Book by Douglas Wilson

Review by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Becoming familiar with Pastor Douglas Wilson and his writing style has always given me a helpful dose of reality in living out the Christian life thoughtfully, and this book is no different. I’m already getting ahead of myself, but I know Pastor Wilson from reading a few of his books and his blog, and it has always left me challenged and encouraged to think afresh of commonly-tread truths gleaned from Scripture. Especially his recent engagements with well-known “anti-theist” (a self-designated title) Christopher Hitchens have shown Wilson to be a winsome communicator of Christian theism, despite your personal position regarding the existence of God.

For those taking the Introduction to Presuppositional Apologetics class at church, this would be helpful supplemental reading, one that weighs in at only 88 pages and is very easy to read. Similar to John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, the main character’s name describes who he is: Evangelist. It is a collection of “case studies” of encounters Evangelist has with people of many different persuasions, drawing them to encounter the Great Persuasion of the claims of Christ. All set in a dream, it portrays, in very intriguing imagery, moments where this servant of God tries to point people to the upward Road that leads to the City, instead of choosing the one that leads to the Abyss. However many road signs are laid out for people to be warned of what’s ahead, God has many of His evangelists, like this one, to be God’s expression of love to those who are deceived into believing many lies that end up defining them. Though they have actual names, it does not take long to discover where they stand themselves. Each meet-up consists of roughly 7 pages, with conversations you would love to eavesdrop in.

One such encounter involves a man named Randy who is very much unashamed of being with many women throughout his life, and how he views Christians as people very ashamed of even discussing the topic. Listen in:

Randy: “Look, you religious types are all alike. You look down your noses at people having a good time, and you’re envious. You wish you could get a little action. But you can’t because of all your rules. So you cram your rules down our throats.”

Evangelist smiled and slowly shook his head. “I will not defend the rules; they are not mine to defend, they are God’s. He will apply and defend them adequately enough. As to your accusation of envy, I have only one thing to say. If I see a 400-pound man on the street, I do not envy him all the additional pleasure he has had at the dinner table. Nor do I envy you your time in bed.”

…

Randy’s laughter was increasingly nervous, and he had a hunted expression.

“I just couldn’t live like you do. I want to spend my time around pretty women.”

This time it was Evangelist’s turn to laugh, but there was no mockery in it. “Then why do you spend time with women who are not? My wife, Compassion, is a beautiful woman, and her beauty begins on the inside. I have never been ashamed of her. I would be very ashamed indeed to be involved with a woman who was willing to be used as a thing.” (p.13)

The exchanges Evangelist has with people show a familiarity of the Christian worldview, as well as a reflective mind in drawing conclusions with his interlocutors they might not necessarily want to embrace, even if it is a logical outflow of their own presuppositions. Interestingly enough, Pastor Wilson had noted in a later interview* that he was not aware of his approach in engaging unbelievers having a name (Presuppositional Apologetics), much less a developed system of thought started by Cornelius Van Til. To seek to be consistent with one’s assumptions about the world is to collapse into living an inconsistent life, unless one’s assumptions are that the God of Scripture exists as a Trinity and has spoken in a way we can understand, with a message that shatters all other messages void of truth. Evangelist’s job, ultimately, is to honor his Master by pointing those heading toward the Abyss to come and honor their Creator and come towards the City on the basis of Jesus the Christ who died to bring them to Himself. How he points many to this way is by reasoning with them to live accordingly to their unbelief, which is what cannot be done, nor do they want to, in outright defiance of the One who made them.

I’m sure many of us can find great help from this book, if we know anyone with these kinds of persuasions: one who pursues immorality, one who considers the law of God irrelevant, a feminist, an agnostic, an unbelieving scholar, an atheist, one against election, an unhappy married couple, one hurt by hypocrisy in the church, an anti-Lordship advocate, a pantheist, and evolutionist, and a Roman Catholic. Know anyone of these persuasions? Or do you yourself fit any of these persuasions? I found it to be of helpful assistance in drawing me closer to Christ, as well as give me a useful tool to be winsome in my speech, not just among unbelievers, but brothers and sisters in the church who have been saved out of these false systems of thought. If read, I believe you will also grow in tactful speech. May God be glorified as we continue to live our lives as servants willing to be out on the Road, pointing people to the way that leads to the City and away from the Abyss.

To listen to the interview this book and his most recent project Collision, please go here.