Christ’s Idea of Authority in the Church

review by Clauson Justin in OnlineBookClub.org, 24 November 2023 

Christ’s Idea of Authority in the Church by John Wijngaards is a book that talks about the authority of the church and how this authority should be used and handled. The author doesn’t only talk about the church but also the authority of believers.

John Wijngaards, a Catholic and a theologian with a Master’s Degree at the Biblical Institute and a Doctorate at the Gregorian University in Rome, writes about the views that have been upheld by the church over the years that are not in line with the Christian faith but have been practiced nonetheless. In his book, he narrates his personal experiences of how he has witnessed these views and practices over the years and how they are not in line with the spiritual authority that was bestowed in the church. Then, using scripture, he writes about what Jesus will do about such practices and how they can be curbed, also asking his readers questions about their views about these practices.

I loved so many things about this book, which were, first, the way the author started each chapter. I loved the way he started the chapters with scriptures from the Bible, which gave me an understanding of what he was to talk about in that chapter. I also loved the little comic section each chapter had, where cartoon images showed in a hilarious way the defects of the church. I really liked the way it was presented. Then, I loved reading his stories, where he narrated his experiences and the defects he had witnessed in the church. It gave me a little glimpse of his life, and I loved that. I also appreciated the question section; it made me feel inclusive as a reader, which was very thoughtful of the author. I particularly appreciated the 4 weeks (28) reflections that transformed this book into a sort of self-help book to help readers meditate. I like how the author informs readers who seek more information about churchauthority.org. I took some time to visit the site, and it was helpful.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I loved the idea of the book, and I was happy to see that issues like this in the church have finally been tackled by someone. I recommend this book for readers in the Christian faith, especially Catholics, as this book will help them understand the Christian faith better and ensure that it is practiced correctly. 

Clauson Justin