Review of "Wisdom Hunter" by Randall Arthur

"Wisdom Hunter" is one of the few books I have ever read twice in my life. It's not the finest piece of literature you have ever seen, but it truly is a great story. It's one of those books that gets you on page one and keeps you to the end of the book. As you can see in my review below, I have a few caveats, but I recommend the book highly. I have spent some time around the types of fundamentalists that Arthur describes in this book and so it was helpful to me in seeing where fundamentalism goes bad. And, I think it is fair to say, and I hope Arthur would say, that not all fundamentalists get as bad as the ones in this book. Still, this will cause you to re-think legalistic Christianity.

The protagonist of this book, Pastor Jason Faircloth, was everyone's worst nightmare as a pastor. He fit the caricature of the arrogant, self-absorbed, uncaring, unfeeling fundamentalist pastor that we often hear about. He was one who felt that he knew the Bible well, he knew God's will, he was called by God and as such, he was unassailable. He ruled his church and his family with an iron fist. This worked well in the church - his church was able to grow. The mindless people who followed him accepted and appreciated his demagogery, but this didn't go over too well in his family. I'll stop there so as not to tell the whole story, except to say that he ends up losing his family.

This loss of family forces a crisis in his life - he re-examines his faith and nearly abandons it. What he ends up abandoning is his extreme fundamentalism. What he ends up embracing is a faith that is more relational and compassionate, less structured in terms of theology and less denominationally oriented. He completely abandons anything that smacks of tradition in favor of what seems to be a pure biblical faith.

This pure biblical faith is lived out in the lives of the pastor and members of a church he joins in Norway. It is there that he is exposed to what he perceives to be true and pure Christianity.

The backdrop for his search for an authentic faith is his search for a granddaughter he has never met, and his search for a stunning Norwegian blonde he meets on an airplane while searching for his granddaughter. Along the way he makes stops in London, Cyprus, Norway and New York City. The book has a very poignant ending that is worth waiting for.

All in all it is a very enjoyable and fast paced book. It is hard to put down. It grabs your attention at the beginning like a good fiction work should and does a good job of holding it.

The book's value is in showing the dark side of extreme fundamentalism. I use the adjective "extreme" here because not all fundamentalists are as extreme as Jason Faircloth was. However, I have been around a few of the extreme fundamentalists and know enough to know that some are pretty close to Jason Faircloth.

However, even though most fundamentalists are not as bad as Jason Faircloth, most share one important similarity - the focus on externals. Fundamentalism started as a good and proper doctrinal reaction to modernism but in its extreme forms it has descended into an externally based version of Christianity where one's spirituality is measured in terms of what they do or don't do. Although most real life people will never experience the extremes that we see in Jason's family, this story does do a good job of showing the impossibility of living by legalistic externals.

What is missing in the life of Jason Faircloth is grace, and this is where the book has value for those who are caught up in fundamentalism.

While this book tells a good story of the dangers of extreme fundamentalism there are some caveats that should be mentioned. First of all, if you are not a fundamentalist, please don't assume that all fundamentalists are like Jason Faircloth and the people in his church. Most fundamentalists are sincere Christians seeking to be faithful to Christ as best they can. They may err on the side of legalism from time to time but most folks are sincerely seeking Christ.

Also, in his search for authentic Christianity Jason throws off everything that smacks of tradition. It is true that traditionalism can be as binding and deadly as extreme fundamentalism, but a rejection of all tradition is as dangerous as becoming a flaming traditionalist. Those who reject tradition usually do so out of a desire to find pure Christianity and they assume that they can find it on their own with just their Bible and the Holy Spirit. What they fail to realize is that the Holy Spirit didn't begin speaking when they became a Christian, He has been speaking and teaching the bride of Christ for thousands of years, and it won't hurt to listen to the voices of Christians who have gone before.

Also, there is a subtle downplaying of the importance of preaching in this book. It is subtle - the author contrasts churches which are mere preaching stations with churches that are alive with what I would call body life. This is a false dichotomy - the preaching of the Word of God is central in any church and it can foster body life, rather than hinder it.

I have two a favorite quote from the book - at one point, Jason's mentor says this:

"If Christianity present in a country for a long time, and becomes tightly intertwined with the culture, is it possible that Christianity in that country could become more defined by the culture's qualities than by the actual teachings of the Bible." Overall, this is a good book - if you keep the caveats I mentioned in mind this book can help you see any legalistic tendencies in yourself and follow Jesus more fully.

Comments

[Dianne]

Wow, I am amazed to learn of a book like this and even more impressed with your insightful review. Thank you for not totally discrediting fundamentalists (of which I am no longer a part - thanks be to God), but understanding that we need to extend to them the same grace we have found. I appreciate your balanced perspective and can't wait to get my hands on this book. God bless!

[Susan Maurer]

Having just finished reading Wisdom Hunter, I not only want to add my praise to the many accolades for this book, but I really, really want to pose a question of the author. I can't for the life of me figure out why he didn't have the granddaughter Renee stay with her father Cody (Coe) on his deathbed since there's no indication in the book that he was a saved man at the time of his imminent death. She had the rest of her life to get to her grandfather Jason, but her lost dad only had days if not hours to be reconciled with God. And she let it go. The book, other than this flaw (in my opinion) is one of the best I've read this year - if not the best. But I'm dying to know why Randall let Coe die without the saving knowledge of Christ, when Renee had found Him and possibly could have led him to the Savior. But she chose instead to pursue her grandfather to the airport, when she has the rest of her life to contact him. She even knew his name and the church in Norway where to find him. She could have gotten there easily through the church in New York and her contacts there. Even though she suffered so at the hand of her father, I'm astonished - with the beautiful face and portrayal of the true Christian in Randall's book - that she let him go for all eternity that way. It would have only taken a few hours out of her life, but now Coe's lost forever, while she and her grandad have not only the rest of their lives, but all eternity together. Oh well... Thanks for listening.

[Chimwemwe]

I wish to say that Your books Mr. Randall Arthur have been a very great experience to me and I can relate to some of the persons in your books like Jordan's Crossing. i am newly married and had to move from Africa to germany and it has not been easy. People in my church did not accept me and my marriage as it was of a mixed race but when i read your books though fiction they touched me a great deal. i wish i had your personal email so I could enlighten you more on my experiences. thank you and please do keep writing as I look forward to your next books. God Bless you very much Chimwemwe

[David Wayne]

Uh thanks - you do know that I am not Randall Arthur don't you? Of course Randall if you're out there, come by and leave a word for your fans.

[Dirk Ruff]

My brother gave me this "Christian" book to read, and grinned at my apprehention at reading this kind of material. Well, I began to read and became immersed into this story in the second or third chapter. I only put the book down when I had to. I laughed and cried without control as I read. I don't read quickly, but I finished this book all too soon. There are so many philosophically sound passages and socially poignat passages that I was astounded! Randall Arthur is surprisingly intuitive and wise. I would enjoy conversing with him, one on one.

[Rhonda]

I first heard about this book when I was on a short term mission trip in Europe. I stayed at Randy's house, and had no idea that he was an author, until he gave a copy of this book to our team. And we all fought over who got to read it next. :) Excellent review.

[maria]

great book!
I even wrote Randy a letter (my first and only "fan" letter) and he wrote back!
I hope he keeps writing.

[BKJ]

This is neat. Back in November my husband and I started going to Randy's church here in GA. If I hear on any new book coming out I will try to let you know.

[Margret Sahm]

Yesterday I finished "Wisdom Hunter".My mind is like a land after huricane!
My name is Margret, I`m from Germany and I search how can I contact Mr Randall Arthur; I have so many questions. I hope there is anyone who can help me! PLEASE! At net I didnt found any contactadress but I found this webside. So I HOPE from an answer. Thank you for your helpness.
Sincerly, Margret

[Cheryl Morgan-Fowler]

I read Betrayal five years ago when going through a tramatic marital breakdown. It was a lifeline to help me cope. I have read it again in 2005. I agonized with Rachael, cried when she cried and lived each triumph. It is a MUST READ. I was glad to find Wisom Hunter also. I have recommended the book to tons of persons: a bookclub bought 10 copies, a radio cameo, and anyone I come in contact with. It is life-altertering. I would like an address to write Randall, please, and thanks. CM-F

[Ben Dover]

HI i think this book suck balls i thought it was the worst book i have ever read and if the person who wrote it was smart they would never right another book as long as they live

[Ben Dover]

HI i think this book suck balls i thought it was the worst book i have ever read and if the person who wrote it was smart they would never right another book as long as they live

[Ben Dover]

HI i think this book suck balls i thought it was the worst book i have ever read and if the person who wrote it was smart they would never right another book as long as they live

[Ben Dover]

HI i think this book suck balls i thought it was the worst book i have ever read and if the person who wrote it was smart they would never right another book as long as they live

[Ben Dover]

HI i think this book suck balls i thought it was the worst book i have ever read and if the person who wrote it was smart they would never right another book as long as they live

[Melody Corkhill]

I have read the books by this author and reccommended them to many people over the past few years. Wisdom Hunter has been loaned to friends of mine in different states and is now in south carolina. thanks for the poignant reality check.

[Melody Corkhill]

Google posted Ben Dover's comment as mine- so I am posting another to set the record straight. My comment is posted ABOVE my name, NOT underneath. Again- the book was a blessing!

[Kiba]

Good book,haven't read something this good by a Christian writer since Peretti and John Bunyan. Funny,I see myself as a "Jason Faircloth" in some ways..don't we all? ^_^

[Kevin Sorensen]

David,

I'm wondering who the publisher was back in 2003 when this first came out. WaterBrook/Multnomah/RandomHouse is re-releasing it again and I'll be posting a review in a couple of weeks. It was helpful to find your review here. I agreed with you in so many ways. There are fundamentalists who are not necessarily legalists. I thought Arthur got a little preachy here and in the "Wisdom Book" excerpts. I was also a bit bothered by his descriptions of the International Church in Norway. As a fellow pastor, I like the body life examples, felt like the preaching was a "bit weak" in its presentation, but there was never a "bad example of real life" given either. It's always a bit troubling, when in fictional accounts, types of churches are painted with a broad brush, either completely negative or wonderfully positive. Otherwise, a good book. A real book with real life traumas and heartaches that see God's grace in Christ being brought to bear upon them.