If God Were Real: A Journey into a Faith that Matters

by: John Avant, PhD

Published by: Howard Books/Simon & Schuster (July release)

Reviewed by Sharron Stockhausen

John Avant, a Southern Baptist minister from Louisiana, challenges the reader with thought-provoking questions about how today’s Christianity stacks up against the Christianity practiced by the first Christians.

Throughout his book, Avant asks uncomfortable questions. He gets the reader’s attention immediately with his question that asks if God were real, how different would the life of the believer be versus the life of the non-believer?

Avant asserts that today’s Christians live their lives criticizing almost everything rather than showing caring and compassion. He questions how that criticism squares with the Christian belief in the Holy Spirit—and the work the Holy Spirit does to work in hearts and bring about changes in people.

One solution Avant offers Christians not prone to showing God’s love is prayer. He suggests Christians don’t talk to God and, in turn, don’t listen for him to reveal his will to them. He then asks how many people would stand in line to get into churches and prayer meetings if they really believed God were real and present in those places.

Avant moves on to talk about the Christian family and suggests the family is a God-given gift that provides us the chance for shared life and love. Yet, today’s Christian family doesn’t look much different from the non-Christain family. Christian marriages fail. Avant suggests that if God were real, the commitment made in marriage would mirror Jesus’ love and commitment to us. Just as love wasn’t easy on the cross, love isn’t easy in marriage. Jesus gave us the model for love and commitment, yet we don’t honor it.

Every chapter poses challenges to the reader. While the book is not an easy read in terms of comfort, it is an easy read in terms of seeing the issues and evidence presented. Avant offers Scripture to support his viewpoint. He also offers vignettes from others and from his personal experience.

Wherever they are in their Christian walk, Christians will want to read this book, then do some self-examination about whether or not they’re living their Christian lives as If God Were Real.

Armchair Interviews says: A read that presents many challenging questions.