Book Review: The Reason for God by Tim Keller

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Church in Manhattan presents an excellent piece, “The Reason for God” to engage the doubts of Christianity.  Each chapter is incredibly challenging.  As I’ve progressed through the book, it has unraveled in my heart…becoming one of my favorite books this year.

Chapter 12, “The (true) Story of the Cross” was exceptional with its relating of the story of Rocky (a gangster) in “Angels with Dirty Faces.” Rocky was going to his death in prison.  The only way that the couple hundred kids that idolized him to be saved from a life pursuing Rocky’s gangster feats was for him to lose his fearlessness on the way to his execution, causing these kids to look at him in a lesser light.  The only way for Rocky to save the kids was for him to lose the one thing he still had, “respect.”  In a moment of true bravery, Rocky “fearfully” screamed for mercy.

Likewise, Jesus loses himself in humanity and sacrifice so that each of us might be saved.  It is a powerful picture coupled with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story of willfully returning to Germany to oppose Hitler…a place where he knew he would likely lose his life.  He chose to speak out for the protection of those who were in danger…possibly bringing safety to them.  That chose increased the danger he faced, an act of selfless salvation.  Like Rocky, Bonhoeffer articulates what it means to bear someone else’s sin.  The idea that God requires sin to be graciously satisfied is not a foreign concept.  It is an everyday reality as we either chose and end the sin spiral or reject by perpetuating the violence/sin spiral.

The book was exceptional and was written to two groups:

NON-CHRISTIANS

To this group, one of the main messages is: “All of your problems and doubts of Christianity are based on alternate beliefs about spiritual reality and God…to really have integrity, you need to apply the same tests to your beliefs that you are applying and demanding that Christians apply to theirs.”

CHRISTIANS

To this group, the book is for Christians who already believe but have a lot of people they love and care for who have doubts about Christianity.  The Reason for God will definitely help in creating a healthy, rational dialog about Christianity as a belief system…providing a reasoned basis from which to begin.