Lawrence J. Crabb (1944–2021)

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program and I wasn't that excited. I find many Christian self-help books to be formulaic and oversimplified. Might I also point out that Christian self-help is a moronic classification since Christianity is all about Christ working in people unable to save themselves. So it was with great trepidation that I cracked open the cover and read the Author's Note and Introduction. "Not bad," I thought, "but I don't hold out much hope for show more the rest."

The rest blew me away. It was the antithesis of self-help, the flip side of the prosperity gospel, the inverse of American Christianity. There are no steps to follow. There is simply an attitude shift and a different view of problems. This is not a way to become happy but a way to find God.

It reminded me of Revelations 3:17,18 - "Because you say, 'I am rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see."

Ten out of ten bookmarks.

http://toomanybooknotenoughtime.blogspot.com/ show less

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program and I wasn't that excited. I find many Christian self-help books to be formulaic and oversimplified. Might I also point out that Christian self-help is a moronic classification since Christianity is all about Christ working in people unable to save themselves. So it was with great trepidation that I cracked open the cover and read the Author's Note and Introduction. "Not bad," I thought, "but I don't hold out much hope for show more the rest."

The rest blew me away. It was the antithesis of self-help, the flip side of the prosperity gospel, the inverse of American Christianity. There are no steps to follow. There is simply an attitude shift and a different view of problems. This is not a way to become happy but a way to find God.

It reminded me of Revelations 3:17,18 - "Because you say, 'I am rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see."

Ten out of ten bookmarks. http://toomanybooknotenoughtime.blogspot.com/ show less

This is another great book by Larry Crabb who continues to make me think in ways I never had before. He writes with refreshing honesty, and navigates the minefield of missional, postmodern, traditional, and liberal view of churches. He is on a short list of authors whose books have changed my life.

He opens the book by saying he is not interested in church anymore, finding it boring and dull, and that it does not have the answers, pointing out the flaws in various groups approaches to show more church. He describes the kind of church he would like to be a part of, and goes on to explain how to make that happen.

Money quote "Pharisees, not prostitutes, are satan's masterpieces." show less

The problem with most Christian books that deal with loss and suffering is that they advocate perseverance, positive thinking, or more gratitude as the solution to the problem. One is told to "Tough it out", "Suck it up", "Get rid of that stinkin' thinkin'", "Rejoice - and again I say rejoice!", or "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds". Far from giving encouragement, these words of advice convey the message that grief and suffering are abnormalities of the Christian show more life. After all, God wants us to be healthy, wealthy, and happy and carefree, right?

Larry Crabb blows that notion to bits in pointing out how "unfair" life can be by citing a number of illustrations from his own life and practice. His thesis is that God allows our dreams to be shattered so that we may set free from the idolatry of them and come to rely solely on the Lord as our source of hope and security. He draws an illustration from the Old Testament to build his case - but the book he chooses for that illustration is not Job but Ruth, specifically the sufferings of Naomi.

One usually thinks of Ruth as the story of how a Gentile (Moabite) becomes grafted into both the nation of Israel and the lineage of David and ultimately the Messiah. But rather than focus on the faith and hope of Ruth, Crabb focuses on the shattered life and broken dreams of Naomi. She married Elimelech, had two sons and moved to Moab to escape famine in Israel. While in Moab her husband dies. Her two sons marry but after about ten years both of them die, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law. Noami feels bitter and that the Lord's hand is against her and so decides to return to her kin in Israel where the famine has ended. She advises her daughters-in-law to marry again rather than accompany her back to Israel. Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law and returns with her - unaware that God's purpose is to bless them both through her - and the nation of Israel as well.

In examining Naomi's situation of desolation and seeming abandonment by God, as well as some of his own and others, Crabb draws the reader into examining similar situations and feelings in their own lives. But rather than minimize them or dwell upon them obsessively, Crabb shows how God allows our dreams to be shattered in order that He may replace them with the assurance of his presence and providence - even at those moments when it seems that we have been forsaken by God.

Crabb points out the rebirth of hope and dreams in Naomi's life, culminating in her holding - against all former expectation - her new grandson on her lap. He points to God's going ahead of us to prepare a place for us, that we may also have our hopes and dreams reborn - but with God and not the idols of our imagination or surrounding culture as the foundation of our lives.

This is a difficult and most profound insight that will not be embraced by many in the "feel good" prosperity gospel advocating church of today. Yet this is the message the body of Christ needs to hear in order to carrying it through times of adversity and trial.

A comprehensive study guide/workbook is included at the back of the book for further in-depth personal study. show less