Book Review: Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.

One thing expected of a book reviewer is to suggest a potential readership. In this case the subtitle has done that task; the only readers excluded would be those who consider themselves neither saints nor sinners. In his introduction Ortlund expands on these two categories to include details of his intended readers. One group that seems particularly relevant in the Covid world is “Those whose Christian lives feel like constantly running up a descending escalator” (13).

Ortlund is well placed to deal with his chosen topic as a current pastor, a doctoral graduate of Wheaton College, an established writer and a father of five. He would probably add “and as a sinner and sufferer.” The book’s content comes from three sources: the Bible, other people’s published research, some of it going back centuries, and the author’s linking commentary. The proportion of these three varies from chapter to chapter.

The content is clearly set out in the titles of the twenty-three chapters, as three examples will show. In Chapter Nine, “An advocate”, Ortlund explains the underlying meaning of the Greek parakletos, translated as ‘advocate’ using sources that go back to John Bunyan. That chapter’s final sentence reminds us of the contrast between what may be our “darkness and despair” and His “brightness and sufficiency” (94). Then in Chapter Seventeen, “His ways are not our ways”, three questions are answered. Who is this advocate for? When shall we receive this advocacy? Why can we be helped by this advocate? The chapter opens with a reminder from John Calvin. “There is nothing that troubles our consciences more than when we think that God is like ourselves.” (155). In Chapter Twenty-one, “He loved us then; He’ll love us now”, there is huge comfort for anyone who may be weighed down by a burden of sin. Christ’s death for us is described in vivid language as a “heavenly rescue mission” (192).

Supporting the content is the author’s way of writing. In many places a sentence leaps out by saying so much in so few words. Here are the opening words from one such sentence in “The emotional life of Christ.” (Chapter Eleven). “While Christ is a lion to the impenitent, he is a lamb to the penitent…” (111). The writing strikes a balance between an academic style and directly addressing the readers, often with tasks such as “finish this sentence. In Chapter Three, “The Happiness of Christ” (35) the sentence we are invited to complete starts with Thomas Goodwin’s words that Christ’s “own joy, comfort, happiness, and glory are increased and enlarged by… ”. Incidentally, although Ortlund quotes from a 2011 version, Goodwin first wrote these words in 1651. Another sentence to be completed is from Jonathan Edwards in Chapter Twenty-three: “The creation of the world seems to have been especially for this end….” (206) Ortlund’s ongoing acknowledgements of the works of other writers are listed in detailed footnotes that make them easy to follow up. Not all his sources are centuries old; twentieth and twenty-first century writers are also quoted.

A different suggestion for involving the reader comes in Chapter Twelve (A tender friend) where we are invited to draw concentric circles to contain the names of our friends, moving towards the centre, where the number becomes smaller. Tasks such as these would make the book a useful text in a theology class or even for home group studies.

Then there are all the very practical suggestions about how we can behave. For instance, in Chapter Ten, “The beauty in the heart of Christ” we are reminded of how we might behave towards the children in our lives, whether in our families or our churches or elsewhere. This includes practical connections through friendship and answering children’s need to know how Jesus feels about them.

How will people read this book? For some, the order in which Ortlund has chosen to sequence the twenty-three chapters will be the obvious choice. However, thanks to the very focused headings, other readers will be drawn to an aspect that is relevant to them at that moment. “Able to Sympathise” (Chapter Four) and “Rich in Mercy” (Chapter Nineteen) are two that stood out for me. A third way of selecting what to read and in which order would be to search the three-page index. Here we find, for instance, that references to mercy are not limited to the chapter with that name. Finally, for readers who want to follow up particular Scripture passages, there is a three-page Scripture Index.

For anyone wanting to take further the book’s invitation to draw close to God, Chris Webb, God Soaked Life: Discovering a Kingdom Spirituality (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2017) is recommended. As its sub-title suggests, Webb suggests ways in which we can live in the reality of God’s presence. In addition, Ortlund himself has written several books, at least two of which are studies of particular books of the Bible. They could be worth looking out for as home group study books.

Marilyn Lewis is a retired academic from the University of Auckland where she taught courses in language teaching and learning. Her qualifications include a Diploma in Theological studies from Bryntirion College in Wales. She enjoys writing, especially co-writing articles and books, and book reviews.