3 out of 4 stars
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Who Told You That You Were Naked?: A Refreshing Reexamination of The Garden of Eden by Reverend William Combs, a retired Presbyterian minister, is a non-fiction Christian book which reexamines the definition of what sin is, humanity's need for a savior to take away our sin and shame, and God's loving, gracious provision for a broken world. While this is a Christian non-fiction book, Rev. Combs writes it in such a way that it is accessible and enjoyable to the average person as well. A background understanding of the Bible or theology is not essential before reading this book, as Rev. Combs clearly and concisely fills in the blanks, beginning with an overview of the creation story, the first humans (Adam and Eve) eating the forbidden fruit, and how that action brought sin and death into the world.
Combs' main theme in Who Told You That You Were Naked? is that sin is not “a mere list of offenses,” but also our innate sense of shame and nakedness – the feeling that we do not measure up – in comparison to God, others, or who we ourselves want to be. Combs writes, “We need to hear the Lord asking us, 'Who told you that you need to be thinner, younger, healthier, prettier, more athletic, more intelligent, one who speaks with more confidence, have a better sense of humor, with fewer zits, a bigger home in a more upscale neighborhood, a more important job with a larger paycheck, a newer, faster, or classier car, more stylish clothing, more influential friends, or more time to devote to the things you want to do?' ” He goes on to note that we can attempt to “clothe our nakedness” with many things, but it is only Jesus Christ who can take away the feelings of nakedness, inadequacy, and shame in our lives.
After establishing his over-arching definition of sin to include our feelings of nakedness and shame, Combs gives the good news: God has provided a solution through Jesus, who not only came to save humanity from the consequences of our sin and brokenness, but also to take away our shame. Combs goes on to detail how the person who accepts God's provision and salvation can enter into his rest, having peace and purpose in their life despite the continued broken state of this world as we know it.
This book is interesting and memorable in that Combs provides dramatizations (in story form) of what life was like in the Garden of Eden, during the time of Christ, etc. These illustrations greatly enhance the reader's understanding, as they help one put themselves into the historical narrative. The only drawback to these illustrations is that sometimes they are not explained as such until afterward, which could confuse the reader by making them think that the dramatized narrative was another of many scripture quotations in the book. Who Told You That You Were Naked? is also instructive to the Christian reader; there is a sense of freedom, in that Combs clarifies that the Christian does not need to try their best to be good or defeat sin and shame in their life, but rather they can rest in the knowledge that it is God who takes away their sin and shame, enabling them to live a life of peace and sharing his love with others.
As a reader with a background in biblical studies, there were a few points in Combs' book with which I could not agree. Combs states early on in the book that the repercussions of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit were not punitive in nature. While he goes on to explain that the curses of living in a fallen world can provide humanity with a greater sense of accomplishment in overcoming greater obstacles, the biblical text also indicates that God, being both a God of justice and mercy, does require that sin be punished, and therefore it follows that “the curse” for eating the forbidden fruit was punitive, although it did include redemptive elements. Combs' use of the term “little faith” was also confusing, although he did go on to explain it as a belief that God will relieve our anxiety with our desired solution instead of his solution.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is thought-provoking, inspiring, and enlightening. I only withhold one star on the basis of the dramatic narratives not being introduced as such and potentially causing some confusion with quotations of the biblical narrative, and with a few points that do not seem to have a clearly-cited biblical basis, but are rather the opinion of the author. This book has many good and helpful points however, and I recommend reading it with this in mind. I can particularly agree with the author's assessment that it is only God who can take away our feelings of shame and give us a life of wholeness, peace, and purpose. A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.
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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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