Conversations with People Who Turned from Other Beliefs to Jesus - Book Report/Review Example

Bibliographical Entry Rainer, Thom S. The Unexpected Journey: Conversations with People Who Turned from Other Beliefs to Jesus. New York: Zondervan, 2005. Author Information Thom Rainer and his wife developed this specific book by interviewing several individuals who became Christian from a different set of beliefs. Rainer is the President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee. He was one of the founding deans of the Billy Graham School of missions and works with development and church growth at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. These several accomplishments began with Rainer’s development into a consultant for churches, which he has done for over 20 years. His main focus was to work with churches that needed assistance in their specific missions and to work in different communities that were in need of development. It is from this that he developed as CEO and into the various areas of work, all which are designed to provide a basis to those that are interested in growing within the Christian religion (Retrieved from: http://www.rainergroup.com/). Content Summary The main concept of the book, “The Unexpected Journey,” is to work as an inspirational guide to those who are working into Christianity. The author presents several real life stories from different backgrounds and religions. Each of the individuals began their religious path in a different sector of religion and eventually found their way to the Christian faith and to the call of Christ. Rainer uses a diverse background of individuals, all which were called back to Christianity. This begins with a Mormon who finds the faith, and moves into Atheism, Hindi, Agnostic, paganism and Buddhist beliefs. Rainer focuses on finding a set of individuals that would not be considered as finding Christ and moving through this journey, specifically to show how Christianity is one that includes a diverse set of individuals from a variety of religious groups. With each of the stories that are told, Rainer focuses on the idea of a journey to move back to the Christian religion. For instance, the first story, which shows how a Mormon turns to Christianity, begins with a very specific setting to interview those that have moved into Christianity. Rainer describes the details of this, similar to a fictional plot. This makes the story read like a biography and represents specific ideas about how one began their journey to Christ from a defined situation. The book continues with different interviews of where the individuals began as a child by defining their origins and what their specific beliefs were from the beginning. For instance, the first story describes how there is no introductory religion in the family and little foundation to where one grows up (17). Others, such as the Jewish and Buddhist religions, shows a contrast to this foundation, while defining how religion was integral and a way of life within the family. However, this is described as cultural, rather than one that has a spiritual foundation (125). As the interview continues, not only is there a focus on the religious foundations, but also how this relates to the other aspects of the individual’s life. For instance, the marriages, movement to America and other changes in one’s life are all asked about in the different interviews. The foundational concepts that are described at the beginning of each interview then move into more specific details from the narrator. Rainer continues to intervene through the book as the narrator with specific details about the setting and situation. This is done to show the diversity of people that are interviewed and the backgrounds in which they come from. At a specific point in the interview, the different individuals are able to describe a specific instance where their belief system begins to change and lead them to Christ. In certain instances, such as the Jehovah’s Witness, this is started by a tragic event. In this interview, the death of the daughter from the belief system causes questions from the religion and the way in which things are. It is from this questioning that there is a movement back to Christianity (82). Other instances show several smaller events that occur that are tragic and which cause an awakening in the individual. For instance, the witch that is interviewed describes specific situations that worked as signs and which led back to Christian belief (107-125). Describing the specific events as a part of the journey then becomes a focus within each chapter. The viewpoint of Rainer and the interviews then leads to the conversion of each of the individuals from their former beliefs and into Christianity. Rainer points out the specific moments and the different changes in which each has to go through. In some instances, such as the Unitarian believer, this is more subtle and is a set of observations that allows one to accept Christ (135). The point in which one accepts the Christian religion is one of the points in the interview, and in the journey of each interview, that is described continuously. Integrating this into the other aspects of the individuals that are interviewed then creates a complete picture of the different individuals, how they came into Christianity, what their backgrounds are, and what the journey was to move them from another belief system and into the acceptance of Christianity. Evaluation The specific aspects that are covered by Rainer show a different viewpoint to the concept of Christianity and to the journey of becoming Christian. Rainer’s main focus of the book is to show that a diverse set of individuals are led to Christianity as the truth. At the same time, the presentation of using different individuals as their journey to Christ is one that is given through the interview and bibliographical information provided. Rainer is able to achieve his goal of showing how individuals are led to Christianity and what different situations and concepts lead one from their foundational beliefs and into a new way of living. While Rainer is able to achieve this goal, the specific approach is one that is defined by his belief systems and narrative point of view. The concept of conversion and Christianity as the final answer is the main concept of the book and is specifically for a Christian crowd. Not defining other angles and aspects to this from the interviews and from an outside perspective is the weakness of this book. The approach that Rainer takes with his book is one that is convincing and which is effective. The concept of using a narrative with the author instantly grabs the reader’s attention and creates a real life situation. Combining this with the foundational information and the details of one’s life, both inside and outside of the Christian religion, makes the argument of Rainer stronger. The concept of asking about backgrounds, cultural affiliations, relationships and other facets of each individual’s life creates a specific viewpoint toward those interviewed. This immediately creates a sense of each individual holding a unique identity. Combining these into the one point of conversion for each makes the argument more convincing. More than this, it proves that every individual in Christianity comes from a diverse background and is led to the same road of believing in Christianity. The main theme that the author provides, which is that Christians come from a diverse background, is supported by the individual testimonials. Combining this with several individuals from a range of backgrounds creates even more conviction in this book. The basic approach that Rainer takes with this book is what makes it unique, significant and interesting. The ability to combine the testimonial of a Jew with that of a Satanist, for instance, works in the favor of Rainer. This is able to prove the basic point of diversity in the Christian religion. At the same time, it is able to show that the conversion toward Christianity is one that many individuals will move toward to find the answer in which they are looking for. This uniqueness leads to Rainer’s specific conclusions. No matter what one’s specific beliefs are at any given moment, they can be led into Christianity through different signs, tragedies or life experiences that bring them to this truth. The concept of diversity, from the viewpoint of Rainer, is one that is convincing and is the best part of the book. For Christians or those that are looking for a specific type of answer or conversion into Christianity is the ability to find support through these stories. While the different concepts that Rainer points out are valid, there is still a strong sense of Christianity as the ultimate answer through the interview questions. Rainer makes the presupposition in each interview that each individual goes through a journey to find Christ. While this is legitimate for those that are interviewed, it is not necessarily the journey of each individual. Rainer’s specific concept is to prove that Christianity is the only answer for those that are looking for truth. This is apparent through the work and the interview. While this is legitimate for the ministry in which Rainer is working in, others may argue that Rainer is taking a narrow point of view toward the diversity of individuals that have different belief systems in the world. The traits that Rainer creates that show this specific assumption are ones that are defined by the unusual literary traits. Rainer places himself and his wife in the interviews that are taken. They describe the scenery as well as the different responses that each has during the interview. This is done to present a specific setting and to draw the reader in. However, it also causes one to think that the interview is prompted. Instead of allowing the individual to create specific scenery while giving their own biography, it is led by the narrator and the assumptions that Rainer has about Christian life. This becomes a bias of the theology of Rainer. His background, being related to church development and strong Baptist Ministry, is going to be based on how an individual develops to find the church. Rainer’s strong emphasis on church development is shown as he relates the need for each individual to be led through a path while the church invites them in for a different answer. However, many would disagree with this as the only way a journey can be taken and is specifically based on his experience with church development. More than this, the Baptist ideal of being saved through a tragedy or circumstance is predominant through the book. However, this may not be the specific ideology of others who believe in the ministry or church. This becomes the weakness of the book and causes one to question the validity of the interviews. The specific concepts that are evident in this book teach several lessons about Christianity. The main point, which is based on the diverse background of the individuals are significant when looking at the idea of ministry and the church. More than this, Rainer’s ability to reach to these diverse backgrounds and to recognize the similarities and differences is significant in how one should act toward others coming into the church. The concepts can be implemented in the church by allowing others to show how they have come to Christ. This works as a motivation to others who aren’t sure as well as to those who are interested in teaching those and bringing them to the church. This specific approach is one that can be used for church development and to show how one can grow into the church. The ability for different Christians to reach out to the individuals and to help them to find the church, for instance, works as a motivation for those that are already Christian. This also works to motivate those who are not sure of the church because of their current place in their journey. The book contributes to an overall understanding of Christianity and how one changes belief and religion because of different circumstances. When looking at ministry and individuals within each church, it can be seen that there is a diverse set of individuals that are a part of each church. Understanding and respecting the backgrounds and lifestyles of each, as well as how their lives have changed because of belief and what has happened in their past then creates a different viewpoint of the church. Each individual that belongs to a specific Christian church can be seen as coming with a story and a specific path that has allowed them to find Christ and truth through their own journey and into the church. Read More