The
Karen Zacharias File:
Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide?
by Karen Spears Zacharius
Reviewed by Dale Lewis
"With unequaled humor, deliberate wit and the quirky, yet authentic charm of modern parables, Zacharias shares stories of faith from those of different economic backgrounds who struggle with the uneasy questions about life, faith and wealth."
If I told you that 61% of Americans
believe God wants them to prosper and 31% say that if you give money
to God, he will bless you with more
money, what would be your response? Shockingly surprised or disappointedly
disgusted? How can we be so arrogant to assume that God’s favor +
our obedience = riches? It’s because, in the words of Karen Spears
Zacharias, “We treat God like a slot machine, yanking on the prayer
cable, hoping that the triple 7’s will appear!”
With unequaled humor, deliberate wit and the quirky, yet authentic charm
of modern parables, Zacharias shares stories of faith from those of different
economic backgrounds who struggle with the uneasy questions about life,
faith and wealth. She does not sugarcoat the facts or dress up the generic
and normal to look pretty. She is a straight shooter and doesn’t
mince words! Nothing is sacred when it comes to the Cash and Cadillac Gospel
. . . and rightly so. Here is a prime example of her no-holds barred approach: “And
I’m pretty sure God would rip the gonads off anybody who pimped out
a child in Jesus’ name.”
Scouring the back roads between Portland, OR and Pinehurst, NC, Zacharias
uses her journalistic background to pen Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide?
It is light on theology yet deep on the personally, poignant stories. Some
of my favorites include: the (contented) Giver, the (almost bankrupt) Bookseller,
the (smiley) Preacher and the (non-manipulating) Mayor. Her cast of unforgettable
characters and their stories will definitely stay with you after you’ve
close the pages of this book.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories was about a Marine who feeds the
homeless, not so he can preach the gospel, but because it is the gospel.
The poem “Being Homeless” by Hugh Hollowell will open your
eyes as it speaks truth where assumptions run rampant.
We desperately need her voice in today’s noisy culture where everybody
has an elevated opinion and preaches their brand of truth to all who will
listen. Her message will resonate with those who are attempting to reconcile
God and money with what being rich as a Christ-follower truly means. There
are so many nuggets of biblical truth and authentic faith within these
pages that my review would be five pages long if I listed all the ones
I need to remember.
On the heels of her provocative book, Where's Your Jesus Now?, Zacharias
urges the reader to to reconsider their view of God . . . and His view
of us in Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide? Don’t hesitate to pick
up a copy of this worth-while read!
Dale Lewis is the graphic
designer/pre-press production artist at the EFCA (The Evangelical Free Church
of America) National Office in Minneapolis, MN. Prior
to that, he was the publications manager at his alma mater, Northwestern College
in St. Paul, MN in the public relations office as well as the adviser to the
college’s yearbook. He's directed the Hope Church (Oakdale, MN) adult drama
worship team and was the senior editor of the church newsletter. He's also written
two collections of poetry, “Whispers of Assurance” and “On
Life: Constant Communion Without Ceasing” as well as a devotional entitled “Eternal
Education.” He and his family live in Oakdale, Minnesota.
