by Patrick Oden

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review by Trey Doty

WHAT HAPPENS when a faith community rediscovers the role of the Holy Spirit? Have we emphasized the Father and Son to the detriment of the Spirit? Is there any biblical bias to suggest the Spirit should be relegated to a supporting role in the Trinity? These and other questions become the basis for a much-needed change of theological perspective.

Patrick Oden, a graduate of Wheaton College and Fuller Theological Seminary, takes a risk in his debut as a newly minted author. Instead of cloistering himself behind the insular walls of footnotes and a bombardment of quotations, he stretches his legs in the conversation of fictional characters Luke and Nate, a journalist and pastor, respectively. Consider the many books that raise a distinctly fresh approach to thinking, only to find the discussion end up in traditional categories. A book that can demonstrate creative engagement within an innovative framework deserves attention, and Oden gives us that kind of book. In a style recently used by Brian McLaren in his trilogy beginning with A New Kind of Christian, Oden takes on difficult questions as someone comfortable with not having all the answers.

Making a refreshing departure from academic prose without ignoring the theological import of the subject at hand, Oden deftly confronts an oft-ignored topic. Within an emerging church conversation that struggles to balance philosophical meanderings with the practical considerations of daily ministry, It's a Dance addresses both, in the context of a simple narrative. Oden builds a case for remaining attentive to the role of the Holy Spirit, and he does so while avoiding the temptation to develop complex characters, push a theological trend, or tease out prescribed implications.

The story begins with Luke, an investigative journalist, assigned by his editor to understand the character of the churches in the area. The narrative makes passing mention of the initial and somewhat forgettable church interviews and wastes no time arriving at the heart of the story. Luke finds himself in a pub, sitting across the table from Nate, the pastor of a seemingly unusual church. While the emerging methodology appears unorthodox from the outset, Luke learns through conversation with Nate and a supporting cast of easy-to-relate-to characters that this may in fact be a church that—in his experience—most closely reflects the heart of the gospel.

What follows is a theology of the Holy Spirit, culled from great thinkers throughout history, and placed in a dialogue that is at once poignant and seemingly autobiographical. This story does not claim rights only to Oden, however, but to every person who chooses to imagine a faith community residing at the intersection of history, Scripture, culture, and personal experience. It might be important to mention that at no time in the story is the dialogue a collection of personal opinion or an apologetic for methodological trends. The starting point for engagement is the biblical narrative. While the story leads to possible conclusions, it allows for the reader to remain curious and disregard the inclination to rely on anemic interpretations of familiar biblical stories.

For most of us the Holy Spirit is a benign addition to the work of God through the person of Jesus. What we discover in reading Oden's narrative is that the Spirit is not only ubiquitous throughout Scripture, but is a catalyst for community, creativity, holiness, hospitality, worship, leadership, and showing us the character of Jesus. It is the Spirit's work in these areas that makes up the chapter topics in the book. Oden introduces us to the diversity of the Spirit's activity through the personal stories of characters entering at different points. Then they all show up at the end of the book in what is the culmination of everything Nate has described to Luke—a worship experience incorporating the spontaneity and fluid character of the Spirit.

There is a statement that Nate makes early on in the book that goes to the heart of Oden's contention:

The Spirit always focuses on Jesus. We focus through the Spirit on Jesus. If we're distracted from Jesus we've lost the Spirit. It's the same Spirit, don't you see? That's the brilliance of it all. Instead of pursuing Jesus through the Spirit we do all sorts of other things to replace the Spirit. In doing this we miss Jesus. We'd rather do what we think makes total sense and seems right to our logic. Scripture says that's not the way it goes—scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, as Paul put it.

As a former staff pastor in a successful church, Nate found himself saying, “I couldn't shake the feeling I was missing something important…most people would have said our church was thriving.” As Luke interviews Nate throughout the book, there is a feeling that nothing is as it seems. The attainment of cultural success, especially within the church, might be an illusion of success when we consider what it is the Spirit desires to do in us.

The point is that nothing escapes the purview of the Holy Spirit. Our participation in the community of faith, with God, hangs on the initiation of the Spirit. The Spirit moves and we respond. This is the dance. Instead of demanding that the Spirit work in prearranged ways or through means with which we feel most comfortable, we participate by a letting go of our safe and easily controlled way of doing things. The danger is that the unexpected, unpredictable, and uninvited might happen (read: God might show up).

The only difficulty I had with this book can be found in the chapter on leadership. The emphasis on discernment fits well with my Quaker understanding of personal and corporate leadership. However, the practical outcomes of Oden's thoughts have been tried repeatedly and frequently found wanting. We need to rise to the challenge of rediscovering a leadership responsive to the Spirit and responsible to those we serve.

At times I felt myself wrapped up in the story, particularly in the last chapter as Luke and his wife discover the Spirit's reconciling activity in their relationship—an apt metaphor for not just the church, but for all of us. Our theology has real consequences, whether it reflects the gospel or not. If you want a fresh perspective that does not rely on constantly criticizing others in the wider faith community, then Oden's book will deliver.

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