Humility: True Greatness by C. J. Mahaney, Multnomah Books, 2005. Link is to the book’s Amazon page.
This little book packs a lot into a few pages. We’d had it around the house for years and I’d never read it, which is a shame, as I could have benefited from it much sooner. At first I struggled to get through it, as I found it a bit dry. Come on, C.J.! Tell us a few jokes, the way you do in your sermons! (I’ve heard Mahaney speak several times when he was a guest preacher at a former church.) As the book went on, though, I became more and more involved in it. The best chapters come at the end.
Let me quote from chapter 9, “Encouraging Others”:
We’re all in need of grace. . . . So let us pray, “Lord, help me discern what kind of grace this person needs.” For those who are legalistic or feel condemned, we want to bring justifying grace into their souls. For those struggling with a besetting sin, we want to bring sanctifying grace. To those experiencing suffering, we want to bring comforting grace. To those who are just weary, we want to refresh their souls with sustaining grace. The list goes on and on” (118).
Lots of wisdom in that short passage! As someone who struggles daily, even hourly, with my words, these ideas are convicting and helpful. But my favorite part of the book is chapter 11, “Responding Humbly to Trials.” I could say, with some justification, that there have been some trials at our house lately, what with Gideon’s cancer and Jim’s job loss. Speaking only for myself, I’d have to say that these trials haven’t been all that severe. I haven’t had to go through the pain, boredom, and fear that Gideon has experienced during the many weeks stretching from March 17 until now. I wasn’t the one who was summarily dismissed from a job. My role has been on the sidelines. Still, I’ve struggled with fear myself during this time. Mahaney’s words ring true: “Indeed, we should strive to develop a theology of suffering ahead of time, so we’re prepared for suffering and sustained throughout our experience of it. Because the crucial unanswered question is not whether we will suffer, but how we’ll respond when we suffer” (138). One of the great blessings to me from all the chaos of the past four months (can it possibly have been that long?) has been to realize that yes, I do believe what I say I believe. Imperfectly, yes, but sincerely. I love that Mahaney uses the book of Habakkuk as his central example in this chapter, because I love that book so much and have used a paraphrase of 1:5: “Prepare to be amazed” as a mental prod to remind myself that God is at work in my life and the lives of those around me, if only I will see it.
I hate to introduce a negative comment here, but many who read this review may be aware of the controversy and scandal that has developed around Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries. He has categorically denied the charge that he kept quiet about the abuse of children by a youth pastor under his leadership. The case is ongoing at this point. So why should I bother to post a positive review of Mahaney’s book in the midst of all this? Simply because it has been a source of real blessing and conviction to me. Paul’s words in Philippians 1:18 seem relevant here: “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice, yes, and I will continue to rejoice” (NIV).