Let Me Ask You a Question: Conversations with Jesus

by Matthew Croasmun

We often think of Jesus as someone with all the answers. But over and over in scripture, he asks questions, seeking to engage with people and genuinely interested in their responses.
Matthew Croasmun challenges readers to consider this book as an experiment--an opportunity to see whether God is real. He invites us to enter into conversation with Jesus by answering the questions Jesus asks in scripture. The goal is not to come up with what we think are the right answers but to respond honestly to Jesus' questions.
Each chapter of this six-week study contains five readings. Each reading follows this







Written in a warm, encouraging style, this thought-provoking and imaginative book will certainly give readers entry points into conversation with God, and they may find themselves experiencing a deeper relationship with the divine than they ever thought possible.

114 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jared Abbott · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book, though well written and somewhat informative (in the weekly introductory passages), had all the qualities of devotionals which I despise.

It was very introspective. The author continually exhorts the reader to stop worrying and the "right" answer, and express what they want or think honestly. Honestly, I would rather have the right answer. In fact, I don't trust that I have the right answer most of the time, so I hope the author of a devotional will help me find the answers I am looking for. Most of them don't, and this book was no exception. The problem is, if I lack the right answer, looking within myself (i.e. introspection) will not be helpful.

I did not agree with the premise of the book, that anyone can have a conversation with Jesus by interacting with His questions as recorded in the Gospels. Let me explain. I believe God has spoken in the Bible. I also believe God continues to speak to human beings. I don't see anything wrong with Christians seeking to hear from God. I do not believe such revelations have the authoritative weight of Scripture, but that people do really hear from Him, even now. However, there are some odd ideas floating around in evangelical circles about communicating with God.

One of these odd ideas, nowhere found in the Bible, is that God has all kinds of things to say if we would just listen. Another is that we can "tune in" to God's voice through some method, such as contemplative prayer. This book promotes both of these errors. If we look at biblical examples, such as Moses or Peter, we do not find a single example of some method for hearing God's voice, and we don't find anyone missing God's instructions because they weren't listening. Instead, God speaks to whomever He will, whenever He will, and has no trouble being heard by anyone He wants to speak to.

I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that some Christians have a "conversational" relationship with the Lord, in which they speak with God daily and receive regular answers. I also don't believe most Christians have that kind of relationship with God. It is apparent to me that most evangelicals believe they can and should receive daily revelations from Him, and that they don't, by the way they account for God's silence by interpreting inward feelings and omen-like "signs" as God's "voice," and in the way they tend to agonize over whether they are "hearing" from God or their own thoughts.

Even if all the errors about a "coffee with Jesus" style relationship with God are removed, what we are left with is an imaginative conversation with Jesus. In other words, it encourages a sort of powerless, navel-gazing kind of spirituality. We need less of that and more calls to action in the Church. According to Hebrews 11, people of faith, "...conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." Although we do need times to think deeply about the Bible and doctrine, there doesn't seem to be much (if anything) in the Bible about quiet times, listening prayer, or small groups.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted to be given a copy of this book to review for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is by Matt Croasmun, a Vineyard Scholar for whom I have the greatest respect and always has something interesting or thought-provoking to say; and secondly because this is a book about Jesus that has the sole aim of encounter with Jesus, rather than ‘just’ increasing our head knowledge. This book could be described in a variety of ways – simply put, it is a six-week journey with Jesus through some of the 300+ questions he asks, or questions we read around him.

Read the rest of my review on my blog: https://www.thomascreedy.co.uk/book-r...

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Excellent.