2008-06-21 Something for the believer

I had heard that Yancey was an insightful writer who would not be satisfied with glib responses to difficult questions - the type of responses that never stand up in the debate of conversation, only in the unopposed form of the printed word. However in general I was disappointed with this book. I found it superficial, bordering on embarrassing, in it's dealing in three or four pages of anecdotes with, for example, science, the Muslim faith, health, and so on. I realise it is meant to be a book of short cameos to stimulate reflection but there is simply too little substance to challenge ones thinking. Nevertheless Yancey does shine in places, for example when recounting the role of Christians in the overthrow of communism- here he seems to write with more power and conviction, in less sugary fashion. The description of the growing movement of churches in Leipzig is a powerful testimony. Overall however this is a book that will feed the believers, but not convince the searching.