The Noticer

The Wednesday Night Bible Study for women at my church is currently reading The Noticer by Andy Andrews.

I had not heard a single thing about this book before a friend at church loaned me her copy.  First, I was expecting a study or devotional.  Second, (considering it was a Bible Study) I was expecting a Christian book.  The Noticer is neither.

Now I am sure this will get me into trouble with some as the book is published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher, and the author is a speaker this year at one of the largest Christian women's conferences, Women of Faith, but this was in no way a Christian book.  Also, it is a fictional story not a devotional (I think everyone will agree with me on that one!).

My problem with the book is that neither Jesus nor even a generic reference to God was ever the solution to any of the problems in the book.  The book listed several different problems (homelessness, corruption, divorce, etc) and the solutions were always some secular self-help verbage about being inspired by historical people, or being a likable person (which would ensure success somehow!), or learning the love languages (he only includes four of the normal five). 

I would have a fundamental problem with the book no matter what because, of course, none of his "solutions" would actually work or, if they did, they would only be temporary fixes or bandaids on the surface wound of an internal injury. 

But to be reading the book at church in a Bible Study is what is most disconcerting to me.  Even more worrisome is that the one week I attended so far (I started at week seven so I missed the beginning discussions) everyone in the class seemed to think the book was fantastic!  Granted the subject in Chapter Seven isn't as sinister as some of the other chapters and perhaps someone brought up these issues in the earlier weeks - I hope so! - but I cannot fathom why this book would have been chosen to be studied in the first place.  It reads as a Unitarian Universalist book not as a Christian book at all!

So just a warning to those who have considered reading it.  I wouldn't recommend it.