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Becoming more like Christ: A Contemporary Biblical Journey

Author:	Peter R Holmes and Susan B Williams
Pages:	177
Price:	£9.99
ISBN:	978 1 842227 543 6

Reviewed by Terry Hinks.

Becoming more like Christ has the noble aim of encouraging people to grow in their Christian discipleship - or rather allowing Christ to be more fully formed within them, transforming their daily lives, their relationships and lifestyles.

Peter Holmes and Susan Williams argue that to be Christ-like is to be fully human, to be made whole. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, but it does not happen automatically - it requires us to embrace change in our lives, to choose and pursue it intellectually and emotionally. It is a journey in which we can follow or resist, and it is a journey in community. The authors rightly challenge the individualistic approaches of today and re-emphasise the Hebrew holistic view of self. They draw on traditions of psychology and spirituality as they explore these themes.

The book includes two illustrations, two images to work with. On the cover is the potter’s hands shaping the clay into a pot. On the inside cover is a picture again of the potter’s hands, this time kneading the clay in preparation for the next stage. The implication is that becoming Christ-like or rather “experiencing Christ being formed in us is a hard, uncomfortable and sometimes painful process”. It is a journey from false self to true self.

There are many positive elements to this book, with its emphasis on journey, wholeness, healing, relationality, lifestyle and the real challenges and difficulties involved, an antidote to some simplistic and sunny pictures of the Christian Way.  However the book is at times confused and confusing. One author, Peter, names himself regularly within the book while the other, Susan, does not, resulting in a lopsided message developing. The main chapters that contain their carefully worked argument are interspersed with sections entitles “Qualities of Christ-likeness”. While these to some extent draw out the practical implications of their other chapters, at times they seem to be lists of assertions without any reasoning. Some are also seem highly unrealistic. For example: “You have begun to live with the 24/7 approachability of Christ. You appreciate private space, you do not need it” (p.40); or “You give yourself 100 per cent in all relationships, and hear from the Lord as to how He would want to affirm the person” (p.88). Of course, in reply to my criticism, you may ask ‘When was Jesus realistic?’, but then even Jesus needed to withdraw to pray alone; even Jesus needed the company of his friends away from the crowds.