This is a gently written book, that seeks to comfort and encourage
the weary and troubled soul. Without appearing pompous or proud,
the author starts not from an ivory-tower like arrogance, but as a
fellow human person. Firm in his own faith, he carefully dislodges
the impediments of faith, to clear the way toward trust in
God.
Williams highlights 5 major competitors to trust in God. They are
education, wealth, our social networks, our self-ingenuity, our
ideologies. The book is filled with quotes and personal sharing
from different people Williams encountered. They make the book very
down-to-earth and personally relevant to the layperson. Simple, and
devoid of theological jargon, it should provide the general reader
an easy and comfortable read. The exhortation to faith is gently
applied, leaving room for the reader to step back and reflect upon
their own beliefs and doubts. It is not a book that argues on a
blow by blow account, but one that appears to walk alongside the
person struggling with trust. It should appeal widely to those
finding the need to discover fresh faith in a troubled era. If you
are looking for a less academic treatment of the topic of faith
amid tough times, this is the book.
My main gripe with this book is that it gives a excessive weightage
on the 'rightness' of humans over the 'rightness' of God. In other
words, it practically assumes that the feelings of the respondents
over their disappointments in God are 'correct' in the first place.
I make a distinction between recognizing the sinfulness of men and
the need to understand/tolerate our differences. Whatever it is,
sin is not something to be downplayed. A major factor behind the
problems of this world is the presence of sin itself, which is
something that John Stackhouse's book of the same name zeroes in
on. Stackhouse poignantly address the causes of sin, while Williams
massages the peripheral effects of sin. So as you read this book
(or both), remember that they are writing to quite different
audiences.
[More detailed review is at yapdates dot blogspot dot com]
My Rating: 3 stars out of 5.