Provocative Faith: Walking Away from Ordinary

The Christian who is fully alive, writes Turner, is one whose life is sometimes characterized by passion, anguish, uncertainty, doubt and despair. Turner admits his stint as a legalistic evangelical in his 20s was more distinguished by criticism, sarcasm and bitterness than the fruit of the Spirit. He's now a little older and a whole lot wiser. At a pivotal juncture, when his sporadic addiction to pornography and subsequent petition for forgiveness left him feeling as though God was no longer playing the role of benevolent father, Turner's journey toward authenticity jump-started. He cautions fellow believers that they must be prepared to work through private "cages" that challenge freedom in Christ—a lesson he had to suffer to understand. In occasionally gritty language, Turner's transparency will challenge those who hide behind trite Christian niceties and soul-wasting pretensions. Through candid personal essays, he expounds upon such topics as the role of the faith community, joy as a lifestyle, the casual allure of pride and the necessity of trusting that God is good despite evidence to the contrary. Young adult Christians especially will find Turner's style engaging; while not every chapter is a riveting read, his overall message to live provocatively is one to be heeded. (Sept.)