Posted by
Virginia Daddy on Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:05:46 PM
I just finished an interesting book by Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz. I loved Blue Like Jazz, and thought I would check out this newer book by Miller. I found it very thought provoking, humorous (only Christian book I have read that made me laugh out loud and that talked of the author drinking a beer with buddies), and for the most part dead on. However, though his premise is correct, I fear he dangerously skids some important issues that face Christians today.
Searching for God KNows What primarilly tackles the iissue of a formulaic Christianity. Everywhere you look it seems Christian thought and literature is dominated by formulas: three steps to this, four reasons why Christ did that, and so on down the line. Miller correctly comes in and tears this apart. By arguing that Christ's real mission was to establish a relationship with us, Miller contends that formulas only leave a Christian empty. Formula's focus on the parts, and they leave out the most important parts of our faith: God and His love.
I think that this is probably pretty accurate. By looking at the bookshelves at any Christian store or any Borders' Christian literature section, there are scores of books that reduce the faith to little more than bullet points to make good sound bites. And in so doing, the primary purpose of God's mission on earth was indeed to establish a relationship. What greater way to allow access to Him by Him becoming one of us, and feasting and talking directly to us! And what better way to show love than to come and die for us. It is clear from that alone, not forgetting the numerous references in scripture that talk of His love and desire for relationship, that Miller's premise is correct. And Miller accomplishes this by using effective analogies such as a lifeboat from the Titanic and some circus folk.
However, despite his talk of relationship, he comes dangerously close to missing some huge points of Christ and His ministry. In one chapter, Miller talks of morality, and in it he speaks to how so many Christians act as if they are right and all others are wrong. He criticizes many for forgetting the love Christ showed to all. Yes, he is right to point that out, but what he seems to fail to recognize is that the Christian is held to higher standards. By that, I mean that we cannot, in good faith, excuse certain actions. The easiest example is homosexuality: we cannot excuse the behavior as acceptable. That being said, while we are indeed called to love them and love them we should, we cannot say that it is OK for them to engage in the behavior they do. I am not sure Miller effectively speaks to this. He speaks of the love we should have to them, but does nothing to condemn the behavior.
There is indeed a fine line between being judgmental in the negative sense, and calling for us to act according to Biblical teachings. While we are called to love all, we cannot allow all behavior. While we are called to accept all humans, that does not mean we turn the other cheek to the way some act, especially those within the church. And this is I think the major failing of the book. Despite the author's effective calling to love Christ above all, forgetting the formulas and how to's, he does not, I think, grasp in this book the reasons why we should not love everything. Christ certainly loved everyone. The adulteress, for instance, He saved from stoning, but He also immediately told her to turn away from her previous behavior. He also told the rich man he likely would not get into heaven unless he did things he was not likely willing to do. While Christ loved, he challenged people to break away from their sinful behavior.
All in all, the Searching for God Knows What is a good read, and I would highly recommend it to any Christian. The message that we are to never forget that we are to love everyone and to not get caught in the simple bullet points that are so popular today is one that all Christians should know. I agree this was the primary purpose of Christ's mission on earth. And even the criticism I lay down is not enough to say he is wrong. I only believe he missed a big point that shines clearly from Christ's life. The issue is complicated, and I would bet that Miller believes as I do. I only wish he said so in the book. Read it, and you won't regret it.