“Surprised by Paradox” by Jen Pollock Michel: Book Review
Paradox can be intimidating. It is a complexity that disrupts our comfort. It is a tension line between pillars of truth that feel impossible to grasp equally. It is mystery that requires revelation, and after revelation, trust.
Yet, paradox is also freeing. It releases us to believe things that at face value seem contradictory. It opens the door to deeper faith as we learn to accept the wisdom of a God who will always be too great for us to comprehend. Most especially, in times of sorrow and struggle, it provides a place for wrestling, which is needed most when we feel powerless.
This is a bit of a departure from my normal story-oriented fare, but I read this fascinating book called Surprised by Paradox and wanted to share with you why I found it a worthwhile read. Take a look at the review – or just read the book!
Jen Pollock Michel approaches paradox on her knees, a Jesus-follower seeking to walk his path, bowing humbly at every monument on the road.
Jen talks about the Incarnation as a disciple fascinated with the mystery of the God-man.
She talks about the Kingdom as one who longs to see its arrival.
She talks about Grace as one who knows she needs it, and who has felt its power.
She talks about Lament as one who has walked dark roads and knows the oppressiveness of the silence of God, yet trusts his goodness even when it is the hardest thing to do.
Her prose is rich and beautiful, and she intermingles personal stories with Biblical stories with theological depth. She is truly a gifted writer. It makes for a relatable, familiar read that puts a very solid and earthy context to the truths of Scripture.
If I had to level any criticism, it would be these two things:
The first is that Jen makes perhaps too liberal a use of the word “paradox.” If paradox is the tension between two truths that seem at face value to be mutually exclusive or contradictory, then some things Jen calls paradox really are not. For instance, at one point she remarks that it is a paradox that grace sometimes requires hard words but insists we not deliver them harshly. That is really not a paradox – most people, Jesus-follower and non-follower alike, at some point learn that hard words and harsh words are different things, and that hard words spoken in love are a good thing. It may be uncomfortable to us, at times, but uncomfortable is not the same as paradoxical. On the other hand, a few pages before this example, Jen talks about the paradoxical tension between Law and Gospel and unfolds that balance beautifully, illustrating how that tension helps us avoid both legalism and antinomianism. Trevin Wax said it well in his review of this book, that Jen is at her best when she speaks about paradox in theological terms.
The second criticism may seem minor, but it is worth noting. A number of times Jen refers to listening for God’s voice and hearing him speak. In the context of Jen’s writing and her professed beliefs (she notes in the book that she’s Presbyterian, and based on her theology I’m assuming she means PCA, a.k.a., the Biblical branch of Presbyterian), I understand her to mean that she looks for God’s wisdom and guidance, and those reminders and signs that God gives his followers to help them discern his will.
I think (and I hope I’m not putting words in her mouth) that she would reject any notion that God reveals his will apart from or in contradiction to his Word. (In some ways, this is a paradox all its own – it is right to say that God speaks only through his Word. It is also right to say that God speaks to us through our fellow believers, through his angels, and through our own memories and understandings. The balance between the two is to remember that the Word is the clearest voice of God given to people, and all other voices are only his when they serve the Word, and never when they seek to separate from or be master of it.)
I bring up this concern because reading a book like this can be raw – it is a spiritual workout. Raw experiences like these can easily send our flawed brains spinning in odd directions, and I could see someone mistaking Jen’s “hearing God speak” for permission to look for divine validation for very wrong-headed ideas. Unfortunately, I did not feel Jen said enough clear words surrounding those to head that off. My caution to the reader, then, is to understand that the voices, urgings, and inclinations you might hear are only as true as the Word itself that God has already given. If ever you aren’t sure, stick with the Word.
Despite these two criticisms, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. It is an excellent read. At times, her wording is so well-crafted it feels like reading a work of art.
Each chapter is broken down into several sections, with regular enough breaks that you can get through a chunk in a short sitting. Jen’s writing style is easy and enjoyable to read, so it never feels like a slog. Each chapter ends with several questions for discussion, which would make this an excellent book for a small group or a book study. If you are looking for a book to gently take you deeper into God’s truth, this is a good choice.
Michael Card sang to us to “surrender the hunger to say you must know and the courage to say, ‘I believe,’ for the power of paradox opens your eyes and blinds those who say they can see.”
(Listen to “God’s Own Fool” – you’ll thank me later).
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brandon Steenbock
Brandon serves as Young Adult Minister at St. Mark Lutheran Church, De Pere/Green Bay, WI. He's married to Nikki, and together they have two sons. Passions include talking about Jesus, literature, and coffee.
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