Book Review
The Choice by Andy
Robinson
Published by Sovereign
World Ltd
ISBN 978-18522407117
I was moved by this
autobiographical account. It is both deeply disturbing and hopeful;
disturbing because the nature of evil is candidly treated and hopeful
because it deals with a broken man being put together again.
In writing such a book
the author faced three traps. He could have been twee, shocking for
the sake of it or he could have adopted some artificial style which
was not his own( e.g. He could have larded it with religious
terminology.) It is to his great credit that he avoids all of these
traps by telling his story in a straight forward manner and letting
the lessons emerge from the narrative.
The lessons I derived
from this story were about the nature of evil and the power of God.
Christians need to treat evil with great seriousness because of its
dangers and because society includes people who have been broken by
alcohol, drugs, broken relationships and the occult. Whilst
Christians should grasp the reality of evil they should not sink to a
hopeless defeatism but should be filled with an awareness of the
sovereignty and power of God. This should not lead to a fragile
triumphalism but to patience and prayer. Salvation can be gloriously
sudden but for many of us it can be a painful and long process. Its
growth continues until the day we leave this earth. Andy's testimony
includes both the conversion experience and the struggles that
follow.
Patience and prayer are
emphasised in the advice to parents with wayward children. I think
this advice is well put, so I would recommend the book for parents. I
would also recommend it to Christians and to folk who are curious
about Christianity but be warned, if you are subject to depression,
this book is very bleak in parts. All should be prepared to be
challenged. All can expect to be blessed.
Peter M.
Grinham © 9.11.'12
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