Writing in the Dust, Term Paper Example

This essay opens with the discourse on Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002. Primarily, the piece of work is a good classical representation of one of the numerous facets of theology that has engaged the attention of theologians over the years. Much of its content is mainly a presentation of a commentary on the gospel according to Saint Matthew. It should also be noted that this work is essentially not new to the existent body of theological knowledge on the book of Saint Matthew primarily because it does not owe its original authorship in the English language, because it is known that Robert Barr initiated the process of translating the knowledge in Grand Rapids: Eerdmans from its original German language into English language.

Having set this base, it is prudent to delve into the intricate details of the book itself.  For reasons best known to the translator, the book was purposefully divided into two main parts, with each part independently displaying the level of scholastic worth needed, at least for the standard that the book is serving. Many observers have had reasons to question the style adopted and used here, bearing in mind that the first part mainly offers introductory words into the work where as the thrust of the main commentary is concentrated in the second part; accompanied by a couple of scanty closing indexes. Another point of concern for me during the process of reading this book is the conspicuously scale of the absence of a supporting bibliographic entry. I find it worrying because, my approach to reading it was from a purely academic lens and naturally I expected it to that same conventional line.  

Much of the thesis of the original writer is not completely alien in the theological terrain, when it comes to giving the gospel of Matthew the theological critique it deserves. Like almost all previous and current theologians that have discussed the gospel according to Saint Matthew[1]. The writer makes it known that for strategic facts of historical account the book is clearly weaned out off any connection to the wind of the Apostle Paul which has crept subtly into other books in the New Testament discharging similar duties. As the Christian church was still in its infancy many questions emerged concerning the reconciling point between the Messianic Christian church and the traditional place of Judaism in the emerging dispensation. Adding to the earlier point of the absence of bibliographies and other conventional scientific referencing styles, the book has not made provisions for illustrations to buttress its written content. These notwithstanding, a considerable chunk of the recurrent themes contained in the gospel according to Saint Matthew which can be expected on every account have been fairly highlighted, and that is commendable at any rate.

The United States was awoken by the gruesome realities of the greatest internal tragedy of unimaginable proportions meted against her by religious extremist on the AD September 2001. William Rowan like everyone else had genuine questions about what the response to this tragedy should be. Questions that motivated him to chronicle his thoughts into his book entitled “Writing in the Dust.” He painstakingly poses the natural questions that are synonymous with the human nature, confronted with unpleasant choices.

What I find striking in this book is the artistic skill with which he elucidates his readers into realizing that caution should be put in place to ensure that misguided emotions concealed under the guise of conservative realism should not mislead an entire nation into towing the path of retribution in the quest for seeking the twin virtues of justice and healing. The foundation of the issues raised in the book is a reminder that military response to the tragedy though may appear logical, but falls short of providing answers to the real questions that have emerged as a result of the September 11 massacre. For the conservative, saying a thing as this is way overboard and demonstrates weakness. He argues that whilst the tragedy and all that accompanied it is highly unpalatable, it offers a singular chance to for once crucify the devil that has caused the blindness of the heart of modern man and the deafness of the mind that guides all his impulsive actions thus holding our civilization captive to recklessness. A crucifixion that appears highly paradoxical to the people of our day and age, yet has deep rooted theological worth. It is a solid reminder not to overlook the mess in our compounds in our quest to haul others to culpability for littering our compounds. A thought provoking critique indeed!

[1] Proving evidence alludes to the fact that the setting of the community that Saint Matthew reported about was based in the geographical area that is clearly within Syria, where Antioch did also feature prominently. The exact time as said by theologians is AD 85.90. The setting definitely had its membership composed of both Jews and Gentiles.