Why Jesus?

Ravi Zacharias, speaking of his new book, Why Jesus? says, “It’s the unpaid bill of the church. We never really cared for what people were feeling, what they were struggling with. We were speaking our platitudes into a vacuum.”

Into that spiritual vacuum, the new spirituality has rushed. It’s a spirituality that deifies human intuition, without regard for objective truth, reality that resides outside our own perception. In that vein, Ravi’s first title for Why Jesus? was From Oprah to Chopra.

I respect Dr. Zacharias as a thinker, apologist, and cultural commentator. I’ve listened to his radio program regularly and appreciate his respect of other views, without sarcasm. He gently, pointedly, incisively, points out the world-view issues of non-Christian perspectives on truth and reality. Because of that respect, though I’ve only browsed it, I’m recommending this book today.

The quote from the interview referenced above illustrates his clear thinking and perspective. In this book he may not address  meeting people’s emotional needs, but it’s clear he grasps that Christianity is not just intellectual assent to doctrine, but also experiencing God in emotionally real ways.

It’s that desire to experience the transcendent that has led many into deceptive practices that reject sound doctrine. We are not gods or goddesses nor will we ever be God. There is one trinitarian God–creator, redeemer, and sustainer. He seeks to adopt each one of us into his forever family and to grow us into the image of Jesus. May none of us be taken “captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Father, may you anoint this book to speak to those who seek transcendence. May your truth be revealed to every searching heart. For your glory, Amen.