Blue Like Jazz - Chapter 3 and 4

Review of chapter 2.

I enjoy Miller's style of writing, and I can see why many people can relate to this book. His tone is personal and seemingly honest. His metaphors illustrate his points quite well. I can identify with the disconnect people feel when trying to understand Christianity from a contemporary perspective, especially when so much of Christianity's traditions are so antiquated--and no one knows why they are taught or done.

In chapter 3, we get a glimpse into why Donald Miller felt so disconnected with typical evangelical Christianity. In fact, I felt a whole hearted "amen" when he discussed some church practices and attitudes:

I associated much of Christian doctrine with children's stories because I grew up in church. My Sunday School teachers had turned Bible narrative into children's fables. They talked about Noah and the ark because the story had animals in it. They failed to mention that this was when God massacred all of humanity.

It also confused me that some people would look at parts of the Bible but not the whole thing. They ignored a lot of obvious questions. I felt as if Christianity, as a religious system, was a product that kept falling apart, and whoever was selling it would hold the broken part behind his back trying to divert everyone's attention... [Page 30]

I couldn't give myself to Christianity because it was a religion for the intellectually naive... [Page 31]

Miller is more than just right here.

Evangelicals, pretty much on the whole, have abandoned an intellectual engagement of Scripture. I understand that not everyone is an intellectual (that is not to say that they aren't smart), but when the church fails to engage her mind with the Scripture, she cannot possibly derive answers to the most pertinent questions facing humanity today. In fact, the much of "Christianity" is rightly mocked by the world because it is truly incoherent silliness. The church has failed in her responsibility to teach her members how to think, because she is to busy trying to spoon-feed her members what to think. I can agree with Miller wholeheartedly here.

Miller then uses the elements of a story--using his life story--to explain what his understanding of the gospel: setting, conflict, climax, and resolution. Setting: America, on earth, in a room of a house with roommates. Conflict: "The rebellion against God explained why humans experienced conflict in their lives..." Climax and Resolution:

Climax is where a point of decision determines the end of the story...If the human heart uses the tools of reality to create the elements of story...this means that climax, the point of decision, could very well be something that exists in the universe. What I mean is that there is a decision the human heart needs to make...Christianity offered a decision, a climax. It also offered a good and bad resolution. In part, our decisions were instrumental to the way our story turned out.

...I would always hate hearing about [big-haired preachers demanding a decision to follow or reject Christ] because it seemed so entirely unfashionable a thing to believe, but it did explain things. Maybe these unfashionable ideas were pointing to something mystical and true. And, perhaps, I was judging the idea, not by its merits, but by the fashionable or unfashionable delivery of the message. [Pages 32-33]

Before I come across as over-critical (which I very much can be), I credit Miller with the attempt to make the gospel relevant here. What troubles me is that he loses the essential parts of the gospel message in the attempt to be relevant. I'm nearly fifty pages into this book, and all I've learned of Christ is that He was the Son of God, became a man, an he loved people. I've yet to hear of His cross or His suffering for our sake.

Our sin nature brings more than just conflict--it also brings condemnationbefore God. Moreover, the rejection of Christ brings more than a "bad resolution." It means that one remains guilty of the sin he has committed and faces the penalty for it. Moreover, does the Bible say that fallen man has it within himself to choose to follow Christ? John 6:44 and 6:65 tell us that in order for a man to come to Christ, it must be granted by the Father, and the Father must draw him. John 10 says that only the sheep hear the voice of Christ and follow him. Acts 11:18 and 2 Timothy 2:24-26 say that repentance must be granted.

What also troubles me is that the analogy (and message) is man-centered. (I say this knowing that many are won by such presentations, but this book is used by many as a means for "Bible study.") My story a teeny-tiny part of a larger history that God is bringing to fruition. It should be this: Setting: the entire scope time and creation. Conflict: the Fall of man and his resulting inability to seek God. Climax: the cross and resurrection of Christ. Resolution: the salvation of his people by means of the atonement of Christ--and the judgment of the lost. The gospel, pure and biblical.

In chapter 4, Miller explains his decision to audit a Greek lit class at Reed College, one the most hostile, anti-Christian campuses on the North American continent. Again we get a glimpse into Miller's understanding of a typical evangelical church:

At the time I was attending this large church in the suburbs. It was like going to church at the Gap. I don't know why I went there. I didn't fit. I had a few friends, though, very nice people, and when I told that I wanted to audit classes at Reed they looked at me as if I wanted to date Satan. One friend sat me down and told me all about the place, how they have a three-day festival at the end of the year in which the run around naked. She said some of the students probably use drugs. She told me God did not want me to attend Reed College. [Page 38]

If this is Miller's experience with church, I understand why he thinks the way he does. Those of us who attend Southern Baptist churches can relate to this...but it is typically done by little old ladies with the best of intentions. However, I too get frustrated when people tell me what God wants me to do with my life--as if they are more spiritual than I and can receive special revelations from God. Specific to Miller's experience here: Didn't God want Jonah to go into Nineveh, the most pagan place on earth at that time?

Miller then discusses a friendship with girl name Laura. He met her on Reed's campus, and she was an atheist. He saw her heart and her passion for people. Then Miller goes on to say:

I could sense very deeply that God wanted a relationship with Laura. Ultimately, I believe that God loves and wants a relationship with every human being, but with Laura I could feel God's urgency. [Page 41]

First, This seems a bit hypocritical for Miller to say this, when he had just made a girl at a suburban church look like an idiot for speaking on God's behalf just three pages earlier. She might have felt "God's urgency" to tell Miller not go to Reed. Second, and most importantly, we have the issue of a weak god I discussed when I announced that I'd review the book. In Miller's theology, God desires to have relationship with everyone, but refuses to do anything about it other than wait on us. He hopes that we might come, but doesn't necessarily cause to happen. It's totally up to us to be saved--and the wiser, less depraved, and more worthy ones of us are the ones who accept. It is ultimately human attribute and ability that brings about salvation.

To paraphrase Spurgeon, it if were God's intention to save everyone, how sorely disappointed He must be. In Miller's theology, God provided the means to be saved, but He cannot possibly take credit for anyone's conversion-- for it is man's decision that causes it.

Throughout the rest of chapter 4, Miller chronicles his time at Reed, meeting the Christians at Reed (a secretive bunch), and discussed the conversion of a girl named Penny. What I liked about this narrative is that it demonstrated that God's grace extends to people of all sorts--even hippie drug-addicted smokers like Penny. God saves the most outrageous of sinners--Paul was one of them. My disappointment is that by the end of chapter 4, the cross of Christ is still MIA (Missing in Action).