We’re about six weeks into Earthen Vessels being available, which means that reviews are starting to trickle in.
I am so thankful for everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on the work. Even though I haven’t been able to respond to everyone, it’s been the highlight of the process. If you have read the book, I’d appreciate you leaving an Amazon review and a review at your blog. And if you haven’t, well….
That said, highlighting reviews is a little weird, as people have said some overly nice things. There’s all sorts of genuine spiritual dangers here for an author, including (and especially!) doubting the good reviews and clinging to the bad ones, or holding too closely to the good ones and defensively combating the critiques. It’s a minefield, but traversing happens one step at a time. Lord, have mercy.
To it, then.
James Arnold points out that reading the book provides a similar experience as I had writing it: people are more interested in the “body of Christ” than the human body:
Matt describes his experience of discussing the book during the writing process with fellow church-goers by relating that the follow up question was always “You mean, like, physical bodies?” My own experience, when I say “Oh, I’m reading this book called Earthen Vessels. It is about the body,” I have almost universally received the response “You mean, like the Body of Christ?”
Watch James’ blog for more, as I will be. He’s a sharp guy who graciously assisted the making of the trailer.
Second, friend of Mere-O Ben Simpson (who was kind enough to comment on a draft) had this to say over at the new hub FaithVillage:
The body has been an overlooked subject for critical reflection among evangelicals, and in this account, Anderson begins to fill in the noticeable gaps on a topic that is important for discipleship and for apologetics. A robust account of our embodied, fleshy existence, I believe, is critical for the church’s witness before the watching world.
I’m hoping for a more substantive critique from him, which I know is coming soon.
But, more tomorrow. In the meantime, please do tell a friend or pastor about the book. Your kind support is appreciated.
Matthew Lee Anderson
Matthew Lee Anderson is an Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology in Baylor University's Honors College. He has a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University, and is a Perpetual Member of Biola University's Torrey Honors College. In 2005, he founded Mere Orthodoxy.
