Book Review: The Open Secret

The Open Secret by Lesslie Newbign (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1995) is quite possible the best book on the theology of mission I have ever read. I have always been impressed with Newbigin since being introduced to him through his seminal work The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. Newbign was a Scottish missionary and Bishop in India, a lecturer and author on culture and missiology, and an active proponent of the ecumenical movement. I can’t recommend highly enough his voice in the conversation on missions and evangelism. 

In this book Newbign sets out to express what he believes is essential in the christian faith, namely that the trinitarian life of God is at the center of  the mission of the church.


Newbign first lays the groundwork for his argument by giving a brief look at the history of the church’s perspective on mission, and tries to lay out the authority upon which the church even has a right to talk about the Trinitarian life of God.

Then Newbign lays out what he believes the trinitarian life looks like

1. God the Father has the kingdom which the church proclaims
2. Jesus Christ has a life in which the Church shares
3. The Holy Spirit bears witness to both, in which the church shares

1. It wasn’t defensive but took seriously many of the critiques people have about who we are, as christians and westerners. 
2. It created a framework that made concepts like election, liberation, trinitarian economy relevant to the life of the Christian today.
3. The book communicated it’s points with clarity and with depth, two essential elements in any great theological writing that are rarely found together. 
4. It challenged me personally while inspiring me
5. It opened up a whole lot of thought and rabbit trails and questions, which I love.

Like I said before this book is fantastic. I got my copy from a library, but am defiantly going to buy my own copy. This is a must have!