Sneaking into the final day of the 1977 Club with my second review. And it’s been another great bunch of reviews from everyone – amazing variety, and lots of authors I know very little about. News about the next club soon, but do keep any 1977 Club reviews coming for the next few hours!
I’ve had I Want To Be A Christian (since republished as Growing in Christ) by J.I. Packer since 2004 – it was one of the books my Dad gave me when I went to university. I’ve read bits and pieces of it over the years, finding the bits that were most necessary at any point, but this was the first time I read it all the way through. It is perhaps not particularly relevant to 1977 specifically – its themes are literally eternal – but they do draw a line from to my Dad in 1977, or thereabouts, reading it for the first time.
As the title suggests, this is a book for people looking to find out more about the Christian faith, or perhaps very early in it, and it explores the central tenets of knowing Christ and being part of His church. I’ve been a Christian for my entire adult life, so there wasn’t anything in here that came as a surprise to me – but Packer writes it very well, phrasing it neatly and concisely, as well as bringing out the joy and wonder of what he explains.
The book is in four sections. The Apostles’ Creed, baptism and conversion, the Lord’s prayer, and the ten commandments. For the first, third, and fourth sections, Packer can take the words one by one – explaining what they mean, how they relate to the Bible, and what they mean for a life walked with God. The second section is necessarily a little more abstract, but is backed up with scripture, and gives an overview of some of the discussions theologians have had. But this book isn’t about deep debates and minute interpretations – it’s all about the essentials.
Packer has a great way of summarising the essential truths of something well known, and illuminating them further. I liked this on the Lord’s Prayer:
We need to see that the Lord’s Prayer is offering us model answers to the series of questions God puts to us to shape our conversation with him. Thus: “Who do you take me for, and what am I to you?” (Our Father in heaven.) “That being so, what is it that you really want most?” (The hallowing of your name; the coming of your kingdom; to see your will known and done.) “So what are you asking for right now, as a means to that end?” (Provision, pardon, protection.) Then the “praise ending” answers the question, “How can you be so bold and confident in asking for these things?” (Because we know you can do it, and when you do it, it will bring you glory!) Spiritually, this set of questions sorts us out in a most salutary way.
There are many, many books that introduce people to the Christian faith. Many would be a lot more like storytelling than this one – there are no anecdotes, no personal testimonies. I love those sorts of books, but I think there’s also a vital place for this gentle, simple, step-by-step explanation of the tenets of faith – particularly one that you can feel recognises, in every word, the glory and wonder of what he is writing about.