Os Guinness addresses the moral and ethical issues of our times with exact precision and simplicity. The right questions are asked and answered in this book. Os Guinness sincere respect for the Truth found in Scripture comes across in his writing, and makes the reading and learning about truth stimulating and challenging for believers, as well as good reading for those outside the Christian Faith. He makes the complexity found in some terminology and philosophies easier to understand in his writing and illustrations.
As an example, in one chapter Guinness explains why ‘Reason’ is not excluded from our relationship and faith in God. He shows why this can be a pitfall for those who rely on feelings, experiences, and preferences. Guinness says this about truth and reason and the Christian today:
“Whereas both the Bible and the best thinkers of Christian history invite seekers to put their faith in God because the message conveying that invitation is true, countless Christians today believe for various other reasons. For instance, they believe faith is true “because it works” (pragmatism), because they “feel it is true in their experience” (subjectivism), because they sincerely believe it is “true for them” (relativism), and so on. For some of these Christians the deficiency comes from bad teaching. For others the motive is escape. Retreating into the fortress of personal experience, they can pull up the drawbridge of faith and feel impregnable to reason. But for all of them the outcome is sickly faith deprived of the rude vigor of truth.” (Pg. 78)
To sum up the importance of truth and reality for the Christian, the Author states it very well, “truth matters infinitely and ultimately because it is a question of the trustworthiness of God himself. This book will challenge you to seek the truth and what it means to live it. It was a most interesting and rewarding book to read. Recommended Reading.
Os Guinness is an internationally known speaker and senior fellow of the Trinity Forum in McLean, Virginia. He is the author of many books.
Copyright © 2000 by Os Guinness
Publisher Baker Book House
ISBN 0-8010-1195-7
Reading / Review date: October 2009