Book and Movie Reviews

131 Christians Everyone Should Know

by
Mark Galli and Ted Olsen, Editors

   I just finished a very interesting book. I thought it would be profitable to read along with my morning devotions. It is a short biographical sketch of 131 "great" individuals of the faith, many of whom I have read about while others were totally new to me.
   In my reading several things stood out. One of them was the fact that most of them suffered in one fashion or another. Many had bouts of depression, were persecuted, or because of their practices (i.e., prolonged fasting) did damage to their body. Another factor present was the most seemed to succumb to one form of human frailty or another. Some fought mental anguish, some had fights with temptation and at times gave into them.
   In my reading I discovered that there were two common aspects in all of them: dedication and passion. In our living for Christ we should aspire to be like them in these characteristics. We should not, and could not, hold to all of their doctrine and practices, but their dedication and passion could not be denied. The editors, Mark Galli and Ted Olsen, make this statement in the Introduction.
   "This doesn't mean we've chosen the 131 Christians we most admire or with whom we
most agree. This is a book about 131 Christians everyone should know because of what
they've contributed to history and because of their intrinsic interest--not 131 Christians
we should all emulate. Though certainly all have something to teach us."
   There are theologians, preachers, evangelists, pastors, musicians, artists, poets, writers, denominational founders, scientists, activists, rulers...well get the picture. Not only is the biographical sketch important but also the historical context in which the person lived.
   Take time as you read the book to reflect upon the individuals and the time and culture in which they were living. As J.I. Packer wrote in the Foreward, "There is not a dull line in this book; its well-chosen 131 characters come vividly to life, as our brothers and sisters in Christ..."