In his Bible study curriculum Experiencing God, and book of the same name, Henry Blackaby advised Christians to “go where you see God at work” and join Him in what He is doing. In this book by prolific Christian author and journalist Philip Yancey, Mr. Yancey does just that. He attempts to find the places where and people among whom God is working and introduce readers to what God is doing in the world.
Some of the people and places are: a convention of former prostitutes, Muslim background (Christian) believers in the Middle East, Virginia Tech after the shooting that claimed 32 lives in 200?, Chinese Christians in underground churches, South Africa where Christians work to overcome centuries of mistrust and racism, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, a Memphis health center, and even a Bible College in the Southern U.S. where some can feel left out and left behind. In each of these disparate places, Mr. Yancey finds God at work and joins Him by speaking to the felt and unfelt needs of the group before him. I found these chapters to be inspiring, comforting, and challenging all at the same time.
I was inspired by Christian believers in difficult situations where following Christ is not a decision to be made lightly. I was reminded that Jesus said to take up my cross daily and follow Him, and that daily obedience requires sacrifice no matter where you live.
I was comforted to know that many Christians, former prostitutes and alcoholics and racists, realize that they live in daily dependence on God. So do I. I don’t have it all together, but God does. He will choose to use me, even to save me, in His sovereign will. I I just have to trust and obey, as best I can. He’s in control.
I was challenged to see that many people face much worse circumstances, both personal and political, than I do. Yet they remain faithful. I can surely follow Him daily in my little corner of Major Suburbia.
Mr. Yancey proposes to answer the titular question, “What good is God?” He does so by telling stories of God at work in the world, stories of humble people serving God as best they can, sometimes in difficult life conditions. This anecdotal evidence and reply format leaves the book feeling somewhat disorganized and disjointed, but ultimately such a question is best answered by the changes in people’s lives rather than a formal and systematic apologetic.
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I agree.
The best thing about reading and discussing a book like this is that each one of us takes away something different, depending on our personal experiences. I liked the book more than a lot of the other FnF participants did, but I’ve always considered Yancey one of my go-to authors for non-fic. 🙂
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I enjoyed the book and definitely got a lot out of it, but I think it would have been better served if Yancey chose not to repeat stuff he’d already published. It made me think about the fact that God shows up through his Christians, and that’s not just a faraway thing or a phrase people use, but it means ME. It means God shows up through me and others like me, so I should be stepping up to the plate in times of trouble. It was almost a call to action for me, a reminder of what following Jesus really means.