The Unknown God: Searching for Spiritual Fulfilment
Reviewed by Robert P. Mills, September 6, 1999
The Unknown God “is an exploration of the theme of human longing, and what it points to.”
Alister McGrath, Principal of Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, asserts what few would deny, that “deep down, many of us long for something that is really worthwhile.” That longing, in and of itself, is not a problem. In fact, he says it is a hopeful sign, one “intended to point us to something or someone who could fulfill it.”
The problem is that with distressing frequency our longings “seemed to have attached themselves to something which, in the end, could not support them fully. … It is very easy to allow this to develop into cynicism.” And cynicism can eventually extinguish our awareness of our longings.
A recurring theme is that searching for fulfillment by relying on our own experiences is certain to lead to disappointment. This is not a new idea, but it is especially applicable to a culture (not to mention a denomination) in which embracing one’s own experiences is effectively defined as authoring one’s own salvation.
The source of fulfilment
Gradually, McGrath begins to steer the one whose longing he has honed toward the One who alone can fulfill it.
First, he summarizes the human predicament: “We are separated from the object of our longing. That object exists, and will indeed fulfill our deepest longings when we encounter it. Yet we are cut off from it. It is like being lost, and unable to find our way home.”
Then, using Jesus’ parables and Paul’s speech to the Athenians about their “unknown god,” he declares the good news: “God chose to come to where we are. Instead of expecting us to find him, he comes to us. Some people think of religion as being like climbing up a ladder to find God. Yet Christianity affirms that God chose to come down that ladder to meet us, and then to bring us home rejoicing.”
As the book progresses, McGrath unfolds the implications of that good news and the ways in which it meets our longings. Particularly notable is Chapter 14, “The Divine Healer,” a rich exposition of the biblical understanding of salvation.
Illustrations and quotations
This hardback book is illustrated throughout with color photographs of nature and reproductions of a range of paintings. In addition to the illustrations, many pages prominently feature verses of Scripture or quotations from theologians and secular writers.
If one were so inclined, McGrath’s text could probably be read in about an hour. But I expect most readers will linger – studying the details of a painting, admiring the contemporary resonance of ancient and medieval theologians, or saying a silent “amen” before rereading McGrath’s own apt articulation of a particular longing.
The format and content of this book make it suitable for a variety of uses. It could be a gift as easily appreciated by a pastor as by a seeker who intuitively understands that there is something “more” to life but has not yet come to name the object of his intuition as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For that reason, this book might also be a useful resource for those engaged in evangelistic outreach.
It is not without reason that McGrath has become one of today’s most popular theologians. He has a keen appreciation of issues confronting contemporary Christians and a wonderful knack for deft turns of phrase. This work may well encourage many to explore his other writings, books in which he writes in more detail about the God who is the ultimate fulfillment of all human longings.