|
| Christian news worldwide |
 Home |
 Archives |
 Subscriptions |
 Adverts |
 Find a church |
 About us |
 Contact us |
 Site Map |
 PrintableVersion How to be GoodA good readTHE INVINCIBLE REFUGEES SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE HOW TO BE GOOD THE SURRENDERED WIFE At a dark and chilly time of year, when there is every good reason to spend leisure time curled up on a sofa with a book, here are four very different recommendations which might encourage, interest or stimulate. The Invincible Refugees is the fictional account of a 17th century Huguenot family who flee persecution in France and settle in Britain at a time when such immigrants were welcomed in this country. This is a neglected chunk of history and the story whets the appetite for more information. This infamous persecution resulted in a net loss for France and a net gain for Britain, since the Huguenots were hard-working, decent and generous citizens who brought with them many skills in cloth-making. The story was originally written for children and the characters are somewhat one-dimensional. The writer unashamedly uses the story as a vehicle for explaining the vicissitudes of the Roman church, the necessity for true conversion, the supremacy of Scripture and the power of the gospel to change lives. But the book is none the worse for that and the reader ends up instructed, edified and not a little moved. For those who prefer to read 'literature' I would recommend the little known gem by George Eliot, Scenes of Clerical Life. The book contains three short stories about early 19th century vicars. George Eliot was not a believer, but she was the daughter of a minister and no doubt experienced at first hand or witnessed at close quarters many of the trials and struggles which beset men of the cloth and their families. In essentials, many of those trials and struggles are unchanged two centuries on, so there is plenty here for the modern reader to relate to. My favourite in the collection is 'Janet's Repentance', which is all about the furore that occurs when a keen evangelical preacher settles in a small town and commences a series of preaching lectures. If contemporary fiction of cultural relevance is more to your taste, then I tentatively recommend Nick Hornby's latest novel, How to be Good, provided you are able to overlook the occasional expletive in the text. The story is of a doctor and her family, who in their different ways aspire to being good and whose goodness, or attempts to expiate badness, create havoc in the lives of others. It is a very funny but poignant tale of family life, with which many will identify. Rootless (i.e. God-less) morality is shown up for the absurdity it is; in the absence of absolutes, goodness boils down to nothing more than whatever makes you feel good about yourself. There is a very sad episode with a woolly-minded vicar, which helps people like you and me to see just how irrelevant the established church has become to people, not through preaching the gospel (if only they did!) but through being so keen to empathise and so frightened of offending. The heroine of the book looks to the church for direction and finds none. All this makes for a challenging and entertaining read for the thinking Christian. It might even be an area of common ground for a discussion with a non-Christian friend, since it will be, or probably already is, a best-seller. Another best-selling but rather controversial book is The Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle. I have lent or given copies of this book to several female friends and have had more positive feedback than about any other book in living memory. One friend said it made her purr with pleasure like a kitten! The Surrendered Wife is a self-help book which argues for wives to stop trying to control their husbands. It describes the myriad ways in which women do manipulate. 'Relinquish control', says the book, 'and enjoy intimacy with your husband like you never had before!' This is not a Christian book but its thesis has something in common with biblical teaching on marriage. It also has a lot of rooted-in-reality common sense and helpful suggestions. Some readers will find it extreme, but many will find it strikes a chord. It might even improve your marriage. Esme Shirt© Evangelicals Now - February 2002 |
|
