There are times in life when you come across an person who speaks, thinks, and writes in a way that just connects with your own soul. John C. Lennox is one of those authors for me. Recently, my middle daughter and I were discussing this after we read his recent book, Can Science Explain Everything? resonated deeply with us. As the coronavirus pandemic hit all of us, I had great interest to hear that Dr. Lennox was working on a small book entitled, Where is God in a Coronavirus World?
Many people move to provide quick answers whenever there are national or global crises which shake the hearts and minds of people. We saw books like this written when global terrorism reared its ugly head in the early 2000s. Others have written quickly to respond to the coronavirus pandemic as well. What makes this volume unique is that it comes from the mind of an Oxford mathematician who possesses a fatherly heart for human beings. Lennox has the capacity to go from the pastoral to the philosophical with nimbleness and aplomb. He writes with compassion to those who are feeling the weight of our current reality, but is unwilling to give shallow and unsatisfactory answers a pass.
Lennox’s goals for this book were to provide a conversational answer to our wrestling with the ideas of God, pandemic, skepticism, and our humanity when facing a global plague. In the introduction he describes his purpose in writing:
“This books consist of my reflections on what we are experiencing right now. I started writing it a week ago, and things have changed quickly since then and no doubt will do again. The views are express here are my own, and should not be attributed to the university or organisations with which I am affiliated. There will, inevitably be some rough edges and inadequacies for that I apologise. I would invite you, the reader, to do the book like this: I am sitting with you in a coffee shop if only we could!, And you have asked me the question on this book cover. I put down my coffee cup in attempt to give you an honest answer. What follows is what I would try to say to convey some comfort, support and hope.”
Lennox, 5
The strengths of this book are evident. It is a very short, but by no means lightweight, volume that can be read in under an hour. At the same time, the work does not sacrifice seriousness of thought represented by the forty-six references in a mere 62 pages. The book begins with our common humanity and feelings of vulnerability during the global lockdowns due to Covid-19. From this ground he moves to encourage us to understand that how we see the world deeply impacts how we respond to crisis. After this, an honest question is asked of atheism and western secularism, and whether this worldview gives satisfying answers in times like this. Lennox finally turns to look at the difference that a loving God makes to our life even in the worst of times.
Lennox makes a compelling case that the Christian gospel speaks to both our suffering in the world and our longing for hope, love, and acceptance within it. The sacrificial suffering of Jesus of Nazareth, a crown made of thorns, is the key to our understanding a loving God in the midst of times of pain.
Lennox relies in several key places in his argument on the work of 20th century apologist and author CS Lewis. Although some might find this predictable, I found this highly appropriate for times like this. After all, Lewis‘s lifetime contained a global pandemic and both of the great world wars of the early 1900s. He too, offered his compelling case for Christianity to a secularizing society amidst global crises. If there was any time to lean on Lewis it is certainly now.
For an erudite scholar, Lennox maintains his argument throughout with a pastoral and even fatherly tone. Lennox conveys this in righting and is even more so in person. He clearly believes what he is commending to others and evidently cares about his reader. More than a mere intellectual jousting which is far too common among apologetics, Lennox provides here a compelling case that leads us to hope in Jesus Christ. In the postscript of the book he points us in this direction after claiming to not have all the answers. His voice is full of both humility but also a confident trust. The final words of the book bear repeating as we close:
“In the meantime, I shall follow the advice of the great 19th century preacher Charles had an Spurgeon:
‘God is too good to be unkind and he is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace his hand, we must trust his heart.’
I hope that reading this has persuaded you to do that; or, at least, that it has shown you that The God who wore a crown of thorns is worth some more of your time and thought. I hope that you will investigate more fully whether he might indeed be the one who can give hope and peace, whatever the months and years to come May bring.”
Lennox, 62.
This is a volume I have already given to each of my children, several friends, and I am ordering more to give away here soon. My hope is to use it as a tool to talk about Jesus with those who greatly need the hope of his love, forgiveness, and peace in a time when our mortality and vulnerability are ever before each of us.
The book is available in audiobook as well as paperback wherever you buy books online.