:: in.a.mirror.dimly :: A theology and culture blog with the Bible in one tab and a news feed in the other.

Jim Spiegel of Taylor University has published yet another fantastic book that Christians will find immensely insightful: Gum, Geckos, and God. Using conversations with his children about God as a springboard, he explores the most perplexing questions Christians face such as where did God come from, What is God Like, Why is it hard to be good, and What will we do in heaven?

Jim delves into deep theology one moment, and then swoops back into the world of his children, never leaving the reader behind in the conversation. His writing is clear, entertaining, and always spot on. Over this week and the following week Jim’s book is on a blog tour.

A number of blogs are part of Zondervan’s tour, and today is my stop:

July 21 - Spunky Homeschool
July 22  - Beauty from the Heart
July 23 - At a Hen’s Pace
July 24 - A Holy Experience
July 25 - Family Voice
July 28 - Ted Wins
July 29 - In a Mirror Dimly
July 30 - Oversight of Souls
July 31 - Christians in Context
August 1 - The A-Team Blog
August 4 - Embarking
August 5 - Challies.com

Q & A with Jim Spiegel

As part of the blog tour Jim has fielded questions from bloggers and then shared his responses. I’ll forward any comments on to him today so he can reply. I’ll begin with a passage that I questioned Jim about, and then share his reply. On page 35 he relates his response to an atheist’s question “What would it take for you to stop believing in God?”

“Belief in God is not just about evidence, or at least not in the sense that we usually think about evidence, where, say, data from science, history, or some other source are used to justify a position on an issue. Most of us believe in God because of a personal experience. Yes, the reality of God is confirmed by everything from design in nature and big-bang cosmology to near-death experiences and the commonsense belief in moral values. But what really compels most of us is our sense of God’s presence with us. My personal experience of God has persisted for many years, working itself out in all of life’s details–pleasurable and painful, trivial and momentous” (35).

Based on this passage, I asked Speigel the following question:

Ed Cyzewski: You speak of God as an experience. I’ve hit a similar point myself, as I asked myself the question, “What makes Christianity the only true religion?” The best answer I can think of is that God has revealed himself in my life and in the lives of others. It all begins with that revelation. I wonder if you could expand on that concept of experience in your own faith. Also, there are plenty of Christians who assert that they can prove Christianity is true or can be 100% certain of salvation, but they may not be satisfied with where you land on this. What would you say to them?

Jim Speigel: You really touch on two distinct concerns here–the truth of the Christian worldview and the question of one’s own salvation.  Many people feel certain about the former but struggle with confidence about the latter.  As for evidence for the Christian worldview, I think the preponderance of the evidence is conclusive here regarding two key facts: the existence of God and the resurrection of Jesus.  These are not the only two doctrines within the Christian worldview, but they form the crux of it.  I’m not sure that Christianity can be proven beyond reasonable doubt (a much higher evidential standard), but this distinction is not as important to me as it is for some folks.  And at the end of the day, my own confidence in the truth of Christianity does come largely from my experience of God, as does my confidence in my own salvation.  This experience, I believe, derives from the Holy Spirit’s inward testimony.  He assures us of both the truth of our beliefs and of God’s saving love toward us, and this assurance transcends apologetic arguments.

I also made a point of asking Jim about his kids:

Ed Cyzewski: What do your kids think about their leading roles in your book? What’s it like for them to see their names in print?

Jim Spiegel: This has been one of the most fun aspects about the publication of Gum, Geckos, and God.  My sons, Bailey and Sam, have been thrilled to hear us read selections to them and to be reminded of the actual conversations and events that were recorded in the book.  And they have been excited to tell some of their friends who are mentioned in the book as well.  But my wife, Amy, and I have been careful to remind our sons that the book is not really about them, so much as it is about God’s truth and building up the faith of those who read the book.  So whatever inclinations our kids might have to think of themselves as celebrities have been thoroughly quashed!

Reviewing the Book

The book as a whole is one of the best I’ve read. It would be easy to make a book centered on conversations with children a bit on the cheesy/simplistic side. It could potentially put off the people who need to read it the most: thoughtful people exploring the finer points of Christian theology. However, Spiegel writes with a strong realism, capturing the conversations, deftly fielding the questions, and then injecting a sharp page or two of solid reflection that ties his ideas together. The content is not lost in the stories, and the stories are not minimized in the content.

Having taken a class with Jim and meeting Bailey and Amy on the day they brought cookies in, I can attest to his focus on family and the way he balances his ministry to students with his home life. In addition, Jim Spiegel keeps in touch with many of his former students and has generously provided insight and guidance to my own theology and publishing questions.

Gum, Geckos, and God is an authentic and trustworthy look at some tough questions. I can’t think of any Christian who would not benefit from reading it.

Jim and Amy Spiegel are now blogging at Wisdom and Folly. Check out www.gumgeckosandgod.com for more details on the Gum, Geckos, and God.