Book Review of "Cross Roads" by Wm. Paul Young

BOOK REVIEW

The Rev. Willis R. Schwichtenberg, Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois

“Cross Roads,”by Wm. Paul Young published by Faith Words, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4555-1604-9.

Like its predecessor book, “The Shack,” this book might end up being savaged by critics for its unusual depiction of God but, in reflection,  I think it is strange, however, that few people overly criticize Dante, John Bunyan or C.S. Lewis for their “novel” approaches to things religious.  Perhaps Wm. Young might join this pantheon of classic religious novelists.

The hero (or antihero) of the book is Anthony Spencer who is a very wealthy and materialistic businessman who has little to do emotionally with his family and friends.  He has a couple of failed marriages to the same person and only married her a second time to exact some kind of monetary revenge.  He lost a son when he was very young and Spencer never treats his daughter properly.  He doesn’t believe in God and after a fall he is left in a coma in the hospital.  He wakes up and finds that God believes in him and he “meets” Jesus, the Holy Spirit (in the form of a Lakota woman) and recognizes the presence of “papa God.”

He travels through landscape regions which are, in essence, his very being and he “returns” to the world by literally being in certain people’s heads.  It reminds me a bit of the movie “Being John Malkovich” but it is done much better.  Spencer (“Tony”) is able to examine his life and, ultimately, is given the chance to make things right with his former wife, daughter, brother, and a number of people with whom he connects.

Given the chance to “choose” to physically heal one person, he is challenged to consider many possibilities to whom he might give this unique once in a lifetime gift.  The reader finds himself knowing, but still wondering, to whom he will give this gift.  He also manages to right many wrongs due to his unusual reflections on God’s mercy and grace.

I found the book a pleasant read and you cannot help but get closer to God as you turn the pages and think about how real God is and how involved He is in our world.  The book is not a book on theology, though there are many pleasant theological insights.  In my opinion, it defends some very basic and very orthodox concepts about our Triune God. 

For example, when Tony is talking with Jesus He finds that Jesus, according to His human nature, is dependent on the omniscience of God the Father.  Though Jesus “can know” all things He willingly sets aside His divine nature and “waits” for God to reveal all things.  The patience of the Jesus and Holy Spirit characters is outstanding. 

This book is a great inspirational read that gives glory to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  If you take the time to read it, please don’t bog down and assume that it is some kind of Biblical treatise.