But are we satellites?

WE ARE SATELLITES:
How to put God at the centre of your life
By Martin Saunders
SPCK. 146 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 0 281 084 234

Using ‘satellite’ as a metaphor for the Christian life, Martin Saunders aims to encourage young people to be ‘all in’ as they follow Jesus.

It’s a good read. He writes well with an engaging manner that’s accessible. There are some really helpful and encouraging stories and illustrations, and you can just feel his natural passion for Jesus. It’s earthed and practical, direct and yet gentle. And for those of us beyond our teenage years it’s not too ‘youthy’, although I did find his regular asides, each marked with an asterisk, a little irritating at times. Maybe his youth group love it though.

I started reading this with a degree of scepticism as Martin isn’t quite from the ‘en conservative theological stable’, but I’m glad I read it: it did me good, and I guess it would do the same for you.

I’m not sure though, that our youth minister would wholeheartedly recommend it to our young people. Neither would I, I’m afraid, because I have some questions. For example, is ‘satellite’ the most helpful metaphor for the Christian life? Does Saunders actually believe in penal substitution? Isn’t there a more refined understanding of John 14 than saying that the ‘even greater things than these’ of verse 12 are referring to even more amazing physical miracles?

He is more charismatic than me, so his definitions of prophecy and words of knowledge/wisdom wouldn’t be mine. But the great majority of this book is great, which makes me really sad that I can’t recommend it wholeheartedly for those who are learning their way in the Christian life. It’s just that there are a few areas where I really can’t agree with his teaching or the resulting trajectory.

Oh, and I’d love him to change the title! Because I think this book is better than the title suggests.