Jack Deere: Even in Our Darkness

Jack Deere, Even in Our Darkness: A Story of Beauty in a Broken Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2018), 288 pages, ISBN 9780310538141.

I am sure that many in the church world are familiar with Jack Deere. He was at one time a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, during that time he was also a cessationist. That is, he did not believe in the contemporary exercise of some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that the apostle Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 12-14. However, Deere eventually came to believe in the modern-day reality of all of the charismatic gifts of the Spirit. This shift in his doctrinal position cost him his job at the seminary. But the loss of his position there transitioned him into becoming even more well-known, at least in charismatic circles. He authored a few books, a couple of which attracted a lot of attention. His book Surprised by the Power of the Spirit is highly regarded. In it he shared his own journey from being a cessationist to becoming a continuationist. He also presented the biblical basis for believing in the present day exercise of the gifts of the Spirit and in the process dismantled the theology of cessationists, who reject some of the gifts of the Spirit as being for today. His book Surprised by the Voice of God was also popular.

Even in Our Darkness is very different from his other books. His other books were decidedly charismatic and, at least partly, theological in nature, this one is autobiographical. In it he tells us his life story. While many of us were aware of the high points in his life, namely, his books and his speaking engagements, many of us were not aware of some of the things he experienced before, during, and after the time of his great popularity. In this book he tells the reader about the challenges and struggles he faced. He has referred to this book as an “unsanitized” view of his becoming a friend of God. By that he means the story has not been cleaned up but rather is told “warts and all.” This book is definitely unsanitized, the story he shares is told with absolutely brutal honesty. You may find some of what you read shocking or disturbing. Be forewarned that there is some coarse language in the book, but it is kept to a minimum. Deere explains in the text why this language was included.

Because the book is a man’s story it requires a different kind of review than I would normally write. The contents of the book are the reality that he has lived, it is his history, and a reviewer cannot argue with that. The things that he wrote about actually happened. I will try not to give you a lot of specific details about the book so that I do not spoil it in for you in the event that you choose to read it for yourself. But please know that you are going to encounter some very heart wrenching moments as you read this book.

The very first thing you encounter in the book is an account of the death of his son. The book is actually dedicated to his son, Scott. Deere will talk more about his son’s death later in the book. After that the book goes back in time to Deere’s childhood. As he tells his story the reader learns about the troubles in his family, specifically with his mother and father. His father eventually committed suicide when Jack was twelve years old. After his father’s death he had a very rough grandfather who assumed the responsibility for his disciple; Deere despised him. During the course of recounting the events of his early life he reveals his own sinful nature as well, his rebellion, and foul language. When he became a teenager sexual sin became a part of his life. This would become an area of struggle, and sometimes failure, for him. He participated in inappropriate sexual conduct both before he became a Christian and afterward. In fact, he admits to moral failure even while studying at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Deere becomes a Christian through the influence of a friend. A Young Life worker named, Scott, also played a key role in his life and spiritual development, this man also paved the way for him in ministry. Deere enjoyed reading scripture and memorized a lot of it when he was in high school. Scott helped Deere to eventually become a Young Life leader. He loved studying and later applied to and was accepted at Dallas Theological Seminary. There he met the woman who would later become his wife. With the help of one of his professors he became a faculty member at the school.

Deere loved what he was doing but he also faced a number of significant challenges during the course of his ministerial life. He had a falling out with another pastor that he worked with and had a strained relationship for a while with John Wimber, who had opened a lot of doors for him. One of Deere’s sons was sexually molested by a youth worker. This same son struggled with drug addiction and Deere’s wife struggled with alcoholism.

In the midst of all this darkness, as Deere was trying to help his wife in her struggle with alcohol, he became aware of some of his own shortcomings and had to face himself. The things that the author writes about are not the usual subjects that one finds in many Christian books. They are not the glorious and victorious things that people like to read about in order to be encouraged in their faith. And yet, in this book there is hope and encouragement, for there is victory. Through all of these experiences, and many of them were negative, Deere never turned away from God; he continued on.

The chapters in the book are short and easy to read. The book is also well written. At times while reading I could feel the suspense as I anticipated what was going to happen next. There is tragedy in the book for sure, but as the author shows us, God is with us even in the midst of our brokenness and our darkness.

Reviewed by John Lathrop

 

Publisher’s page: https://www.zondervan.com/even-in-our-darkness