The book description is as follows:
"Rosaria, by the standards of many, was living a very good life. She had a tenured position at a large university in a field for which she cared deeply. She owned two homes with her partner, in which they provided hospitality to students and activists that were looking to make a difference in the world. There, her partner rehabilitated abandoned and abused dogs. In the community, Rosaria was involved in volunteer work. At the university, she was a respected advisor of students and her department's curriculum. And then, in her late 30s, Rosaria encountered something that turned her world upside down-the idea that Christianity, a religion that she had regarded as problematic and sometimes downright damaging, might be right about who God was, an idea that flew in the face of the people and causes that she most loved. What follows is a story of what she describes as a "train wreck" at the hand of the supernatural. These are her secret thoughts about those events, written as only a reflective English professor could. Conversion put me in a complicated and comprehensive chaos. I sometimes wonder, when I hear other Christians pray for the salvation of the "lost," if they realize that this comprehensive chaos is the desired end of such prayers. Often, people asked me to describe the "lessons" that I learned from this experience. I can't. It was too traumatic. Sometimes in crisis, we don't really learn lessons. Sometimes the result is simpler and more profound: sometimes our character is simply transformed." -Rosaria Butterfield
A few commentators from the amazon.com:
By C. R
Biggs
Dr. Butterfield's book detailing the love and compassion of Christ in her life is exceptional in so many ways. The book reminded me of what we as Christians confess together: "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life." I am grateful for this honest and vulnerable testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of all life as He makes Christ known to His people!
The book is also a testimony to the truth of Romans 5: 'Where sin abounds, grace superabounds!". There is much revealed in the book about what it means to have Christ's righteousness alone as one's hope before God, to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, His sufferings, and becoming like Jesus in His death, to truly understand the joy of living! (Phil. 3:9-12). Revealed in her book is the dear heart of a Christian that has been transformed by the grace of God, and knows the depths of her sin, and the heights of Christ's grace to all who call upon His name in faith (Rom. 5:19-21). There is the affectionate mother who loves her children and seeks to raise them in a manner worthy of her calling in the truth of Jesus. There is the faithful wife who serves and honors husband and family as the church serves Christ (Eph. 5:21-32). There is the concerned, compassionate, and caring friend who seeks to show the love and grace of Christ to those who don't believe, and who don't understand, and who quite frankly think Christians do better at hating, than loving. There is the learning disciple seeking to wisely know how to be Christ in a fallen and sinful world of misery. There is the confessional Christian who has committed herself to the objective truth of God's Word, who deeply holds these truths faithfully, and seeks the means of grace for Christ's Church that Jesus has graciously given us to grow. I read many parts of this book aloud to my wife in our kitchen while supper was being prepared.
My wife and I learned a great deal of wisdom, we rejoiced with tears with Dr. Butterfield as we were reading it, and we thanked God for her testimony to the grace of Jesus. May many more read, ponder, and digest this exceedingly wondrous testimony to God's amazing grace. I encourage you also to read the Rev. Dr. Carl Trueman's review at Reformation 21 [...]. As a pastor of a loving and local congregation of God's people, I recommend this to you. I recommend the wisdom here with hopes that it will make you more compassionate, caring, and hopeful in the incomparably great power for us who believe! (Eph. 1:19ff). IN Christ's love, Pastor CRB
By Booklover
I could not put down this book. It describes the author's
conversion to Christ and the train wreck of worldviews it entailed. An English
professor by training, her writing vividly conveys the wildness of emotions as
her heart was changed. She gives insights into how Christian culture can hinder
the gospel message and how strong relationships help one grow as a newborn
Christian. I was particularly encouraged in finding hope for the unsaved who may
not show immediate signs of interest in the gospel.
By jca
Rosaria doesn't mince words. She tells it how she sees it, and
frankly, some of the things she said I needed to hear and I know other
Christians who need to hear it. It's easy to be ignorant of how difficult
conversion is - especially from a community which views such a conversion as
betrayal. It's easy to be ignorant of adoption - a fundamental doctrine of the
Christian faith. Rosaria speaks honestly about these things which she has
learned through personal experience. Sadly, there are both people who are
Christian-Pharisees and people who are radically against Christianity who don't
believe a story like Rosaria's is possible, but here it is, in print. Get a
copy. Be struck by how amazing God's grace is once more.
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