"The Journey" by Alister McGrath. A Quick Review

 

McGrath, scientist and theologian, cleric and writer, put forth this wee volume in 2000. It is a 160-page softback mapping out the Christian trek as a journey. Following a long Christian tradition, he uses the Exodus-wilderness wonderings-promised land story as the structural map for his approach. But he adds his own twist, the hitchhiker, where the reader occasionally piggybacks onto other wayfarers such as John R. W. Stott, J. I. Packer, John Bunyan, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards and others.

McGrath addresses many important subjects that arise on this journey of faith. He describes the place of doubt, looks into exile and failure, and speaks on fear and fellowship, to name a few. The author also drops in delightfully helpful suggestions and insights. For example, the role of emotions in our journey, as well as a way of reading sacred Scripture. His easy style makes the book feel like a friend has saddled up next to you to converse on a park bench, and is chatting about the bumps and potholes in the road of Christian living.

Though this book surfaced over two decades ago, it would still make an ideal gift for young Christians. It would also be valuable in a book-study group which has just completed a heady work and needs something a bit more practicable and absorbable. I recommend the book.