Journey Towards God
Kel Richards
 Beacon Books, 1999 126pp
 

Review by Terry Flanagan

This a good book to use for evangelism... to lend to a non-Christian friend who doesn't mind light, yet stimulating, reading beyond a short tract.

The author acknowledges that he has borrowed a lot from Sydney Anglicans Philip Jensen and John Chapman, and it certainly has an "aussie" feel and context to it. In simple, yet clever, language the message of the gospel is clearly presented with the emphasis placed on the need for forgiveness and rescue from judgement, rather than felt needs being met in Christ.

I might sound picky, but I will point out a couple of shortcomings. One is that the impression is given that Christ died for everyone's sins... yet an issue is never made of this, and one is never left to conclude that therefore everyone is saved. One other shortcoming is the little space given to encourage commitment to a local church. Richards does say in passing that becoming a Christian is like getting onto a battleship, not a bus – there are no passengers, only crew. However, more than half a page is needed to emphasise the centrality of "church life" in the Bible, especially in a culture of Christianity that currently downplays commitment to a set group of brothers and sisters in Christ.

This book is full of very helpful illustrations, making it a terrific resource for all of us as we seek to explain our faith simply in conversation. It also very briefly but satisfactorily covers issues such as the reliability of the Bible, the historicity of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, and even a useful comparison between Christianity and major world religions. The way he puts it, well, there's really no comparison at all. Highly recommended!
 

Books
Music
Movies
Return to top of page

All material on this site © 2004 Trowel & Sword

Privacy