I’m reading Provocative Faith by Matthew Paul Turner at the moment. It’s one of those fairly short paperback books on Christian spirituality that they advertise in RELEVANT (I’m not sure if they are advertising in RELEVANT, but it’s that kind of book).

It’s got to be hard to write a book about faith that says anything new. We’ve had 2000 years to say just about everything there is to say about the parts that remain the same. However, as the cultural expressions of faith change over time, new problems and challenges emerge. And people get in the habit of saying stuff that is so stupid, you have to write a book to counteract it.

The first passage that stuck out at me touched on the very feeling I had when I first saw the book:

…truthfully, I had become very tired of reading Christian books by authors who many Christians had told me would have all the answers. I was sick of reading chapter after chapter filled with terms like transforming, rediscovering, and grace-filled. It seemed like Christian books always made life seem to perfect and pretty. My spiritual life was far from perfect and pretty. p. 28-29

One of the problems with Christians’ faith today is the widespread failure to see the other side of our theology. If I am rich because God loves me, what does that say about those who are poor? Is this theology consistent with what Jesus taught about the poor? What about healing and faith?

Turner addresses the way these issues come up in the pain of daily life, as well as in the success:

Many spiritual leaders would like for us to believe that all we have to do is simply ask God for anything, and he’ll give it to us. Christian bookstores are full of books about this kind of stuff–prosperity and riches.

But under the radar screen, countless stories go untold of those who trust in Jesus with all they have and get little human wealth or gain in return. These stories aren’t popular with many in the church. Such stories don’t encourage new converts or encourage a congregation to “keep on keeping on.” But these stories are real experiences in the lives of people with sincere faith in God. And I believe they tell a truer story of what it means to live a life of faith and a life of trust. p. 59

A person with provocative faith trusts in the middle of his situation–whether or not it’s miraculously resolved. It’s not an “if” faith but an “although” kind of trust that endures despite the situation. It’s not a faith we hear proclaimed much on the stages of churches, but we can read it all through the bible. p. 60

God is not the fairy godmother; he’s not a genie in a bottle. It’s easy to get caught up in the belief that God wants to bless me beyond my understanding. And people who sell these beliefs are often dynamic individuals who are masters at selling their point of view to a weary public. As much as I see God move in my life, I don’t believe he cares about what car I drive or how big my house is or what is or isn’t in my bank account. Especially when people exist in this world who are right now wondering where their next meal is going to come from. Jesis said that the first will be last in the kingdom of heaven. In light of his words, why would God waste his time making all of us first in line? p. 61

Often we say we’re trusting God, but instead of trusting for his best, we’re looking for him to provide a particular outcome to our experience. And when we trust him for a specific event to occur or a circumstance to happen, we aren’t really trusting at all. We’re hoping, wishing–but not trusting. We’re telling God what to do instead of asking him for his ultimate goodness to be revealed. p. 72

Turner follows the familiar formula of defining a particular type of faith (such as deep, postmodern, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, biblical, authentic, holistic - pick an adjective and there’s a book with that word + faith in the title), then referring to good things as examples of that type of faith, and deriding bad things as counterexamples. In this case, of course, it’s provocative faith. I think this is a publishing technique that editors tack on after someone writes a book so it will cohere better, but sometimes it makes the book cheesy. So far, though, the formula hasn’t been overused, so I haven’t tired of it.

Turner is incredibly honest in the book, describing his own struggles with pornography, pride (when he was editor of CCM), and self-doubt (when CCM fired him). I think it’s going to be a good book. I’ll let you know how the second half goes.