Dan Peters, Pastor of Newcastle Reformed Evangelical Church, has served us excellently with this treatment of Distinct Communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Peters explains: ‘Distinct communion is exactly what it sounds like. It is communing with each person of the Godhead in a way that is distinct. It is experiencing a relationship with each that is distinguishable from one’s relationship with the others.’ This brief book takes us helpfully through ‘The Biblical Foundations of Distinct Communion,’ ‘The Theological Framework of Distinct Communion,’ and ‘The Practical Outworking of Distinct Communion.’ The book is aimed at enabling pastors and theological students to think through the issue of distinct communion for themselves as they seek to helpfully lead others in worship and devotion.
The book, therefore, has some demanding theological engagement and critique of the reticence some theologians have in advocating for distinct communion. Yet there is much here for all of us to helpfully reflect on. This is a book essentially about our devotion. On the one hand, we are encouraged to pray and praise with expressions of love and devotion to each of the three persons. Peters believes that while John Owen and others have encouraged this, there has been reticence to follow through on this, as prayer is often seen as formulaically addressed to the Father through the Son, by the Spirit. However, an even bigger problem may be the sloppiness of simply referring in prayer to God, or Lord, without clear reference to which person of the Trinity we are addressing. With positive examples, especially from Spurgeon’s public prayers, on how this can be addressed, we are brought to see that Distinct communion is not just another anoraky theological discussion, but something that is part of our privilege in Christ. More detailed review of this book from a theological angle is no doubt needed and will not be lacking, but the intent of promoting theologically rich devotion and delight in the Triune God must surely be commended.
