Reassurance for those willing to examine their beliefs

books:


	• God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt Os Guinness Crossway Books, 1996 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 8 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

God in the dark

For those who struggle with pain, problems, insecurities, this is a wonderful book to let one know that our God is with us, NO MATTER WHAT.

Reassurance for those willing to examine their beliefs

Mr. Guinness examines faith and doubt rigorously by tracing their presuppositions, carefully explaining the indissoluble bond between faith and rationality. Faith can and will lead us beyond reason, but never against reason into absurdity. The God who created our capacity for reason is beyond our reason but never at odds with it.

Although the majority of the book probes the nature of doubt from practical origins, one chapter is entirely devoted to doubt springing from emotional and / or psychological scars. This chapter is handled very well, proving Mr. Guinness thinks deeply as well as with breadth of soul and empathy. I think he is a most uncommon and remarkable man.

I was particularly struck with his comparison, using scripture, of the different kinds of doubt we hold. Some of us doubt the POWER of God to affect our lives for the better. This illustration is made in Mark 9: 17 - 25 (the man who brings his demon-possessed son who is often thrown into water and fire to destroy the child). The father of the possessed child has experienced failure at the hands of the apostles. He approaches Jesus with "...if thou canst do anything...." He doubts the POWER of God. He confesses his weak faith: "...and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

This kind of doubt is contrasted with the doubt in God's COMPASSION and MERCY as shown in the leper who desires to be cleansed (Matthew 8:2; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12). The leper says, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." (Matthew 8:2) He doubts the willingness of God to extend healing and mercy - but not God's power to do so. Jesus affirms his willingness verbally: "I will" or "I am willing" and then touches the man (the touch of great compassion and power).

The account of the leper in Matthew is followed very closely by the account of the gentile centurion (Matthew 8:8) who comes to Jesus seeking the healing of a beloved servant of his household. Jesus tells the centurion that he will come and heal the servant, but the centurion (knowing Jesus would be ceremonially defiled by entering into a gentile home) tells Jesus he (the centurion) is not worthy that Jesus should come under his roof, but that a word spoken alone shall be sufficient. Jesus marvels at this great faith and speaks the word of healing. No touch, just the word. The centurion did not need further reassurance because his faith was very strong. He doubted not the power or the mercy and goodness of God.

I am so grateful for these precious insights and so many others which Mr. Guinness gives in this book.

One more insight, which I find very true in my own experience in the battle with unbelief. On page 65, Mr. Guinness explains why many of us (in comfortable circumstances) do not lose our faith. "One reason why many people do not lose their faith is that they are protected by their lifestyles from the uncomfortable logic of the deficiency in their faith. But this is dangerous. The subtlety of the wrap-around influence of alien presuppositions is that they do their work before they are noticed. Whether it is a Christian student surrounded by relativism on a university campus or a Christian family surrounded by the influence of the mass media, too few are awake to the danger. And when they do wake up to the situation, they find that the combat against relativism is not a clean, hand-to-hand fight but a wearing war of nerves against an enemy who is everywhere and nowhere, friendly-seeming but deadly at the same time."

How can anyone resist such beautiful insight and clarity of thought? Does this not describe many of our experiences in the West?

The book has great practical value. After describing and examining the source of each type of doubt, the solution for each is also given with equal logic. That sounds deceptively easy, but Guinness has an ability to illuminate knotty problems so these lose their complexity.

A most valuable book for those who wish to wrestle with their doubt, and love and serve God with gladness and singleness of heart.

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A Guided tour thru the dark night of doubt

I read 12 non fiction books per year & few stop me & demand my undivided attention like God in the Dark (written 1996) did. Five years later, I was able to fall back on lessons I'd learned in this book to help others whose faith was shaken in the wake of 9/11. Nine years after GITD's writing, (2005) Guinness does it again. A perfect followup to God in the Dark is Unspeakable. While the former covers the minefield of doubt that often usettles believers, the latter takes us thru the unspeakable forest of evil in modern society. These books are definately one a thinking believer (or unbeliever for that matter) should wade thru.

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Great Guinness

Let me preface my review by explaining that Os Guinness is in my top ten list of favorite authors (shortly behind Augustine). He does an excellent job of blending contemporary philosophy with ancient tradition. Guinness helps the reader embrace, and then move through doubt. Though perhaps dated for a postmodern audience, Guinness helps the person who holds to a modern world-view understand that it is okay to not understand everything in a scientifically provable sense. This book has helped me personally put to words what I believed internally. I love the fact that Guinness uses quotes from other authors throughout history to illustrate his points. His writing style is just what the doctor ordered for me.

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god in the dark

a great book that gives the assurance of faith

thanks Os

reviews: page 1, 2

"A profound and excellent book for doubters and their friends who want to help." --James W. Sire, Author; campus lecturer for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

"Clear, steady explanation of what doubt is and how it is to be dealt with. There is nothing like it in print." --Dallas Willard, Professor of Philosophy, University of Southern California

Do you have significant doubts about God? Are you afraid to doubt, much less admit to anyone that you aren't fully convinced of God's faithfulness? Are you so torn by your questions that life is losing its meaning?

This forthright but compassionate book works to tear away the layers of misunderstanding about doubt to reveal not only its dangers but its great value. As author Os Guinness explains: "If ours is an examined faith, we should be unafraid to doubt... There is no believing without some doubting, and believing is all the stronger for understanding and resolving doubt."

For those who are unsure of God's trustworthiness--and for those who are in a dark place, wanting to know "Why?" or "How long, O Lord?"--God in the Dark is a must. It puts a human face on the problem of doubt and examines it thoroughly. In a way that will respond to your questions, settle your fears, and strengthen your faith.

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