Introducing Surprising Grace

Surprised by Grace is a really good read, and I'd like to introduce it to you. It's high on my recommendation list, especially if you're wanting to understand the movement of grace in American Christianity or more importantly, if you're soul is hurting and you're needing grace poured out into your life.


Introducing Jonah. You've probably never seen Jonah as Tullian describes him. I've always thought of Jonah as one of the super-spiritual Saints of Old. Sure, he didn't get off on the right foot--that whole rebelling-and-running-to-Tarshish thing. But, he eventually obeyed, right? Tullian helps us see how Jonah is Everyman. He's me. He's you. We aren't obedient people, no matter how much we like to claim that we are.

Mostly, Jonah is angry, as I am angry often. He's mad at God, he's mad at Ninevah, he's mad at the vine dying, he's mad at the world. Jonah also doesn't want God to be merciful to his enemies, as I often feel that I'm the only one who deserves mercy. And, in the midst of Jonah's anger and hatred, God's response is totally surprising.

Introducing Tullian Tchividjian. It's a tough last name. If it helps, "Tchividjian" rhymes with "religion." (Knowing that helps me not just bleep through his last name when I see it in print.) Tullian is the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian, and he blogs and is on Twitter. You may know Tullian as one of Billy Graham's grandsons. He is one of the new voices of the gospel of grace, and he speaks grace with humility and tenderness.

Introducing Grace. If you're like me, you grew up in a Christianity that was harsh at its core. We were gracious to people to get them converted, but once they were in the flock, we loaded them down with rules and warnings. We created Jonahs, angry believers who moped on a hill when God showed mercy to people who we knew deserved hell, fire, and damnation. But the Book of Jonah, as Tullian shows us, reveals that God is very different than the Harsh Idol raised up by many modern Christians. From start to finish, God is gracious in the Book of Jonah. He's gracious to the sailors in stopping the storm. He's gracious to the Ninevites in staying his wrath. But mostly, he's gracious to Jonah, his angry, self-righteous servant who never really gets that in the whole book.

Surprised by Grace made me a more hopeful person. If you can't tell, I'm a lot like Jonah, but Tullian helped me realize how that's not the point. I don't need to focus on the 7 Steps to Becoming Less Like Jonah. Instead, I need to focus on my gracious God and how he is going to keep surprising me with his grace.