In an interview with Light + Life after receiving the prize from the Marston Memorial Historical Center and the Committee on Free Methodist History and Archives, Snyder said that Christians often compartmentalize theology apart from other areas of life to which they don’t think the gospel applies.
“For many of us, I think theology means mostly spirituality, so when it comes to economics, entertainment, government, science and so on, without realizing it, we often can operate as though those are different worlds outside the gospel,” he said. “That is a huge error! When that happens, we allow other voices and other forces to dominate those areas and lead us falsely in science, or falsely in government, or falsely in economics. By falsely, I mean ignoring basic biblical truths that we need in order for our government, our economics, and our science to be sound and not to lead us off into error in some way or other.”
So why would a historical center’s prize go to a book that has so much to say about modern culture?
The center’s announcement explained, “This published book has been judged to be the most significant publication over the preceding 12 to 24 months in terms of its contribution to understanding Free Methodist origins, history, and mission. This volume is grounded in the Free Methodist heritage and addresses important issues with which the church at large and world culture are struggling from the perspectives of the Free Methodist Church. While not a work of Free Methodist history it is a significant contribution to theology, Christian participation in the ecology of God, and missiology; it is fundamentally shaped by the Free Methodist convictions that have been central to all of Snyder’s research and writing.”
The announcement noted the book “develops an understanding of Christian doctrine in light of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture and history, and also in light of the realities of today’s global church and culture. It is a theological framework within which a Christian can live with and love God, neighbor, and the creation. The Christian is encouraged to think seriously about these things.”
_
“Jesus teaches us a lot — not just by His acts, not just about how to be faithful disciples, but also about theology itself.” — Howard A. Snyder
_
Comprehensive and Focused
In “Consider the Lilies,” Snyder wrote, “Though I have drunk from many Christian streams, my own theology has been shaped especially by the life and thought of two figures: the early church father Irenaeus (130-202 AD, Bishop of Lyons), and especially British Anglican John Wesley (1703-1791).” Snyder told Light + Life, “I especially like Wesley, not only because it’s my tradition, but because Wesley himself had a very broad perspective. He was happy to include insights from a lot of different persons and writers from a whole range of traditions, not just his own.”
Snyder said that Wesley held a “comprehensive view” but also “narrowed in on the really essential thing, so it’s not just a smorgasbord.” He added that Wesley “really focused on the love of God and embodying that in our lives and living out the values of the kingdom of God, and that’s what I’m trying to do in the book.”
The book states that it does not “promote any one theological tradition,” but Jesus and His gospel “are the starting point and the foundation.”
“I say in the book — and I take this very seriously — that I try to ground everything in Scripture,” said Snyder, who added that he interprets each passage in the Bible through other Scripture passages and the teachings of Jesus. “Jesus teaches us a lot — not just by His acts, not just about how to be faithful disciples, but also about theology itself.”
Reflecting Truth and Helping Others
At nearly 800 pages, “Consider the Lilies” isn’t a light read, and it probably won’t land on bookstore shelves next to popular Christian bestsellers from megachurch pastors and celebrity authors.
When asked about the intended audience, Snyder said he wrote the book primarily for “younger pastors and other church leaders — not necessarily clergy, but people in the church who themselves are Christians and have some responsibility for the discipling of other Christians. That includes pastors. It includes theological students. It includes leaders in local churches who might be leading cell groups or various kinds of ministries,” Snyder said. “My audience is particularly people in the church who reflect on Christian truth and have some responsibility for helping others — in other words, who are, to some degree, influencers.”
Snyder has written or co-written approximately 25 books. Even he has trouble keeping track because he has contributed to multiple biblical study guides and book series. He worked simultaneously on “Consider the Lilies” and another book, “Francis of Assisi, Movement Maker,” for more than a dozen years.
“About six years ago, a while after I had heart bypass surgery, I was concerned about my health and about completing these two books. I felt the Lord gave me an assurance, to calm my anxiety, that I would be able to complete these books,” Snyder said. “At that point, I was only a little more than halfway done with the Francis book and probably less than that with ‘Consider the Lilies,’ so that was a helpful reassurance.”
The concept of “Consider the Lilies” came to him approximately 20 years ago. He originally considered calling the book “The Jesus Way,” but its name ultimately was inspired by the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:28 and Luke 12:27.
“I feel it is very important to take seriously God’s covenant with the earth in Genesis 9,” said Snyder, noting that “Consider the Lilies” expands the concepts of his earlier book “Salvation Means Creation Healed,” which he co-wrote with Joel Scandrett. “And likewise, I believe it is essential to apply gospel truth to every area of culture, as the Bible does.”
Snyder said he doesn’t have “any other major writing projects on my agenda” but he added, “I do have a small book, an anthology of poems, parables, and short pieces I’ve done. … I have it done in the sense that I have a manuscript that I could move ahead toward publication at some point.”
Snyder said he plans to focus on “other projects here locally. One has to do with planting trees in Wilmore [Kentucky], expanding our tree canopy — a very practical form of mission.”
Still, he isn’t ruling out future writing.
“I’ll see. You know I’m 85, and I’m in pretty good health, so I could probably be involved in some other writing projects,” he said. “I may be, but I don’t have anything else planned right now.”
_
“… the Free Methodist Church has an essential, prophetic message.” — Howard A. Snyder
_
Back to the Calling
While continuing to shape future church leaders, Snyder also appreciates people who are committed to the study of church history.
“In the case of the Free Methodist Church, history is crucial, because for all its flaws, the Free Methodist Church has an essential, prophetic message,” said Snyder, noting the denomination’s commitment to preaching the gospel to the poor, affirmation of the full participation of women in culture and the life of the church, emphasis on liberal arts education, the global mission of the church, the deeper work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and justice for all. “These are aspects of the gospel that it is easy to drift away from, because they’re countercultural.”
“The Marston Historical Center,” Snyder said, “serves as a kind of a light and a fire to keep calling the church back to its original calling — not in a nostalgic way, but in a prophetic way, so that we rediscover, reenergize, re-inflame, reapply the calling that God has given to us in these days.”
He formerly served on and chaired the Committee on Free Methodist History and Archives, and he said successor Mindi Grieser Cromwell “has done excellently in chairing the committee.” He expressed appreciation for Cathy Robling, the center’s director who “has done a wonderful job. I really appreciate all her work.” He also expressed gratitude for the efforts of Kyle Moran, the center’s digital librarian, and Julianne Class, the center’s archivist: “What they’ve done with the archives and some of the other things is rather amazing, and it’ll benefit everybody for years to come.”
Click here to order “Consider the Lilies” via Amazon, or click here for a free electronic download via Asbury Theological Seminary.
+
Great Writing + Discipleship Materials
