Open Letter to Bruce Wilkinson #1.011
(Click here to download the first chapter of Bruce Wilkinson’s book, You Were Born for This.)
Chapter 1 – Page 10b-12
Jimmy the “delivery guy”
(Bruce writes a story about Jimmy, a regular guy, who essentially gives his buddy Nick the first piece of advice that comes to mind. Readers, you’ve got to read this one for yourself. He then follows it up with some commentary, to which I’ll be responding directly below.)
- “To me, this story demonstrates God’s willingness to do a personal miracle if we are willing to deliver one. Nick wasn’t expecting help from a stranger. And Jimmy didn’t think he had help to give. What he had, though, was a readiness to pass along what God prompted him to say.”
With all due respect, Bruce, I’ve got to ask: are you kidding? Jimmy says one thing to Nick and you call that a personal miracle?
We’ve gone ‘round the bin with this one (here, here and here). Miracles are deeds wrought by God. When He bends the very laws of nature, we know He’s done a miracle. Until then, call it what it is: a good deed.
(Could God have given Jimmy just the right words to say to Nick in this situation? Yes. Do we know that for sure? No. Why not? Because Satan and his minions know as much about Nick’s situation as Nick does…and the source from which Jimmy received the words he would tell Nick may not have come from the most righteous of sources…if you know what I mean.)
- He (God) cared enough to show Nick a practical step he could take that might say more to his wife than a love letter and just might turn things around for the couple. All He needed was Jimmy, delivery agent.”
Two very important things to cover here, and then I’ll close.
“Might turn things around for the couple” – Might? You’re hinging your argument on a story (a story that is, quite possibly, fictional – you say nothing of the “reality” of its happening, leaving readers to wonder if we’re reading a hypothetical missive or an actual account), and things “might turn” around for this couple? Some miracle. Real powerful stuff there.
“All He needed was Jimmy, delivery agent” – Needed? God needs any of us? Wrong again. He doesn’t need anything or anyone. He is entirely self-sufficient.
Gotta ask for chapter and verse, please. Why? Because you’re 12 pages in, and we have yet to see you refer to anything in Scripture. Lots about the Everyday Miracle Territory, but nothing from the Bible. Wonder why that it is…actually, I’m not wondering at all. Kind of speaks for itself.
(I’ll have more on You Were Born for This by Bruce Wilkinson on Friday. For past responses to You Were Born for This, click on the following posts: Title & Table of Contents, Table of Contents addendum, Testimonials, Page 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 7, 8, 9 and 10.)
(For new readers, I’ve compiled my earlier analyses of Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile (by Rob Bell and Don Golden). Simply click on my title, Clear as a Bell, and download for your own instruction.)
