Redeeming Sociology: A God-Centered Approach

Poythress, Vern Sheridan. Redeeming Sociology: A God-Centered Approach.  Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. 352pp. $25.00.

Reviewed by Nate Wood

Being a seminary graduate and married to a woman who studies both social work and sociology inevitably arouses a desire to be able to critique and explain theologically why secular sociological methods and worldviews fail. However, as one who has a background in neither social work nor sociology, it sometimes becomes challenging to have a response to how one should think about society, culture, and relationships. As I began to be confronted with these theories and methods, I was searching to find a thoughtful Christian response. Now, we all possess such a critique, but so much more than that. Christians have been graced with a theological and biblical formulation of how we should think about human relationships, cultures, and societies in Redeeming Sociology: A God-Centered Approach. Vern Poythress has provided Christians a biblically informed approach regarding the discipline of sociology.

Poythress argues that Christians need a view of the world and relationships that places God at the center and as the most important person in the world. The foundation of our relationships must be rethought and reformulated according to a biblical-theological perspective. He offers a healthy understanding of the discipline of sociology by showing how the Bible transforms our view of society, culture, and relationships and addresses these relationships in all their dimensions. Redeeming Sociology is divided into five parts in order to accomplish his purpose.

Poythress begins at the most fundamental and ultimate level: God’s involvement with relationships. He says the trinity is the “deepest starting point for understanding personal relationships.” Any approach that only considers human-to-human relationships is thereby “one-sided” and “reductionistic.” Our relationships reflect and point to the relationship of the Trinity. As soon as one leaves God out of the equation, the analysis, and formulation of such relationships will be misguided and misdirected, ultimately leading one astray. In Part 2, Poythress discusses the ways in which human interaction occurs in “bigger-sized” and “smaller-sized” pieces and how those pieces are designed by God to function within the larger society. Again, God is the final context for all pieces. As he develops what human relationships look like at the level of human history and culture, he introduces the concepts of sin and salvation. The only true hope for our relationships comes from the redemption and reconciliation found in Christ. Throughout this work, Poythress continually brings in the effect of the gospel and the Lordship of Christ.

In Part 3, Poythress shifts to the meaning of such human actions and relationships. He does not seem to let rest the idea that everything about human interaction points us inescapably to the Triune God. He presents a triperspectival method of interpretation for any culture, as well as aspects within the culture. His analysis is triperspectival throughout, which is not surprising if you have ever read Poythress or even John Frame. Part 4 moves to discuss smaller “wholes” within society, such as institutions and social structures, as well as classifications of people and the complexities that accompany the conversation. Poythress ends the brief Part 5 with an application and summary of his discussion. God has designed human relationships in imitation of and in reflection of his own eternal relationships. Poythress makes clear that God is inescapable, showing how his lordship over our lives makes the social world livable. To remove God from the discussion of human relationships is to remove the possibility of such relationships completely.

Redeeming Sociology can be slightly tiring because of the lengthy examples to which Poythress returns throughout the book in order to demonstrate and illustrate his points. Nevertheless, the benefits of the book far outweigh its analytical nature. Poythress offers a thoroughly biblical-theological perspective on human relationships. In order to think about the discipline of sociology as a Christian, one must have a biblical-theological foundation on which to build. Poythress is unapologetically biblical in his approach and gives the reader an explanation of human relationships that is grounded in the Trinity and that takes into account human depravity. He convincingly argues throughout that at every level of human relationships, whether at the level of society or culture or human action or human purpose, there is a reflection of the image of God in man. Without God as the foundation of relationships, society, and culture, any sociological analysis or solution to societal issues will be incomplete and lacking.

As a convinced presuppositionalist, it is refreshing to find Poythress, as he analyzes humanity and relationships, writing to offer an apologetic for the truth of the Bible and the existence of the Triune God. He shows, for example, that behind every single stage of human action or purpose lays the acting and purposing of God. In order to make sense of the unity and diversity within cultures or societies, one must posit the existence of a personal, absolute, sovereign, Triune God. God is the archetype for all true unity, diversity, truth, purpose, creativity, acting, initiative, response, regularity, signification, etc. Hence, Redeeming Sociology is a presuppositional analysis and critique of modern sociology, as well as the proclamation and defense of a biblical worldview concerning sociology. One of the most helpful sections of the book for me is the Appendices, nearly all of which discuss and critique modern sociological methods. Poythress refrains from directly responding to much modern sociology until the end, because he understands that one must work from a biblical-theological perspective before offering a helpful critique.

Vern Poythress is a man who seems knowledgeable about almost everything. In Redeeming Sociology, he once again shows his expertise as a scholar. He shows, however, much more than that. He proves that Christians can think biblically and theologically concerning disciplines that are deemed as “secular” or “scientific” by many. He proves that the Gospel transforms our thinking about these disciplines. He demonstrates that the Triune God cannot be escaped or ignored. He explains what happens when we leave sin and human depravity out of our analysis of human relationships. He calls for us to repent and submit in all our thinking about every sphere of life to the lordship of Christ. I pray that Redeeming Sociology will be used by pastors across the globe to educate believers on how to think theologically about human relationships. I foresee Christian sociologists and professors being captivated as they are awakened to the reality of God and his lordship over their lives and disciplines. As they read this book, I am convinced that many sociology students will be shocked to find the Bible is relevant to what they are studying in their secular sociology classes. The Lord is sovereign. He is making all things new, building his kingdom, and redeeming his people, and yes, even redeeming sociology.

Nate Wood (M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) lives in Nashville, TN, and is married to Christina. They attend the Axis Church. Nate has a strong desire for urban/inner city ministry and loves theology, apologetics, basketball, coffee, and sushi!