Book Review: Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Rating: 4 stars of 5
There are a lot of things I really liked about this book.
The emphasis on meditating by “looking at God, looking at us in love” and “commun[ing] with Love loving” is beautifully done and so heartwarming.
His descriptions of hospitality are rich with depth.
Comer highlights a broader concept of salvation than the typical definition often outlined in most modern western christian churches. He speaks in favor of something truer to what the original texts (and other non-westernized interpreters) suggest and thus broadens the reader’s perspective.
The slower pace of the writing allows for the reader to meander through the book, soaking everything in as they go, which goes along perfectly with the concept of ruthlessly eliminating hurry from our lives.
Comer speaks prophetically against modern western christian culture for not aligning with the values, teachings, or lifestyle of Jesus.
Overall, the book reads as an encouraging challenge to re-order our lives and prioritize apprenticing with Jesus, becoming more loving and Jesus-like. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to other readers.
There were a handful of things that I didn’t fully agree with as I read (which is fine; we don’t all need to agree about everything). The author’s perspectives on anxiety, for example, echoed some of the damaging narratives common in western church culture and lacked nuance in places. I also found his discussion on the doctrine of original sin to be presumptive, in that he seemed to assume that all christians ascribe to it (many don’t) and used language that would suggest christians are monolithic on this issue, which is incorrect. I also found it a bit unsettling when Comer quoted John Ortberg no less than 5 times throughout the book, as well as Gary Thomas (at least twice) and other men many women (and others) would not consider safe, for lack of a better precise and brief descriptor.
I think the book could have been even better if more female voices had been included amongst those quoted and referenced throughout the text, especially since Comer quotes others so frequently. Male theologians / authors are referenced or quoted well over 120 times throughout the book, but female theologians are mentioned only around 22 times and the imbalance was obvious. Reading sometimes felt like hanging out in a “boys club” of male theologians and I think more female voices could have added even more richness and complexity to the discussions.
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