Book Review: Signs of Life

Signs of Life: Back to the Basics of Authentic Christianity, by David Jeremiah

If there was a practical, written guide or manual for Christians individuals, groups, and churches for the 21st century, I think it might resemble Signs of Life. The Christian life is presented as a set of positive contributions to and interactions with the world. Dr. Jeremiah combines both the practical aspects of social justice with the critical motivation of solid Biblical theology. In other words, how a Christian understands and views God and their relationship with Him, is the motivation behind the acts of the Christian. In this way, Signs of Life avoids becoming yet another social justice treatise while at the same time avoiding the other ditch where good theories are promoted but there is no translation of the theories to everyday life.

The contents of the book itself are given as a 40-day devotional, similar to a number of other popular works in recent years. The 40-days are divided into six sections.

1. Signs of Life
2. Dusty Shoes: Living a Relevant Life
3. Worn-Out Knees: Living a Yielded Life
4. Rolled-Up Sleeves: Living an Authentic Life
5. Open Hands: Living a Generous Life
6. Outstretched Arms: Living a Compassionate Life

Each day includes illustrations and stories, Scripture passages, a key thought, a key verse, and a few questions for reflection or discussion. Signs of Life is solidly based on Biblical teachings, particularly those of Jesus. Obviously the primary use of this book should be for the reader to discover new ways, or be reminded of old ways to both draw closer to God and to live out their Christianity. That said, if you are preparing sermons or talks, or even if you're just leading discussions in the area of discipleship and Christian living, there are many wonderful illustrations and quotations that can be pulled out to provide emphasis to your sermons or discussions. I've used it this way several times already.

I think the best aspect of Signs of Life is that it provides a positive vision of an authentic Christian. It shows the positive qualities for which Christians ought to be known. Far too often, Christians are focused so much on avoidance that we enter a fortress mentality and literally close the doors to our lives. We become known for what we don't do and for shooting arrows out of the fortress into the "attackers" and "enemies" outside. We might occasionally gather into a band, rush out of the fortress to raid and take prisoner (aka, evangelize) a few of the "enemy" before retreating back into the fortress. Rather, Signs of Life is adamant that Christians come to see the people in the world not as the enemy and to engage them in positive, loving, generous, and compassionate ways.