fellow members at church. With the collection’s particular focus on the contributions from Michael Weed, we encounter his penetrating discernment regarding the church’s challenge from pluralism, secularization, and shifts in the purpose of worship. Allan McNicol arouses mystery and wonder in his reflections upon prayer and the Lord’s Supper. Others call us to consider the value and need for a proper understanding of the continual task of restoring and renewing our faith and practice. I hope this material finds its way into the hands of many a church leader and congregational member.
Michael Young, Lecturer in Humanities, Faulkner University
It is easy for me to recommend this collection of articles from past issues of the ICS Faculty Bulletin and AGST Christian Studies. It is much more difficult, however, to convey my appreciation for them. The journals of ICS/AGST deserved a much wider audience than they originally had, and the reprint of these outstanding (and still relevant) articles helps remedy that.
James Bury, retired Assistant Professor of Bible, Harding University
While each generation believes it faces “unprecedented times,” revisiting conversations from the recent past often reveals surprisingly otherwise. A Voice in the Wilderness reminds us that meaningful conversations have already occurred, offering unexpectedly relevant wisdom for navigating today’s challenges. These past voices grappled with pluralism, misalliances, tradition, evangelism, meaningful worship, and our restoration identity, suggesting our era might not be as novel as we often assume. By listening closely, we may find valuable guidance for our current conversations, discovering that an unwavering commitment to the gospel remains our greatest hope.
Jeremie Beller, Chair of Bible and Director of Church Relations, Oklahoma Christian University
