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Reading “The Reason for God”

I’ve found myself needing to repent of my lack of reading actual books as of late, so I’ve got a few things on the docket I want to read.  I just picked up and started Tim Keller’s The Reason for God, and I must say it’s a good read.  Although the concepts aren’t mind-blowing, Keller has an aptitude for communicating simple answers to complicated questions.

Chapter 1 was about the exclusivity of the Christian truth claim, and how ultimately every person has an exclusive claim, regardless of their faith or skepticism.  I thoroughly enjoyed his simple response to the fact that everyone adopts a world-view or a fundamental narrative, whether they claim to or not.  Whatever grounds an individual has for denying an exclusive claim is in fact still making an exclusive claim.  My presumption is that he will answer doctrinally later on in the book the basis for the Christian world-view as the inspired Word of God.

Chapter 2 delved lightly into the question of suffering, and the supposed challenge that it is to the existence of an omnibenevolent God.  Keller answers this challenge by pointing out that anyone who claims God cannot exist because of evil has a concept of just and unjust that presupposes an extrinsic concept of justice.  To be logically consistent with a self-driven, Darwinian world-view, you cannot uphold this idea of justice.  He then goes on to understand that the Christian narrative is probably a better apologetic for the existence of God.

I’m looking forward to reading more…

Any thoughts from you who have read the book?

By Todd Engstrom

Although I was raised in the church and had a knowledge of God, I didn’t embrace Jesus until I heard gospel preached and lived out by some Young Life leaders. God has proven faithful and good to me since that day, even in great suffering and loss. I have learned to treasure Romans 8:28 as a wellspring of hope and truth.

God has blessed me with an amazing wife (Olivia), three sons (Micah, Hudson and Owen) and a daughter (Emmaline). Growing up in the northwest, the thought never crossed my mind that I would have four children who are native Texans. Despite landing in the south, I still watch Notre Dame games with my children every Saturday in hopes they will land at my alma mater.

3 replies on “Reading “The Reason for God””

That book is legit. I would definitely agree with you on the simple responses to complex questions. I thought the book got better and better as it went, and that he did a brilliant job of explaining the truths of God in the second half of the book to his particular audience. I think most of the readers believe that Christian concepts of reality(or what they suppose them to be) are far out there with no real weight in our life, but Keller shows practically how God and his gospel are fleshed out for everyone to see. I hope the read goes well and your spirit is refreshed in the process.

Glad to see you’re finally getting to this one! I’ve been loving it chapter by chapter (I started awhile ago) so I can chew on the simple truths. I agree with Tyler that it seems, with each page, Keller’s arguments grow richer. Definitely try and finish it.

Have fun on the retreat! God bless your time there.

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