Comments on: Review: Adam Miller’s Grace Is Not God’s Backup Plan

By: JT

JT — Mon, 18 May 2015 21:18:08 +0000

Kylie – No worries – it is a large question that was probably unfair on my part. Great review.

By: Clark Goble

Clark Goble — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:25:00 +0000

Al, like most discussions of grace, it’s limited in what it talks about. I don’t see that as a flaw. A conference talk is by necessity relatively short and targeting a largely ignorant audience where motivating them is a big focus.

His main criticism which many are happy for is the idea that we can only take hold of grace if we do everything we could theoretically do ethically. While I think many exaggerate that as a view within Mormonism, clearly some people mishear talks to be teaching that.

By: Kylie Turley

Kylie Turley — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:19:07 +0000

JT, I’m going to have to beg someone with a more informed opinion to answer. My acquaintance with the New Perspective crowd is too cursory to give you the thorough answer you deserve.

By: JT

JT — Mon, 18 May 2015 15:43:51 +0000

Kylie – Thanks for the review – I’m really looking forward to picking up a copy and reading this. In your view, how does Adam’s interpretation come through as compared to, say, some of the New Perspective crowd (e.g., Krister Stendahl, E.P. Sanders, N.T. Wright, etc.)?

By: Kylie Turley

Kylie Turley — Mon, 18 May 2015 01:37:42 +0000

Good point, Dave. (Sad point–but probably true).

By: Al Miller

Al Miller — Sun, 17 May 2015 18:39:17 +0000

I read it and re read it again after President Uchtdorf’s talk. It is very good. But I feel that it is overly (though purposefully) wrenched from its Biblical context of first century Christianity and not adequately placed in an LDS context that recognizes a distinction between salvation and exaltation, and posits three kingdoms of glory.

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 17 May 2015 18:20:19 +0000

Thanks for the review, Kylie. I doubt that “some readers will be tempted to read Grace Is Not God’s Backup Plan instead of Romans, itself” because I doubt many Mormons actually read Romans. Mormons like stories, not doctrinal exposition, especially when it comes packaged in KJV prose. So Miller’s book will put Romans (and grace) into the hands and minds of LDS readers who otherwise would not have any real contact with Romans. It could become for this generation what Robinson’s Believing Christ was twenty years ago.