Author's Foreword

from the booklet: Christianity as Jesus Taught It

Who am I?

After a friend read an early draft of this booklet, he said he felt readers would want to know who wrote it and why. I’d thought to keep myself out of it. It’s not about me. But, I did see my friend’s point, so here’s a little about me and why I came to write this booklet.

All my life, I wanted to be a novelist. I came close to being published so many times—once I even had a contract with the huge publisher, Simon & Schuster.

Some of my novels are set in Reformation Germany during the time of Martin Luther. I know about the rise of strong leaders, debates over doctrine, the fracturing of the church, friendships, families. That’s why what’s happening today scares me. But, like most of us, I didn’t see any solution or anything I could do.

Then, I found Oswald Chambers. Some Christians may know Chambers’ famous devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. But most have never heard of him. He was a Scottish teacher who died during World War 1. What could someone from that long ago have to say to us?

I was raised in a very conservative denomination. In later years, I skewed liberal. But whether I attended an Evangelical church or an Episcopal one, I was troubled. Something seemed missing. We seemed more concerned with the literal words of the Bible or our social programs than with Christ’s authentic message.

I had no idea that Oswald Chambers had written anything other than his daily devotional. Then, a friend mentioned that she was reading other books by him. A search showed me that he had written over thirty books. Except he didn’t write them. He died in a camp in Egypt when he was 43 years old. His wife spent the rest of her life transcribing all her verbatim shorthand notes from his lessons and publishing them as books.

I forked out $40 for the Complete Works of Oswald Chambers. And it is no exaggeration to say it changed my life, changed me at the most foundational level. All I had struggled with for so long: my anger, my resentment, my wounded feelings—suddenly, I had the power to sweep all that away. All I worried about, all I feared, I no longer worried or feared. Finally, after all these years of seeking, here was Christianity as Jesus taught it. The words he meant, the claims he made for us, the peace he promised.

I began to feel strongly that I should try to share this understanding, both with Christians who are honestly seeking and with nonchristians who are appalled at what they believe Christianity is doing to our country. The internet is a megaphone, and there are so many voices creating a cloud of static. I longed for the original message of Jesus. In a book to hold in my hands.

I have included quotes from the Bible to support my points, but I remember what Jesus said: You search the scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life…and you will not come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39)

In a few weeks, I’m heading out, to live in my van and listen to people—Christians and nonchristians—all across our country. Maybe that will lead to a real book or maybe not.

But for now, I have this to give to you. I pray for blessings and discernment for every reader of this little booklet and send you all my love.