Reviewed Book: Osborne, Kenan B. The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1987

Weigel, Arnold D.

English

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The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 14Issue 2 Issues and Concerns in Ethics Article 2111-1-1988The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism,Confirmation, EucharistArnold D. WeigelFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationWeigel, Arnold D. (1988) "The Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist," Consensus: Vol. 14 : Iss. 2 ,Article 21.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol14/iss2/21120 Consensusfrom our borrowed theology of colonizers and turn toward the “small col-lectivities of hope” within Canadian life which are the well-springs for ourown theological reflections.Further, this Festschrift is pluralistically rich. In this sense, it reflectsthe wide range of Gregory Baum’s circle of friends and influence. His is atruly ecumenical theology in terms of both his thought and his life. He hasmentored many of these people, and they are his friends. They are Protes-tants (like Douglas Hall and Robert McAfee Brown); they are Catholics(like Mary Jo Leddy and Matthew L. Lamb); they are Jews (like RabbiDow Marmur). Some are feminist liberationists, such as Rosemary Ruetherand Dorothee Solle, while others are steeped in the interface of psychologyand theology like Philip McKenna. Such a wide range of thought and ex-perience is an appropriate tribute to a man who embodies this ecumenicalreality in his own life pilgrimage.The chronological bibliography at the end of the book not only is a use-ful research tool for those who would steep themselves in Baum’s theologybut also is a vivid portrayal of the broad scholarship of the man himself.Finally, the personal reflections of Gregory Baum are worth the priceof the book. He takes us through the pilgrimage of his religious journey sothat the scholar we have admired so much emerges now as the warm andengaging human being that has touched so many lives. He has describedhis life as one who has received the touch of God’s grace in surprising andwonderful ways. No wonder then, for those who know his life and thought,he has emerged as a surprising and wonderful man.Oscar L. ArnalWaterloo Lutheran SeminaryThe Christian Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism,Confirmation, EucharistKenan B. OsborneNew York: Paulist Press, 1987249 pp.“From the earliest period of the Christian era,” claims Father Os-borne, “the Church has celebrated the initiation of converts and neophytesinto the community by a sacramental process which is seen as baptism—(confirmation)—eucharist.”The author notes further: “If the approach to the initiation into theChurch is seen not merely as baptism, but also as baptism—eucharist,the implications for the ecumenical movement become somewhat acute,since there is often a recognition of one Church’s baptism, but a refusal towelcome such baptized Christians to the eucharistic table.”Book Reviews 121This timely and scholarly text discusses questions which are demandingmuch current denominational and ecumenical attention. What is the placeand purpose of confirmation within the spiritual journey of a Christian?What is the meaning of baptism biblically, theologically, liturgically andfor Christian living within the world? How should we and how do weregard the eucharist? That is, should the emphasis be on the eucharist asGod’s gift of grace to us or on our human response to that grace? Shouldthere be frequent celebration of the eucharist? If so, on what groundsbiblically and theologically? What is the relationship between baptism andholy communion (and this is more than simply an age eligibility question)?And where does confirmation fit into that relationship?Osborne addresses these timely questions. I say “timely” because anumber of denominations within the Christian church, the EvangelicalLutheran Church In Canada included, have either committees or task forcesexploring theological foundations and liturgical practices pertinent to sacra-mental ministries. Likewise, many churches are studying the World Councilof Churches’ document Baptism, Eucharist & Ministry. On the ecumeni-cal scene, there are also a number of inter-church dialogues inclusive ofdiscussions on the sacraments. Indeed, a timely text!But also a scholarly text! The book is divided into three sections:Holy Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Each section includes withinit the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, an exploration ofpertinent biblical texts, a discussion of church history data on the subjectand a dialogue with contemporary issues incorporating both theological andpractical concerns. Each section is prefaced with a selected bibliographyand each chapter contains helpful questions for personal reflection and/orgroup discussion.The central thesis of the text is that Jesus is the primordial sacramentand the church is the fundamental sacramental expression in which all indi-vidual sacraments find their basis. For example, Osborne argues that “theNew Testament clearly indicates that baptism is much more than a rite. Inthe life of Jesus himself, it is presented as an extremely significant event,revelatory of who Jesus himself is. In the entire New Testament the centralaspect of baptism is its relationship to Jesus, and in Paul this becomes evena mystic relationship into the life, death and resurrection which groundsthe current theological interest in Jesus as the primordial sacrament.”The intrinsic challenges both denominationally and ecumenically withinthis text may be seen in statements like the following: “The New Testa-ment has absolutely no indication of another stage in Christian initiationwhich would come between baptism on the one hand and eucharist on theother. Baptism opens the door to the eucharistic banquet. This lack ofany intermediary situation indicates. . . a strong connection between bap-tism and eucharist, and second, a theological anomaly to the contemporarypractice of a Church recognizing another Christian community’s baptismbut refusing eucharistic hospitality.”Osborne candidly admits that there is at present “disquiet amongCatholic theologians on the entire issue of confirmation.” He cites four-teen particular issues facing this sacrament among Catholic theologians.122 ConsensusHe could also have included Lutheran theologians in that sense of disquiet!My one disappointment in the text came in this section; I would have de-sired a more comprehensive dialogue with each of these issues. As it is, theauthor remains true to his central thesis and lets the reader wonder aboutpractical and liturgical application.Although writing from a Roman Catholic perspective, Osborne is sensi-tive to Protestant struggles with these sacraments; he cites materials fromthe Lutheran Book of Worship and the Book of Common Prayer and inthe last chapter “The Eucharist, An Integral Part of Christian Initiation,”he engages, in a constructive and provocative manner, Krister Stendahl atlength in his view that “baptism in the NT and in the early church is alwaysan act of initiation, and that this in fact should be the point of departure.”His contention with Stendahl is that Jesus as primordial sacrament mustbe taken as the point of departure.I found it a pleasure to read this book. It’s an engaging document, writ-ten in easily understood language, which will be of value to many people—tothose involved in studies on sacramental theology and practice it will be ahelpful reference; to those involved in seminary course studies, it will be astimulating text or an exciting recommended reading; to pastors and churchleaders participating in ministerial associations or local councils of churches,it could be a resourceful study guide; to persons engaged in inter-churchdialogues, it will serve as a clarifying partner in dialogue.“The theology of both baptism and eucharist [and confirmation] is inti-mately conjoined to ecclesiology and even more fundamentally to christol-ogy.”Arnold D. WeigelWaterloo Lutheran SeminaryCivil Religion and Political TheologyLeroy S. Rouner, editorNotre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1986240 pp., U.S. $24.95 cloth“Civil Religion” and “Political Theology” are terms which have becomecommon parlance for many of us ever since the American Robert Bellahpublished his by now famous 1967 essay “Civil Religion in America” andthe German Catholic theologian Johannes Baptist Metz began developinga new Political Theology at about the same time. Seldom, however, do wethink of these together. Here for the first time a group of distinguishedscholars from a variety of disciplines, including Bellah and Metz, discussthese two concepts in relation to each other.All assume that religion and theology have an important role to play inpublic political and social life. They disagree, however, on what form that

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