Book Review

Book Review:  The Romance of Grace, Jim McNeely III

After reading Jim McNeely's first book, The Romance of Grace, I must confess that I found it difficult to follow and somewhat elusive at times. I certainly appreciate his desire to exhort the believer to "passionately love Christ." However, it is clear that several issues of doctrinal concern became glaringly evident. 

For instance, the premise of the  book is founded upon the couplet of parables found in Matthew thirteen. These two parables, the hidden treasure, and the pearl of great price are to be set in context alongside the other parables found in Matthew thirteen. My concern arises from McNeely's faulty interpretation of the pearl of great price. While it is obvious that the two parables are "mirror images" of one another, the author presents a different view. He asserts that the man in the first parable is a believer seeking after God, more of God. Nothing wrong with that, right? Yet, it is obvious that the true nature of this parable was to point lost men to Christ. The opening verses of Matthew thirteen indicate that Jesus was speaking (from a boat) to a very large crowd of people who had gathered. These individuals were  "unbelievers" who were in desperate need of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. In parable after parable,  the Lord is presenting the way of salvation to them. This is done in a repetitive fashion, which was a common way of empathizing something of great importance. McNeeely then alleges that the man in the second parable is God and that "we are the pearl." Do you see anything wrong with this? The problem with this view is that it is not speaking about the sacrificial death of Christ for this perceived pearl. It points more clearly to the value of the pearl. The value and worth is found in the pearl. Christ is the pearl, not us. The Bible clearly says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  We were unloveable, and ungodly, and of no inherent value. McNeely's flawed interpretation of this parable comes from the misconception that it points to the relationship between Christ and His bride. When in actuality it points to Christ, as He is outlining the way and worth of salvation. 

The book, as a whole, has several points that will raise your eyebrows as well as your conscience. I commend the author for pointing us to Christ. However, I wish that more consideration would have been given on  "how to"effectively flesh this out.

This review was done for Cross Focused Reviews as part of their book program.