Witnessing

Haile Gebre Egziabher
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432724252
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (01/10)

 

Haile Gebre Egziabher offers a unique outlook on spirituality, humanitarianism, and world harmony. He goes on to show how these three are intertwined throughout the basic tenets of the Christian faith. His book “Witnessing” is written to encourage non-believers and casual Christians to devote themselves more fully to finding and understanding God. He challenges the more devout Christian with a message of healing old divisions while he provides a tool they can use in spreading the message of God’s provision of Christ as the means of His reconciliation salvation, and as the answer to harmony in a world filled with war, strife and violence.

As in his earlier works Egzibher writes from an accumulation of acquired information, inspiration, and wisdom drawn from gifted authors and writers, both contemporary and classic. He encourages the reader to saturate themselves in the Scriptures and spiritual books to obtain guidance from God for our life journey, and to obtain personal peace, fullness, and meaning for that journey.

In a logical, well-ordered progression, Egzibher begins with creation and the origin of the human race as related in the book of Genesis as the major theological reflection on the meaning of the universe and human existence. He then goes on to develop the themes of the Bible, including the Trinity, the Law, the Church, the Life of Christ, and the Sacraments.

Egziabher’s writing is an amalgamation and compilation of the knowledge he has assimilated over years of intensive reading and study of the scriptures and other inspired writers.  His writing is so rich in content and presentation that it is often difficult to extract his paraphrased quotes from original documents from his own interpretation of these truths. His sources and contents are diverse. His writing is scholarly, yet clear and expressive.

While I found the material on reconciliation, salvation, surrender and trust especially interesting and helpful, other may be drawn to the chapters dealing with healing, holiness, or prayer.

The unique feature of this work is Egziabher’s intentional goal to provide spiritual nourishment, an awareness of world conditions, a dream for creating world harmony, and practical actions to see this dream become reality.

“Witnessing” by Haile Gebre Egziabher is thought-provoking and practical. The book challenges the reader to fully devote themselves to God, practice his message in their daily lives, and continue in the dream for world peace.

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