The Grace Effect--Taunton

The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief

 by Larry Alex Taunton

(Thomas Nelson, 2011, 254pp. including Discussion Guide)

Larry Taunton, a seasoned Christian apologist, uses the story of his 10-yr. old daughter’s adoption from the Ukraine to underline his conviction that Christianity not only creates a different and better society but is essential to the maintenance of such a society.  Drawing on specific encounters with heartless officials and corruption in the adoption process he draws a contrast to ‘the grace effect’, the tangible benefits granted to a society that is shaped by Christian beliefs.  Personal narrative alternates with didactic sections on the religious history of Ukraine and the Soviet policies underlying its orphanages.  The objective throughout is to challenge the premise of New Atheism that society would be better off without Christianity.

The book is a unique intermingling of Christian apologetics with corroborating personal experience.  I enjoyed the storyline and Taunton makes many valid conclusions about a grace-based vs. a godless society.  However, I found his own impatience and disgust with corrupt bureaucracy to be lacking in ‘the grace effect’.  How would he expect the pawns of such a harsh and corrupt society to act otherwise?  His chapter titled: “Atheists don’t do Benevolence” is a needlessly offensive generalization, as is his ‘write-off’ of Greek Orthodoxy as ‘not very Christian’. 

While his story serves to expose the plight of orphans in the Ukraine, his accusation of exploitation and ‘selling children’ may reflect an oversimplification of the complex problem the Ukranian government faces.  If it was easy and cheap to acquire a child from such an orphanage, these children would most certainly be exploited for evil gain.

One of my favorite aspects of the book are the author’s conversations with one of new atheism’s leading proponents, Christopher Hitchens.  Their amiable relationship is an impressive expression of the grace effect, and makes me willing to overlook some of my other objections to the book.  I would recommend it to those interested in apologetics, foreign adoption, or just a good solid case of Christianity in action.  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes via their Booksneeze program.

 --LS

Has Christianity Failed You?–Zacharias

Has Christianity Failed You?
Ravi Zacharias
Zondervan, 2010, 234pp. including discussion/reflection questions and an author interview


In this personal plea to those who have found Christianity wanting, Ravi Zacharias explores the heart of the Christian faith.  Why are so many today living in silent doubt or actually abandoning evangelical churches for some other alternative?  Is it the fault of the message, the messenger, or the hearer--or a composite of the three?  Ravi explores these questions and challenges Christians and skeptics alike to examine the claims of Christ and not to confuse them with the way they are lived out in the modern church.   His message addresses the felt needs of the heart and the intellectual basis for them, concluding that though the Christian life can feel like a terrifying adventure on the high seas without a compass, there is a Captain that can be trusted to take us through. 

The reader looking for theoretical apologetics in a strictly intellectual format may be disappointed with the style of this book.  In the tradition of the East, Ravi brings theory to life with the skillful use of poignant story and parable.  In so doing he reaches the heart without bypassing the mind, making his intellectual reasoning both palatable and memorable.

I highly commend this book for the skeptic and the discouraged Christian alike—and for those who are connected to either of these.  Ravi’s compassionate but unapologetic style is compelling.  His vast and varied life experience and reading are reflected on every page.  And his piercing insights are worth reading again and again.  One comes away convinced that Christianity has not failed.  The blame is wrongly placed.  This is good news for saint and skeptic alike and leaves room for each to chart a new course, with encouraging counsel included!

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A more detailed review of the various topics covered follows: 

The book commences logically with “Who is Jesus?”  Since it is human nature to claim that one’s version of religion (or unbelief) is superior to another’s, how is what Jesus offers any different than the rest?  This chapter, is no devotional read but each point made is elucidated with real-life parables that greatly aid the understanding and credibility of the theoretical.  No stranger to modern skepticism about the person of Jesus, Ravi goes to great lengths to amplify on the ‘startling coalescence of contrarieties’ (J.Stewart) in the personality of Jesus.  Under the heading of Jesus the Son he amplifies on the four aspects in which this is true: Son of David, Son of Man, Son of God, Savior and the implications of each for the human heart.  “Knowing who he is makes the journey to a strong faith rational, even though the way is punctuated with times of struggle.”(43) When our relationship with this Jesus is broken or non-existent it will logically appear that Christianity has failed us.

The following chapter addresses the question of what it means to be a Christian.  Beginning with the bold statement: ‘All religions are fundamentally different and only superficially the same at best’ he goes on to present the strength and uniqueness of the Christian worldview.  He prefaces this discussion with the pertinent reminder of how easily one’s judgment can be clouded by emotionally charged or traumatic associations.  Thus the special need for believers and skeptics alike to think objectively in this area.  This chapter, just over 20 pages in length offers a solid apologetic for belief in God over naturalistic belief.  It touches on such topics as the origin of moral values, the first cause, life purpose, religious plurality, and the uniqueness of the semi-transcendence of the Christian faith.  He breaks these complex philosophical issues down so the average reader can begin to comprehend them, making this chapter particularly helpful for discussions with those of a skeptical mindset. It definitely bears reading and re-reading to absorb all that Zacharias has so concisely presented.  In addition it provides a springboard for further reading by citing leading thinkers in these areas such as David Berlinski, Antony Flew (a former atheist, author of There is a God,) and  Francis Collins.
 
In his excellent chapter titled: ‘Points of Tension’, Zacharias makes the point that no matter what system of values one chooses to live by, there will be tensions.  Total skepticism is untenable as is living with no absolutes.  Here then is a call to consider the value of living according to absolutes and making sure those absolutes accord with reality as expressed in God’s Word.  Facing the tensions of life is dependent on believing the truth.  If for instance, the lie is believed that  ‘God exists for my comfort’, when this does not accord with the Christian’s life experience, God’s unchanging character is called into question, rather than the believer examining the real cause of the tension-- a lie believed.  Another tension lies between what I believe and what God validates through miracle.  Why doesn’t God make Himself more visible, more unmistakable?  Given the human condition of fickleness, continual need, and our desire to control God, might this be a tension we are best to live with?  The alternative, dispensing with god, creates even greater tension points.  The paragraph summarizing these is an example of many superb and tightly worded paragraphs which make Ravi’s writing a treasure trove of noteworthy quotes to come back to again and again ( see p.78).  He chooses three primary tensions we face in living out the Christian life to address individually in this chapter: our  struggle for security, our struggle with pain and brokenness, and our struggle for sexual fulfillment.
 
An additional chapter is devoted to bringing coherence to the problem of pain and evil in the world.  It concludes that ‘to walk away from one’s faith because of unanswered questions about evil is to walk into a storm of unanswered questions about good.’ (119)

Following is a chapter critiquing the book: The Reason-Driven Life by Robert M. Price,  a former evangelical leader and  example of one who proclaims that Christianity has failed him.  Price has now entrenched himself in a vehemently hostile camp from which he lobs missiles of self-proclaimed ‘reason’.  In this case, Price attacks the best-selling Christian book: The Purpose-Driven Life as a type of all things evangelical.  Ravi’s response cuts through the surface rhetoric that at first sounds strangely convincing, and points out underlying prejudices and strategies that may have been overlooked.  He highlights only a few philosophical points but refers the reader to the writing of Ben Witherington and Darrell Bock, scholars who have more specifically responded to attacks on the gospel narrative by such as Price.

Unanswered prayer is a reason some feel that Christianity has failed them, so Ravi devotes an entire chapter to discussing whether prayer indeed makes a difference.  His remarks commence with this statement: “Christianity does not promise that you will have every question fully answered to your satisfaction before you die, but the answers it gives are consistently consistent.  There may be paradoxes within Christian teaching and belief, but they are not irreconcilable.”(143) Prayer is more complex than we make it out to be.  Most people have at some time been frustrated over prayer.  With much use of anecdote, Ravi revisits some pertinent aspects of prayer-- as conversation with God, as demonstrated in the life of Jesus, as more than a means to an end.  He concludes that: “More than anything else, this is what prayer is about—training one’s hungers and longing to correspond with God’s will for us—and it is what the Christian faith is all about.” (157)  A closer look at three dimensions found in the Lord’s prayer remind us of the reverent attitude expected in prayer, our essential daily dependence on God, and the reshaping of our wills that takes place in prayer.  In addressing the issue of unanswered prayer Ravi closes this chapter with a very insightful section elaborating on five goals of God for us to attain through the process of prayer—humility, spirituality, faith, fellowship, and understanding.

The concluding chapter contains first, a sober warning of the ramifications behind abandoning Christianity, both on an individual level and at a society level. Naturalism, the competing worldview in the West, has an insufficient rational base to maintain human existence despite its accusation of Christianity being ‘irrational’.  But this chapter’s primary aim is the modern evangelical church—for here lies the source of disillusionment for so many.  Ravi salutes those churches that have demonstrated ‘theological integrity with methodological relevance’ and gently admonishes the remainder to consider their true mission.  Wholesome entertainment cannot be the church’s primary aim. Producing believers with strength of character requires a different methodology.  The Bible points the way to restoring wholeness and conformity to Jesus’ image.  Teaching people to think correctly, not just change outward behaviors is at the heart of the Gospel, and is key to changing individuals, churches and ultimately culture.  The church is called to reach out, not condemn.  Our message must be based on Christ’s teaching, not merely perceived needs.  Technique must not eclipse the message. The church is called to inform the world of truth, not vice versa.  Lives lived to the glory of God are the true strength of the church.  And ultimately, ‘the solution to the failure of the church is not found by abandoning it,’ (201) but in taking time to examine one’s own calling as a Christian and evaluate where the failure really lies.

Ravi concludes by outlining certain ‘glories’, supremacies, and excellencies inherent in the God who calls us to live in this world by faith.  He calls the reader to persevere, not only for his own benefit but for the hope of religious liberty as we know it.  “Only Christianity, only the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives us the enormous privilege of sacred freedom without imposing faith on anyone, is strong enough to preserve our freedom and our dignity.  Those who mock this faith will find themselves before long under the oppression of an ideological domination that uses religion to gain political and cultural dominance.”(208)

--LS

THE END OF REASON-- Zacharias

The End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists
Ravi Zacharias, Zondervan, 2008, 143pp.


A rising tide of ‘new atheists’ scathingly indict religion as the source of all ills.  Their rallying purpose is to free the world of all traces of religion. Mockery is the prescribed tool and nothing is held sacred.  Some actually proclaim rape to be preferable to religion and pedophilia to be less harmful than teaching a child about Hell.  The Holocaust is declared the fault of Christianity.  The atrocities carried out by Stalin and Mao are said to be the result of wrong beliefs, (thus religion) not atheism! And they proclaim themselves to be the pinnacle of morality, superior to Jesus Himself.  Is this a new brand of ‘intellectual supremacists’ merely 'masquerading as spokespersons for science' or are they just rabble-rousers out to make a buck from an unwitting public? Either way,  who will give a well-reasoned answer to their volatile rhetoric?

To this end Ravi Zacharias has written his small but powerful book, The End of Reason, which specifically responds to Sam Harris’ claims in The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation.  Ravi’s reasoning is refreshingly gracious without any loss of potency.  He demonstrates atheism’s bankruptcy as a worldview using both logic and references to atheism’s own disillusioned proponents.  He deftly outlines the contradictions implicit in Harris’ views and underlines his blatant ignorance of the world religions he so confidently derides.

The first half of The End of Reason discusses the four essentials of a coherent and credible worldview with reference to atheism.  These are: #1 Origin—how did life come to be?, #2 Meaning—is life random or does it have purpose?, #3 Morality—what’s good and evil? and on what basis do we define these?, and #4 Hope—what is man’s destiny?  A realistic worldview must offer answers to these questions which are consistent with reality.  With great clarity Ravi discusses atheism’s inability to provide credible answers to each of these big questions, concluding that: “Given a starting point of primordial slime, one is forced to live apart from a moral law, with no meaning, no real understanding of love, and no hope.”

The remainder of the book addresses such misunderstood (and misrepresented) topics as Pascal’s Wager, ultimate justice, Christianity’s views on slavery, and genetic engineering.  Each is addressed with a mix of humble inquiry and thoughtful rationale in a tone full of compassion.  “Wise as serpents and harmless as doves” is a befitting description of Ravi’s apologetic style, and I would add a refreshing alternative to the often shocking and profane verbiage of some of the recent proponents of atheism.

Zacharias concludes this address to his fellow Americans by presenting a brief case for the existence of God and of Jesus Christ.  His closing remarks address the schism between religion and radical secularism, calling for open dialogue so that individuals can evaluate the relative truth claims and decide for themselves, and re-affirming that science and religion need not be at odds.  He concludes his argument with a striking statement of personal opinion re: Islam, as this is the example of ‘religion’ that Harris is fond of citing and making the stereotype for all religions, including Christianity.  Ravi says: “Islam is willing to destroy for the sake of its ideology.  I want to suggest that the choice we face is really not between religion and secular atheism…. Secularism simply does not have the sustaining or moral power to stop Islam [as now demonstrated in secularized Europe].  In the end, America’s choice will be between Islam and Jesus Christ.  History will prove before long the truth of this contention.” (p126-7)

There is much to ponder in this small volume, and to refer back to in any discussion with those of an atheistic leaning.  Many such have not pursued their want of belief in God to its logical ends. Ravi provides references to those who have and have come up empty.  The ‘new atheists’ tend to borrow from a worldview richer than their own so as to have a moral standard to live by.  Ravi demonstrates why this is inconsistent with a god-less worldview.  Perhaps most importantly this small volume provides a reminder that there are well-reasoned answers to those who call faith in God irrational and dangerous.

--LS