I first expressed an interest in the Bible as a 15-year-old. I absolutely loved the Bible, reading it cover to cover, over and over again. However, the interpretation introduced to me was rather terrifying. I was invited by a friend into in a very charismatic setting, yet with reformed theology. The descriptions of hell for those who were not compliant to the exact mode of interpretation were beyond horrifying. I spent about three years of my life spending most of my free time trying to examine myself to see if I truly was sorry for my sins, if I truly knew God, if I truly considered Jesus bearing God’s wrath to be just, and if my faith was genuine. George Macdonald called this “soul sickening self examination” in his sermon “the Truth in Jesus.” I had a sense of an infinitely good and loving Divine Being, yet my theology caused me to be terrified and uncomfortable around this “god.” Deep down, I might even say I loathed him.
Years later I was working as a substitute summer rec counselor. I was given a volume from The Chronicles of Narnia and told to read a chapter of it to the kids. I knew nothing about the plot or C.S. Lewis’ theology. As I began to read the next chapter they were on, my heart burned as I read Aslan’s words. I eventually said “I think Aslan is supposed to be Jesus.” The kids laughed and told me yes, he was. For the first time I could remember (since the Bible), I was reading a description of God that perfectly matched my longings, and my fascination arose. The Bible and the Narnia series became the only books I felt God’s overwhelming presence within.
A few years later, I also found a rather beautiful portrayal of the Father in the novel The Shack written by William Paul Young. I noticed one similarity between Lewis and Young: they both absolutely adored a mysterious man named George Macdonald. So I decided to get Hope of the Gospel and Unspoken Sermons. Macdonald quickly became my favorite theologian, and in one year I had reread Unspoken Sermons ten times! I felt awe in the magic portrayed in Lilith, The Light Princess, The Wise Woman, The Day Boy and the Night Girl, etc. I felt such a serene, simple, homey, and thoughtful atmosphere as I read the stories of Robert Falconer and David Elginbrod. I also find great warmth and inspiration in anthology of MacDonald’s sermons entitled, Getting to Know Jesus.
My favorite thing about Macdonald, is his love-centered confidence in the absolute goodness and light of Jesus Christ. Macdonald speaks boldly and unapologetically against anything that dishonors the absolute goodness and utter unselfishness of his Heavenly Father. My favorite sermon of his is “The Child in the Midst.” When I first read it, my eyes filled with tears. I sensed how the Infinite Transcendent Divine, the Almighty One of Israel, the Lord of hosts, the God of nature, was a childlike God. I felt a sense of Jesus’ pure innocence and child-likeness wash over me and refine me in His fire of love. As Macdonald would put it “Divine Fire, the fire of God, which is His essential being, His love, His creative power.”
George Macdonald’s emphasis on love-centered obedience and a non-abusive atonement also display a very deep understanding of the Prophets of Israel, who emphasize repentance and righteousness over rituals and doctrine. Much of Macdonald’s objections to popular theology mirror Jewish objections to western Christianity. As someone who has Jewish heritage, this offers me great comfort. In fact, I have an Orthodox Jewish friend with whom I often discuss world religions and traditions. He has saved a few inspiring George Macdonald quotes to his phone. (He has never come close to doing this with any other Christian writer or theologian we’ve discussed.)
I can’t wait to thank George Macdonald one day in heaven for how his words have impacted me. I feel as if Macdonald is my older brother, holding my hand and helping me understand our Eldest Brother Christ. Macdonald has become a man whom I consider to be one of my closest friends, although we’ve never met in person.