N. T. Wright (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006)

In Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense, N. T. Wright author of such well-known (and colossal) volumes as The New Testament and the People of God (1996), Jesus and the Victory of God (1997), and The Resurrection of the Son of God (2003) offers readers an immensely readable, deeply profound, and wonderfully engaging reflection on what might be described as the eminently practical substance of Christianity. "My aim," he writes, "has been to describe what Christianity is all about, both to commend it to those outside the faith and to explain it to those inside" (ix).

The book is divided into three sections: The first, "Echoes of a Voice," looks at four aspects of our everyday lives in which we seem to realize on a very deep, unconscious level that things simply are not right-justice, spirituality, relationships, and beauty. In the second, "Staring at the Sun," Wright encapsulates the essence of the biblical epic that underlies "the central Christian belief about God." Beginning with God, the author moves through the biblical history of Israel, the coming of God's kingdom in the person of Jesus and his mission of "rescue and renewal," and the fundamental difference God's Spirit makes in the lives of those who serve God in the world. In the final section ("Reflecting the Image)," Wright explores "what it looks like in practice to follow this Jesus, to be energized by this Spirit, and above all to advance the plan of this creator God." The book concludes with an Afterword that offers suggestions for further reading to those inclined to dig deeper into the issues discussed in the book.

The title seems to allude to C. S. Lewis's book, Mere Christianity, which began as a series of radio lectures in the 1940s and remains quite popular among many Christians today. Wright's apologetic, however, differs from that of Lewis's in that it is less a defense than an appeal, neither fanatical nor indifferent, but clearly marked by pastoral concern and deep sincerity. Wright's desire to "explain" Christianity to those inside is, to me at least, every bit as exciting and encouraging (not to mention challenging) as any evangelistic impulse for the book. Arguably, the better understanding those of us who profess to be followers of Christ have of the biblical message and our faith, the more our lives will reflect the substance thereof, the more attractive that faith will be, and the more we will have to offer. Wright's willingness to question the church's role and who it serves, suggests a degree of humility and introspection that implicitly cautions Christian readers against making the harmful and dangerous assumption that we have secured our ticket to heaven, or that we know all there is to know and that our knowledge is never in need of revision. In other words, it reminds us that we all are walking through this world together, frequently longing for the very same things.

Using a variety of rich examples, analogies, and metaphors, Wright conveys what are often rather complex ideas. One particularly thought-provoking example serves as the opening for the author's chapter on God. In sum, it points out that, while it makes perfectly good sense to use a flashlight to find one's way in the dark, it is positively absurd to take the flashlight outside at dawn to see if the sun has risen yet. The implication is two-fold: first, it is naive to think that God can be investigated and comprehended in the same manner as all the other things we tirelessly seek to master through careful research and study; second, like the risen sun, it is God who illuminates the world around us.

I eagerly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to pause and think rationally about their faith. Moreover, it is a good resource for those struggling with how best to communicate their faith to non-Christians. Similarly, I think it would be all the more engaging and reassuring for those who secretly doubt whether Christianity has anything to offer the world today, or who tend to play down their Christian identity in response to all the "bad press" Christianity receives.

Reviewer: Scott S. Elliott