Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 05:14 (Mar 2001)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

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CTJ 5:14 (March 2001) p. 86

Book Reviews

Help Me Believe by Cliffe Knechtle, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000, 131 pp., paperback, $9.99

The subtitle to this book is: Direct Answers to Real Questions. Knechtle does a fair job in reaching that goal. His previous book is entitled Give Me an Answer. In writing this defense of Christianity, he chose a question-and-answer format, with questions arranged by category. Some of those categories include evil, truth, relativism, morality, the nature of God, and relationships. The author has much experience talking to college students, and that is why he labels them “real” inquiries. He gives his response to the 39 questions he hears most often. The volume has many commendable aspects. It is down-to-earth yet there is a strong emphasis on Who Christ is and how to know Him more intimately. As a believer comes to know Him, he realizes how sinful his heart is, a point Knechtle hammers home. The answers are not just from his own thinking. He has inserted a number of appropriate Bible passages. His many stories and illustrations are utilitarian, commenting on several movies and books (some of which were unfamiliar to this reviewer) in order to make a particular concept more understandable to his audience.

Happily, some good thoughts on interpretation are stated. He is lucid on his belief that the Scriptures should be taken literally while at the same time acknowledging the Bible contains figures of speech, symbols, etc., and that context is important (pp. 114,115). Two other answers are noteworthy. His response to a question on abortion is one of his longest answers. It is thorough (covering morality, rape, etc.) but not overwhelming. He addresses the problem of evil in the world with equal adroitness.

CTJ 5:14 (March 2001) p. 87

“Although I do not know why God allowed evil, I do know he wants to destroy it. That is why there is a hell. Although I do not know why God allowed pain, I do know he wants to wipe every tear from our eyes and give us joy for eternity in his presence. That is why there is a heaven” (p.55).

The volume is not free of flaws, however. With some of his solutions he could have been more to the point. Though few, they were unnecessarily long and seemed to not be directly (remember the subtitle?) related to the question. Beginning on p.99, he writes several paragraphs responding to question 28, “Can’t I worship God without worshiping Jesus?” Most of what is there is good but it seems to go way beyond what the inquiry was about. Additionally, he writes, “To repent is to change radically.” That statement is not accurate. “Repent” in Greek means to change one’s mind. Within a Christian context it is desirable for one’s behavior...

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