Sometimes Practical Theology for Women uses a question and answer format, so it seemed appropriate to review it using questions and answers. And I’m guessing that when you read the title and subtitle, you had some of the same questions I did, starting with this one:
Who is Wendy Alsup?
Wendy Alsup, says the blurb,
enjoys teaching theology to women. Alsup resides in Seattle with her husband, Andy, and two young children.
She taught theology to women at Mars Hill Church, and this book is one of Mars Hill’s Re:Lit publications.
Still want to know more? Here’s an interview with Wendy Alsup at Pure Church, the blog of Thabiti Anyabwile. Best of all, you can read her very own blog called—what else?—Practical Theology for Women.
What is practical theology?
Wendy Alsup is not using this term in a way that sets practical theology apart as a specific type of theology. The point she is making by chosing this term is that the study of theology, defined as “the study of God and deep religious truth,” affects our lives in a very practical way. Theology, she says, “is the root, foundation, and framework for practical living….” She is using the term, I think, in order to appeal to those who believe that theology is something for the intellectuals or the super-spirituals in the church, but not something useful for the average Joe or—considering the intended audience for this book—Jane Christian.
Why have a theology book aimed specifically at women?
Because most theology books are written by men for readers who are predominately men. By writing a theology book intended for women, Alsup hopes to “fight the unspoken mentality that theology is for men, while parenting, sewing, or dieting classes are for women.”
So what is found in this book?
Essentially, it’s very basic, entry level doctrine. I’ll use my own list of introductory theology books for comparison and tell you this book is more elementary than any of them. It’s shorter, too, at 150 pages, and written in a more conversational style. I’d judge it to be geared for the lay person with no previous interest in theology.
There are three main sections in Practical Theology for Women: What Is Theology?, Who Is Our God?, and Communicating with Our God. The first section discusses the meaning of theology and faith and how they are related. The second section, which I think of as the heart of the book, looks at the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives. God is our Father, the sovereign, compassionate, wise one who disciplines us, the Son is our Saviour, our example, our bridegroom, the one with whom we are intimately united, and the Spirit is our helper and sanctifier. The third section examines communication with God—our communication with him through prayer and his communication with us through his word.
You can have a closer look at the contents of Practical Theology for Women by downloading this pdf file of the preface and first chapter from Crossway.
Did you learn anything from this book?
Yes, I did. I learned that one of God’s purposes for us in prayer is to give us peace of mind. Perhaps I knew this, already, experientially. After all, nothing stifles worry like laying my concerns before my heavenly Father. But I’d never put it all together in my thinking to see that stifling worry is one of God’s intentions in allowing me to bring my petitions to him. And Practical Theology for Women points me to the scripture that tells me this is so:
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4;6-7 ESV)
Was there anything about this book that you didn’t like?
Nothing of consequence. The teaching is straight and true. The choice of content, for a book intended for beginners in theology, is exactly right. Considering the target audience, the conversational tone and organization is best, too, although I will admit I prefer something a little more formal and systematic in books on doctrine.
Who would enjoy reading this book?
If you read Charnock or Edwards, you’ll probably find this book too basic for you. Likewise, I suppose, if you took a Bible college course in systematic theology or doctrine and paid any attention.
But for the majority of Christian women I know in real life, this book would be perfect. Wendy Alsup does an excellent job of making the deeper things of God easy to understand for someone who has absolutely no background in theology. The best use for Practical Theology for Women, as I see it, would be in a group study for women, where women can use it to spur each other on in the study of who God is and what he does.