"Embracing Obscurity" by Anonymous Book Review

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Dear partner in faith,
I hate to break it to you, but you’re not one in a million. In fact, you’re more like one in nearly seven
billion. Just one. One life, lived in relative obscurity.
Are you okay with that?
Most of us aren’t—not in practice anyway. To live and die unnoticed by most of humanity seems a grave
injustice, doesn’t it? When it comes down to it, we don’t want to be nobody. Why else would we spend so
much of our time and energy trying to get ahead, gain admiration, make our mark on something—anything.
What’s worse, we often try to mask our attempts to be somebody with kingdom-sounding ambitions.
Yup—much of the Church has bought the lie hook, line and sinker. We’re in trouble… big trouble… and
most of us don’t even know it.
That’s why we need this message—you, me, the landscape architect, the congressman and the librarian.
Each of us could use a reminder that—even if we’re well known in our little bubbles of influence—we’re
relatively unknown in the grand scheme of history. The good news is that unimportance is surprisingly
good for the soul.
I can say that you need to read Embracing Obscurity without blushing because this is God’s message—not
mine. That’s why you won’t find my name anywhere on it. I’m not trying to build a platform, raise a tribe
of followers or seek any credit. No, I’m not trying to wipe myself from existence, but I am serious about
letting myself fade to the background so that His glory can shine and His message can be heard without the
distraction of my own agenda. Embracing Obscurity is a call to stop imitating the world’s formula for
success, and instead follow a different model: That of our Humble King. I couldn’t think of any way to
reconcile that message while simultaneously promoting myself, so I’ve chosen to take up the challenge of
embracing my own obscurity. Will you join me?
Broadman & Holman has made it easier than ever to make “just one” your life’s motto by offering you this
free copy of Embracing Obscurity. If the message resonates with you, will you spread the word?*
Together, let’s awaken the Church to the unsurpassed peace and pleasure of becoming nothing in light of
God’s everything.
For His Name’s sake,
Anonymous


Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God's Everything by Anonymous
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, I think the name of this book honestly does speak for itself.  And it is indeed a "stroke of genius" that we don't even know who the author is.  It fits the very thing this book proposes--do not seek any glory for yourself.  True humility is what is expected of the Christian, and this book certainly made me think.  This is not an easy nor popular lesson, but it is vital to the Christian walk.

I found myself not connecting with the book as well as I normally do, and I think the main reason is that this issue is not one with which I normally struggle.  I'm not trying to hold myself up as one who never struggles with the issue of pride, but this is not as a big issue for me as other Christian issues (that I won't detail here).  I also felt that some of the book was a little one-sided, but I understand why.  So often, Christian books do focus on the "Joseph principle" and that suffering leads to reward.  I think it is important that the concept that possibly God's desire is for Christians to serve in obscurity is detailed in this book no matter how unpopular that topic is.

I love the fact that this is written as a small-group Bible study, and I think this is the best way to go through this book.  Countless Scripture and personal stories are provided as evidence and proof of the blessings of living the way this book suggests.  I completely agree with this often over-looked subject, and I think every Christian could stand to read this and determine how God would have him/her live.  And although I do not currently struggle with this issue, it is good to bear in mind and watch that I do not veer off my current path and find myself looking for recognition in the wrong places.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.


View all my reviews

Embracing Obscurity - Sample Chapter

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