Book Review: Clear Winter Nights

I have a confession to make. I do not often read fiction. I prefer to spend my time in Christian Living books and theological issues. I enjoy fiction, but I feel like my time is better spent with nonfiction that will challenge me and strengthen my faith. So when I saw a book by Trevin Wax that said it was Theology in Story, I thought to myself, “Okay, the best of both worlds!” I get a story, and I get theology to make me think. And that is exactly what you get from his book Clear Winter Nights.

I will begin by giving a summary of the plot. A young man named Chris breaks off his engagement to a girl he loves and withdraws from a church planting team where he had made a commitment. Why? Because he is having serious doubts about his faith in Christ. He struggled by himself for awhile, but finally had to do something about it.

He has a grandfather who had been a faithful pastor of a church in a small town in Tennessee. Chris was very close to him, but did not get to see him often. But Gramps had a stroke, and one weekend needed some help while other caregivers were not available. Chris volunteered. You get the sense that his grandfather knows everything that Chris is thinking as he patiently probes with comments and questions to get him to open up.

Through the weekend, he had many conversations with his grandfather about his struggles. This is where the theology enters the plot. Here are some of the questions going through Chris’s mind.

1.       Aren’t all religions basically the same in that they teach a morality that is to be followed?

2.      Should we be sharing the gospel with others? That would make it looks like Christianity is better than others.

3.      Why are churches so opposed to gay people? Can Christians be friends with them? Do we have the right to judge them?

4.      How can we forgive someone who has hurt us? Is it okay to get revenge?

All of these questions are discussed at length through the plot of the story, with Gramps doing what grandfathers often do: offer their wisdom. And Gramps had plenty to offer. I found it interesting that in a matter of a couple of days, so much was accomplished. I guess that’s what happens in novels.

Back to the plot. Chris leaves his grandfather’s home with a different perspective. But I won’t ruin the story for you by telling you what happens. Chris learned a lot by listening to his grandfather. I don’t think all of his questions are completely answered, but he leaves with much to think about as he continues to wrestle with difficult questions about the Christian life.

This book will help you to think through some issues that we all raise in our minds at one time or another. I’m sure that’s exactly what Trevin Wax has intended. We can all benefit from a grandfather like Chris has. And we can certainly use a little challenge in our thinking through our faith. There are discussion questions for each chapter that will help the reader wrestle with the same questions Chris was asking. These could provide an interesting “Literature Circle” for a group.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.