In fascinating Edwards fashion, this book is written with the majority Christian in mind. By "majority" I mean the uneducated Christian, the Christian who, likely, would be unable to read the book because he or she is illiterate. At least, that's the majority Christian pre-1600 as that was the world majority pre-1600. Edwards addresses the question: How did brothers and sisters live close to God if they couldn't read the Bible, and if most towns didn't have more than a couple Bibles if they had any at all? His point is that these brothers were close to God, and so this belief that elevates educated Christians above uneducated Christians is partiality-employed fiction. It's spiritual elitism. But, the Way, Edwards explains, is a little more palatable by the end, and so if you think he's contra biblia, there's no need to worry or put on your armor and unsheathe your sword.
Edwards is a storyteller at heart - a great one. It only makes sense that this teaching would come by the story of his life, his testimony of quick success in ministry and a rise to prominence in the American evangelical scene. His dilemma, however, was that he didn't have a true intimacy with Christ that was living. He knew Christ, but as if from a distance, or through a window. He was searching for that abiding presence. He hungered and thirsted, and this book tells what he found, why it could be found the way he found it, and the practical steps Christians who aren't predisposed to spirituality can take to encounter God.
The primary point Edwards makes is that Jesus Christ is near, and you can encounter Him daily. And, this entire experience is tethered to the Word of God. It's not just written about in the Word/Bible. It fundamentally relies on the Bible. The Bible is the foundation for his teaching and the Bible is the foundation for its practice. This teaching is that you meet God through His Word. And prayer, which he semi-rails against (not true prayer, but a false kind of prayer that is only about lists and wants and requests divorced from relationship) in the first part of the book, is actually the method and means of touching Christ and knowing God.
If you're a theologian, this book will probably frustrate you to no end. Edwards is too poetic and prophetic. His style and content will likely drive you into criticism mode. I think you'll end up agreeing with most of what he says, but the process will be painful because you'll be searching for ways to reconcile what he says with terminology he is unwilling to employ. This book is truly for the believer who doesn't have a clue what it means to know God deeply or "spend time with the Lord in prayer." Those are just "Christianese" words and phrases that make people think you're a fanatical weirdo who doesn't know right doctrine. Edwards isn't a fool, he graduated college at 18 and had an M.Div by 22. But, the accolades and fame were empty and couldn't fill him like Christ does. Give his teaching a chance, and leave whatever chaff you find. It's a short 110+ page read.
EXCERPT
CHAPTER 1
NOTE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review
Edwards is a storyteller at heart - a great one. It only makes sense that this teaching would come by the story of his life, his testimony of quick success in ministry and a rise to prominence in the American evangelical scene. His dilemma, however, was that he didn't have a true intimacy with Christ that was living. He knew Christ, but as if from a distance, or through a window. He was searching for that abiding presence. He hungered and thirsted, and this book tells what he found, why it could be found the way he found it, and the practical steps Christians who aren't predisposed to spirituality can take to encounter God.
The primary point Edwards makes is that Jesus Christ is near, and you can encounter Him daily. And, this entire experience is tethered to the Word of God. It's not just written about in the Word/Bible. It fundamentally relies on the Bible. The Bible is the foundation for his teaching and the Bible is the foundation for its practice. This teaching is that you meet God through His Word. And prayer, which he semi-rails against (not true prayer, but a false kind of prayer that is only about lists and wants and requests divorced from relationship) in the first part of the book, is actually the method and means of touching Christ and knowing God.
If you're a theologian, this book will probably frustrate you to no end. Edwards is too poetic and prophetic. His style and content will likely drive you into criticism mode. I think you'll end up agreeing with most of what he says, but the process will be painful because you'll be searching for ways to reconcile what he says with terminology he is unwilling to employ. This book is truly for the believer who doesn't have a clue what it means to know God deeply or "spend time with the Lord in prayer." Those are just "Christianese" words and phrases that make people think you're a fanatical weirdo who doesn't know right doctrine. Edwards isn't a fool, he graduated college at 18 and had an M.Div by 22. But, the accolades and fame were empty and couldn't fill him like Christ does. Give his teaching a chance, and leave whatever chaff you find. It's a short 110+ page read.
EXCERPT
CHAPTER 1
NOTE: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review
1 comment:
thanks for the review.
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