Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 26, 1994 TAG: 9406190146
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: E4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by KENNETH LOCKE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Compiled by William Griffin & Ruth Graham Dienert. McCracken Press. $16.95.
Determining whether or not a book is worth reading is often a matter of determining the book's target audience.
If the reviewer can decide who would be interested, or who the author hoped would be interested, in the book, he/she can read and then review the book with target's needs in mind. Thus reviewing "The Faithful Christian" can be somewhat tricky as the book could possibly appeal to any number of target audiences.
Sincere, fundamentalist Christian might well want to read it for the advice and insights of a recognizably great and recognizably conservative Christian. Sincere, liberal Christians may want to find out just what the fuss over Billy Graham is all about. Scholars could well be interested in tracing the development of the thoughts and interests of the most respected conservative apologist of our time. If,as the dust jacket claims, this book is truly an "anthology of the best of Billy Graham's thoughts" from his earliest publication to his most recent, then just about anyone with an interest in Billy Graham should find it useful, if not exactly a pleasure.
Unfortunately, only the most undemanding will be satisfied with "The Faithful Christian."
True to its word, this volume does contain many excellent excerpts from more than 30 of Graham's publications, beginning with "Calling Youth to Christ" (1947) and ending with "Storm Warning" (1992). The material covers all manner of topics: everything from "The Nature Of Evangelism" to "The Nature Of God"; from "Sin And Temptation" to "Angels And Devils"; from "How To Be Born Again" to "Death" and seemingly every other point in between. The compilers have covered just about every point the average "conservative" Christian would think to discuss.
The articles are short, rarely more than a few pages long, easy-to-read pieces. They would be excellent for someone seeking help with private or public devotions or someone who does not need or want very much scholarship in their answers to theological questions. Unfortunately, "The Faithful
Christian" would be useless to just about anyone else. There is no index. The main works from which the articles are taken are not listed with the article itself. One has to find the title of the article in the back of the book. This reviewer was initially rather confused by the whole thing.
Nor is there any sort of commentary. This work would benefit greatly from an essay or even just short commentaries between the articles which could draw attention to the main points or give an indication of how Graham's thoughts or stlye had developed with time. The subject matter is arranged by topic, of course, but within the topic there is not even an indication as to which material was written first.
Finally, those who are not familiar with Graham's works but would like to be are likely to be dissappointed on two further counts. First, Graham is not a scholar and has never pretended to be one. In a 1993 interview he admitted that he has not "devoted enough time and energy to the academic study of theology and Scripture, even when the opportunity presented itself.
Instead, acknowledging his own lack of intellect, and indeed lack of appetite, for theologizing, he decided to make the Bible his text, and to stick to it." Thus readers who hoped for much more than an "I believe it because the Bible says it" will be dissapointed. Still, it is hard to blame the man for not being something he has never wanted no claimed to be.
Secondly, those readers not familiar with "fundamentalist/conservative speak" may well have difficulty understanding what Graham is talking about. Graham's favorite translation of the Bible is the King James Version and its words and grammar have clearly had their effect. Many of us know what Graham means when he asks "Do you believe on the son?" or if we have ever been "convicted of the Holy Spirit" but my guess is that many readers much under age thirty will not.
So, if you have always wanted a bedside Billy Graham, then "The Faithful Christian" is for you. If you are seeking much else, then this particular volume is not likely be of much help.
Kenneth Locke is a Radford pastor.
by CNB