Blue Like Jazz

My oldest asked for this book for Christmas and suggested that I read through it when she was done. Brian McClaren is quoted on the back cover saying the book is satisfying. Something I needed after quitting half-way through the Thomas Paine biography.

I like to think if I wrote a book it would read like Don Miller’s. On the surface, his style is disjointed and informal; like a journal. He relates a personally story or anecdote then jump into a completely different narrative. It’s jarring the first couple of times it happens but, after seeing the train of thought resolve - and resolve well - I got into the rhythm of the book and eagerly began to anticipate it. I don’t remember seeing any scripture in his 20 chapters – he paraphrases some of Jesus’ interactions loosely - but Blue Like Jazz is more a reflection on life and, as he calls it, Christian Spirituality. If you want something like that, read Packer’s Knowing God or one of Copeland’s One Word From God series. Call this spiritual junk food if you want, but I think it chronicles something that has been missing from western Christianity for a long time: honesty.

And before anyone throws stones, I’ll stand right up and say I haven’t always been honest about my faith with people: churched and un-churched alike.

Some little breadcrumbs really resonated with me. Lifted from the narrative, they don’t really have the same impact, but I’ll try. Some examples:

“I think every well-adjusted human being has dealt squarely with his or her own depravity. I think Jesus feels very strongly about communicating the idea of our brokenness, and I think it is worth reflection. Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror.” (p23)

“If we hear a voice saying we are failures, we are losers, we will never amount to anything, this is the voice of Satan trying to convince the bride that the groom does not love her. This is not the voice of God. God woos us with kindness; He changes our character with the passion of His love.” (p86)

“I know a little of why there is blood in my body, pumping life into my limbs and thought to my brain. I am wanted by God.” (p100)

“Nobody will listen to you unless they sense that you like them. If a person senses that you do not like them, that you do not approve of their existence, then your religion and you political ideas will all seem wrong to them. If they sense that you like them, then they are open to what you have to say.” (p220)

Chapter 11, Confession, relates the story of Miller’s small group of campus Christians reaching out to the student body during the most hedonistic, drunken, wild, campus-wide party of the year. And touching people as a result.

Some of the online reviews I’ve come across criticize Miller for hanging out with non-Christians, hippies and secular intellectuals. I asked my daughter what her impressions were; her take-away points from the book, if you will, and her response was pretty mature. She said, “We’re supposed to love people. God's job is to change them. And there is a big difference between loving people and approving of what they do.” I thought she nailed it. Although Miller says that he admires the hippie community for their open acceptance and genuine interest in people as individuals – and even contrasts that to his experience working at a Christian camp – he never approves of their drinking, smoking or “free love.” He observes and interacts with others with genuine interest and reflection.

My daughter has asked for more of Don Miller’s books. I hope she gets them so she can loan them to her dad!

Comments

[Robert Pooley]

I liked blue a lot... but my favorite is Searching for God knows what... very good read.