Does the Bible really say that? Mark Woods, Monarch (2016) RRP £8.99 four stars
As a Methodist local preacher one of my benchmarks is to reflect on how the service or sermon
I am preparing might be received by the colleagues and students I work with. The congregations
I preach to are generally appreciative and have a sympathetic point of view. It’s a much bigger
responsibility to think through how those of other faiths or none might challenge or disagree (if
only they were there).
In his book Mark Woods takes the same approach. He is a Baptist minister, journalist and
experienced editor for the online magazine Christian Today, the Baptist Times and the Methodist
Recorder. This book arose from one article looking at whether God has a plan for our lives, and
evolved into a series of very readable essays about what Christianity might have to say to the
‘life questions’ that keep many people wondering. Nine lively chapters cover secular issues and
sacred thought – Why doesn’t God heal everyone? What’s our relationship with nature? How do
we respond to people who do us harm? Where are our morals – do we still live in a Christian
country? There are very balanced, well-thought-through arguments supported by plenty of
material from the arts, history, philosophy and current affairs. The church comes in for some
stick too. What is evangelism really about? How does church get in the way of spiritual growth?
Who is the book for? I’ve not read it cover to cover, but have dipped into it randomly
