Review of Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

First off, let me state that I don't read much non-fiction. Second off, let me state that I read non-fiction by Christian authors even more seldom, but I had heard good things about it from people that I trust, so I finally gave it a shot, and I absolutely loved it. Miller truly really lines up with my world view in so many places and my view as to what Christianity is.

Miller recounts many tales of his life as a Christian in liberal Portland and on the campus of Reed College, one of the most liberal campuses in the country and certainly normally viewed as anti-Christian. The thing is Donald Miller just loves the people there, and attends peaceful protests. I definitely would not call him conservative.

His anecdotes inspire me to actually live as Jesus lived, not judging, but loving the minimalized and off-beat people. One particular anecdote he told, they set up a confession booth on Reed College during an annual pagan and drug-frenzied celebration. The thing is Donal and his friends were the ones apologizing for things like the Crusades and Christans that have been mean, rude, and judgmental of the rest of the world. Miller and his friends used the opportunity just to show love and to tell people that we, as Christians, should always approach things with an attitude of acceptance, tolerance (a dirty word in most churches), and love.

Miller doesn't come across as some Bible-thumping hypocrite, but as practical way to live as an example and live life with a world-conscientiousness view.  He honestly gave me a lot to think about how I live my life and how I should be living with others. I don't think that I have ever read a book by a Christian author that I didn't have points I disagreed with, that is, until I read Blue Like Jazz.

I also like that Miller openly admits his faults and talks about relationships in a realistic way. Miller also offers "nonreligious thoughts on spirituality," as the subtitle states. I always appreciate spirituality being valued about religious establishment, which is really a lot of the problem with Christianity in my opinion. I would recommend this book to any Christian, especially Christians with a different world view than the status quo.