Michael W. Austin, Wise Stewards: Philosophical Foundations of Christian Parenting (Kregel Academic, 2009), 192 pages, ISBN 9780825424250.

Wise Stewards begins with the philosophical question “What gives meaning, purpose, and value in life?” But don’t let the philosophical focus of this book scare you away. One of the author’s main accomplishments in the text is his ability to present this concept in a manner that is more of a challenge to our way of thinking than to our intellectual ability. This unspoken challenge is for parents—biological or not—to obtain a personal theory of a more suitable, Godly parenting style rather than relying on unstructured notions of parenting. Austin does not simply discuss key virtues for the Christian family in an abstract way, he intends the reader to integrate the ideas into a comprehensive framework that can then be used as a resource to enhance their parenting skills.

Austin makes sure to clarify early on that he believes in moral realism. Additionally, he begins with a disclaimer that his suggestions are not to replace scripture. I appreciated both of these points. In today’s postmodern society, this is a rare attribute in publications related to parenting, which should be valued. The author invites the reader to join him on a journey into becoming a better parent, a journey that will be guided by Biblical truths. If there was one sentence that could sum up the entire book it would be: “I seek to develop a sound understanding of the parent-child relationship by combining biblical, theological and philosophical reflections in order to construct an everyday ethic of parenthood that is distinctly Christian.” Finally we have someone who is not afraid to take a strong stand on Christian values. The way Austin opens himself at the onset of this undertaking is inviting and encourages the reader to maintain an open mind to the views that follow.

Wise Stewards sheds light on the often neglected area of parenting. Unfortunately it has come to the point that parents have to be reminded of their biblical roles. It is not a suggestion to raise your child up in the Lord—it is a mandate. Austin does a great job of reminding us of this by addressing the need for Christian ethics for parents, insisting that wise parents must view themselves as stewards of their children. He addresses basic values every parent should already be teaching their children. One’s view of parenthood will definitely change after reading this book.

The end of book challenges parents to restore the home to be the center for spiritual life and a “sacred place” for worship and study. The modern family has forsaken gathering around the table for dinner. The home is no longer the center for learning or spiritual development. Austin makes a compelling case that parents who are acting as wise stewards must not bow to societal pressures but must live up to Godly standards.

If used correctly, Wise Stewards could restore the earthly home to a place of shalom that provides a reflection of our heavenly home.

Reviewed by Kathryn N. Donev

Preview: books.google.com/books?id=OW6uL2OXG8oC

Ritva H. Williams, Stewards, Prophets, Keepers of the Word: Leadership in the Early Church (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006), 228 pages, ISBN 9781565639492.

Williams approaches the subject of leadership in the early church through an examination of the social and cultural customs of the Greco-Roman civilization during the first and second centuries. In addition to canonized and apocryphal scriptures, she has engaged early Church and public documents to support her research. Her scholarship follows the popular disciplines of Funk’s Jesus Seminar and her presuppositions follow Bultmann’s demythologization of the scripture, whereas her interpretation of scripture follows the historical-critical methodology.

There is much to recommend regarding this book’s discussion of stewards and prophets. First, Williams lays a foundation, describing the Greco-Roman patron-client social paradigm. She takes great effort to describe how the patron-client model is evident in the gospel narratives of Jesus and in the teaching and the plots of his parables. She added a valuable word study on “steward” (oikonomos) to specify how church leadership in the early centuries followed the social norm and role of the household steward. The primary strength of Williams’ thesis rests on the dynamic of the role of the steward (oikonomos) of the church. Additionally, Williams explores the Pauline idea of being in Christ as the exemplar of the steward who finds authority and security as the broker of his master’s household, wealth, and social status.

William’s conclusion is open-ended and she declines to “provide a blueprint for what it means to be a faithful steward, a true prophet, and/or a genuine keeper of the word.” An additional chapter that proposes an application would strengthen the book and satisfy its argument. In this, Williams demonstrated a postmodern ending to her research on leadership in the early Church. What is the role of the steward today? One can only speculate if the role of the steward is to be the role of the church leader or even a paradigm for denominational reformation.

Reviewed by John R. Miller

Preview this book: http://books.google.com/books?id=u1yJ5joHOcYC