Visual Theology: Seeing and Understanding the Truth About God

Visual Theology: Seeing and Understanding the Truth about God is a new Zondervan publication (2016) by Tim Challies and Josh Byers. It is not simply an apologetics book written to help people understand key doctrines of the Christian faith. It presents the essence of the gospel in word and graphic art form to teach people “how to live the Christian life and how to train yourself not just by believing the right doctrines and truth but by putting those beliefs into action (Tim Challies & Josh Byers, Visual Theology: Seeing and Understanding the Truth about God, Zondervan, 2016, p. 12). It is, thus, a book on discipleship. The section on how to put off sin and put on Christ is intensely practical and life-changing for those who read and apply the teachings of the book.The authors have structured their approach around four central themes:• Grow Close to Christ (Understand your identity in relationship with Christ)• Understand the Work of Christ (The drama of God’s story and the doctrines of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection)• Becoming like Christ (What Christians need to put on and put off to be Christ-like in behavior and attitudes)• Live for Christ (The implications of Christ’s leadership in vocation, relationship and stewardship)The centrality of Christ, who is Himself the core of the Christian faith, keeps the main thing the main thing. People using the book, therefore, will continually be challenged to live out their relationship with Christ through the grace available in Him. The authors say:“It is impossible to overstate the importance of knowing your identity—who you are in relation to Christ. Your new identity makes all the difference. It changes everything as you live this Christian life. If you want to grow close to Christ, you need to know who you are and you need to know whose you are: You are in Christ, and you belong to Christ. There is no better person to be, and no better place to be” (p. 38).Doctrine is given its due place but is always secondary to the development of a vibrant, fruit-bearing relationship with Christ. On doctrine:“It is beyond the scope of this book to look at specific doctrines and to show how they promote love, humility, obedience, unity, worship, and healthy growth, though I have provided some examples in the study guide. Every doctrine is a gift of God, given for our good and His glory. Each doctrine gives you a sharper and clearer picture of the God who is and grants you the privilege of knowing Him better. Christian, you are more than your doctrine, but not less. Sound doctrine is absolutely critical to the mature, growing healthy Christian” (p. 87).On relationship with God:“Never lose the joy and the wonder of knowing God and being known by God. You have entered into a relationship with the single most powerful and beautiful Being who exists. You have the joy and privilege of hearing from Him and speaking to Him. You are not merely the adherent of a religion, but a participant in a living relationship, a genuine friendship. So read to listen to God, and pray to speak to God, and grow in that most precious of relationships. Thank God for the immense privilege of being a friend of God” (p. 63).I personally hope this book has a very wide global distribution and becomes a must-read for every church that is seeking life transformation for its members.ML Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 7/8/2016

Popular Christian blogger Tim Challies has teamed up with infographic illustrator Josh Byers to produce a singularly unique book that combines practical theology with the skill of an artist. At its heart this book is about Christian health, growth, and maturity communicated through word and picture. It's a “visual theology”!This book is structured by the four main disciplines that give us spiritual fitness: growing closer to Christ, understanding the doctrine of Christ, becoming more like Christ, living for Christ. In examining each of these in greater detail Challies guides Christians through the benefits of redemption and how those are communicated to us, what our identity in Jesus entails, how to cultivate a continuing relationship with him by Word and prayer, and centering us on Jesus in our vocation, relationships, and stewardship. Each page is accompanied by color-bursting infographics which may help visual learners connect with what is written.This is an excellently formatted presentation that does not read like some demanding books on spiritual disciplines. Challies has mastered the skill of brevity without sacrificing the depth of content, and his refreshing look at the Christian life is thoroughly Christ-centered. With little exception this reviewer was quite pleased with the content only wishing a few things would be expanded or clarified. Case in point was the terse section on the role of preaching for the Christian life. The author mainly emphasized an individualistic approach of preaching to one's self, rather than the authoritative proclamation of the Bible as one of the primary means of grace. Nevertheless, the content was helpful.The infographics are a unique addition. As one who was not overly familiar with them it seemed, at first, they might be a detraction from the written words. However, that was not the case. Aside from being an visual aid to the reader, they lend the book a certain aesthetic appeal that can only be described as fresh and crisp. Perhaps one day they will be seen as dated, but hopefully this book is an enduring help to growing Christians.

I'm loving Visual Theology because I see it as the first theology book that I could give to someone in our church or student ministry that I think they'd really be able to enjoy and easily understand. It's no small talent to be able to explain the deep truths of Scripture with engaging and interesting illustrations. This book is beautiful throughout and the graphics produce as much thought as the supporting text surrounding them. For those of us with short attention spans, we're being challenged on several plains.I have 2 hopes for the future of Visual Theology. First, I hope that this is just a beginning. There's so much practical, yet important theology that our church folk never consider and I hope there are plans for sequels. As I read through it, the topics presented here are a strong and deep jump for a newcomer to systematic theology, but they'll love it and want more.Secondly, many of us are teachers of the Word and I can see there being a need for the graphics being available in a presentable and reproducible format. I can envision companion resources for the church to use.

This book serves as a concise summary of the basic tenets of Christianity: gospel of Jesus Christ, God's redemption narrative, and sanctification in the Christian's life. The colorful graphics properly accentuate the rock-solid theology. Read this for your soul's encouragement. Be reminded of what it simply means to follow Christ daily.Then when you're done, place it on your coffee table for decoration. But don't forget to pick up every once in a while to reread, refresh, and reaffirm that which you believe.