Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligous Thoughts on Christian Sprituality makes some very valid criticisms about the Christian community. First, that sometimes Christians are obsessed with outward appearance rather than the condition of a person’s heart. I fully agree with this. I don’t think God cares one hoot what we look like–whether it’s tattoos, piercings, the color of our hair, whatever. He is concerned with where our heart is toward him. That’s all.
Secondly, that Christians don’t love “sinners” because all they see is the sin and not the person. I wholeheartedly agree with this as well. Some may be more apt to “look down their noses” at a “sinner” rather than just reach out in love. This is obviously not what God wants Christians to do.
Thirdly, that many Christians support right wing causes to the absolute exclusion of any left of center concerns. Guilty again. We do need to give to the poor and take care of the needy, particularly widows and orphans. Jesus taught that as well.
I do have some concerns with some of his philosophy, however. He seems to advocate a grace and “acceptance” that go a little too far. I’m not talking here about non-Christians at all. I’m talking about people who claim to be followers of Christ. He lifts up Christians who appear to be following God in one or more areas, but yet are still engaging in practices not pleasing to God. He implies we shouldn’t judge and just accept. Of course God is the ultimate judge of all of us. Yet, the Bible clearly states that we ARE to point out to Christians (NOT non-Christians) areas that are not God-pleasing. Donald Miller himself has actually done that very well in his book!
My point is this. Once we are a follower of Christ, God loves us unconditionally and forgives us everything we do. That I believe. His grace does go far–really far! But, just as he forgave David for being a murderer and an adulterer, he also pointed out that there would be consequences to David’s acts. These consequences were the natural result of David’s sin. Yes, we are forgiven, but we still have to face the consequences. So why not try to obey God so as to receive our reward in heaven? I’d rather not just barely “escape through the flames” and be a toilet-scrubber in heaven. Of course, that’s just a figure of speech. What? You say you’ve tried and just can’t live up to what God wants? NONE of us can. Not without his help. That’s the whole point of Christianity. We couldn’t do it ourselves, so God took care of it for us. If you have the desire to please God, all you have to do is ask for his help to do it.
In conclusion, I think the Church would do well to examine some of Donald Miller’s points. But we can’t say that it doesn’t matter what we do because God loves us unconditionally and his grace covers all–EVEN THOUGH THAT’S TRUE!!! Because honestly, I wouldn’t want to live with the consequences of my actions if I just did what I wanted all the time. And even aside from the consequences, Christians should love God and WANT to please him.
2003, 240 pp.
Rating: 3.5
Yes yes! Just what I thought. His observations about Christians in general are often times spot on but he bases his theology on what he has learned through experience, not what the Bible reveals about God.
I am sort of interested in this book but the reviews have been such that I keep dropping it in priority.
Thanks for your review.
Excellent review! I’ve considered reading this book and it’s good to know exactly what it’s about before I start it. Thanks!
Yes, I was hoping I would like this one a little more than I did. Although I agreed with some points, some left me wondering if he had read what the Bible had to say on the subject!
I’ve heard about this book but not read it yet. But I keep encountering that attitude in people, that because we’re saved an kept by grace that then it doesn’t matter what we do, and that couldn’t be more wrong. I very much agree with your last two paragraphs.
Great review. I haven’t read the book either — but only because it has been The Rage (and I hate reading rage books). I appreciated your balanced look at the book. I DO intend to read it and I imagine that I’ll find myself in the same place as yourself when you are done.
Thanks for the review!
[...] Challenge) 2. The Bookseller of Kabul by Seierstad (also for Reading Across Borders Challenge) 3. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller 4. The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books – Zane 5. The Travels of Marco [...]
[...] Challenge) 2. The Bookseller of Kabul by Seierstad (also for Reading Across Borders Challenge) 3. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller 4. The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books – Zane 5. The Travels of Marco [...]
[...] Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright Middlesex–Eugenides Half of a Yellow Sun–Adichie Never Let Me Go–Ishiguro A Scanner Darkly–Dick The Yearling–RawlingsThe Hours by Michael Cunningham The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera Arthur and George by Julian Barnes Zorro by Isabel Allende Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Winter Wheat–Walker The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (SAM) Evenings on a Farm in Dikanka by Nikolai Gogol (RIP) Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam [...]
[...] Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller FINISHED Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis FINISHED The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad FINISHED Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright FINISHED Middlesex–Eugenides FINISHED Half of a Yellow Sun by Adichie FINISHED Never Let Me Go–Ishiguro A Scanner Darkly–Dick The Hours by Michael Cunningham The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera Arthur and George by Julian Barnes Zorro by Isabel Allende Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky Goose Girl by Shannon Hale The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (SAM) Complete Tales of Nikolai Gogol Vol. 1 (RIP) Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam [...]
[...] 4. The Travels of Marco Polo **** by Marco Polo 5. Eat, Pray, Love ***1/2 by Elizabeth Gilbert 6. Blue Like Jazz ***1/2 by Donald Miller 6. The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books ***1/2 by [...]
[...] Laura (The Making of a Chef)2. 3M (Blue Like Jazz)3. Miss Erin (100 Cupboards)4. Miss Erin (Tennyson)5. Carrie (Battlefield of the Mind)6. Carrie [...]