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A Brief Review of
Luke: The Gospel of Amazement Buy now: Reviewed by Justin Ruddy. |
In the first book of a planned four-part series, Michael Card fails to give us what we want. Yet, as we read, it becomes evident that it is precisely through failing to meet our unrealistic expectations that he succeeds in accomplishing his task.
Card, the well-known musician and author, invites us and our mind’s eye(s) to read the scriptures afresh in his recently released Luke: The Gospel of Amazement, the introductory volume in IVP’s new Biblical Imagination Series. Herein, Card tries to span the all too familiar disconnect between head and heart by building a bridge with the raw material of imagination. This sounds intriguing, no? Wouldn’t it be something to have a world-class artist with a fully engaged mind and a grasp on the latest scholarship lead you through the Gospel of Luke?
We get at least that in Luke: The Gospel of Amazement. Card proves himself a worthy guide, offering much to be enjoyed by both bookworms and bohemians as he walks us chapter by chapter through Luke. For the former there is the requisite geographical and historical information, the dabbling in the original languages, and the discussions of authorship, setting, etc. For the latter there are plenty of invitations to feel, see, and hear, along with the occasional reference to music, painting, or art history. The author is particularly on point when he gets us exploring by way of his compelling use of language. Noteworthy examples are his discussions of the “unorthodoxy” of Jesus and the “impossible demands” that Christ places upon his disciples. These and other themes run throughout the book, giving us new nails on which to hang our mental pictures of the architecture of Luke’s Gospel.
Admittedly, there are moments when Card’s imaginative musings fall flat or ring of overreaching speculation. On the whole, however, we’re given the gift of a careful, creative, thinking man’s perspective on the scriptures. But this is where the author fails to meet the expectations that this reader brought to the text. Yes, I feel quite acutely the integrative rift between head and heart. In light of this, what I wanted, what I expected of Card, was that he would do the hard work of bridging this gap for me. His stubbornness in this regard is nothing short of a blessing. In short, he refuses to do the heavy lifting of imagination for us. He avoids systematization, eschews methodology, and mostly forgoes footnotes to leave us “to struggle on our own” (12).
In the end, while the book is not one that pours forth remarkable insight at every turn, it is the kind of volume that can be savored, fought against, and talked to. It is a frustrating book that brings about a desire in the reader to get at what the author is scratching toward, even if it is not clear that he has arrived there himself. Namely, Michael Card makes us want to read the Bible more, better, and as whole persons: intellect, instincts, and imagination in harmony. I, for one, look forward to joining him on future journeys through the Gospels, during which I hope to find both head and heart increasingly integrated by way of the informed imagination.
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Justin J. Ruddy serves on staff at Citylife Presbyterian Church, Boston, and blogs regularly at www.centerforgospelculture.org.
C. Christopher Smith is the founding editor of The Englewood Review of Books. He is also author of a number of books, including most recently How the Body of Christ Talks: Recovering the Practice of Conversation in the Church (Brazos Press, 2019). Connect with him online at: C-Christopher-Smith.com
 Reading for the Common Good From ERB Editor Christopher Smith "This book will inspire, motivate and challenge anyone who cares a whit about the written word, the world of ideas, the shape of our communities and the life of the church." -Karen Swallow Prior Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter & download your FREE copy of this ebook! |
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