An Interview With Tullian Tchividjian-Part 2

This is the second part of an interview with my friend, pastor and newly published author Tullian Tchividjian (the picture is one I took of Tullian and his wife Kim during the Billy Graham Crusade in New York in the summer of 2005). If you're just joining us, in part one Tullian answered a couple of my questions about his new book, Do I Know God? and about the trends he sees among Christians today. Now, we get a bit more personal...

Josh: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How does your own story play into the creation of this book?

Tullian: I give my testimony in chapter 2 of the book, so here I'll be brief. Having been granted an incredible family heritage, I grew up in a wonderful Christian home. The middle of seven kids, I watched my entire family live out their faith with joy and sincerity. But somewhere along the way (it's a long story) I decided to walk away from all God had given me. I dropped out of high school, got kicked out of my house (literally escorted off our property by the police) and began living in manner I thought would satisfy. For 6 years I pursued pleasure with all of my might until I came to the sad, sobering realization that the world promised what it could not pay. Empty and needy, God brought me to the end of myself. I knew that there had to be something more to who I was than what I was experiencing. So at 21 I cried out to God and he rescued me and I haven't been the same since (to get the longer version you'll have to buy the book--ha!). The reason this had a part to play in the creation of this book is because, having grown up in a Christian home and knowing a lot about God, I thought I was a Christian. I thought I knew God. The fact is, I didn't. There is an eternal difference between knowing about God and knowing God; between factual knowledge and relational knowledge. As my Aunt Ann once told me, "You can have the right stuff in your head but still be missing something." Well, I was missing something, all right—something big! This book, in part, is my attempt to help the reader avoid "missing something big."

Josh: How has your relationship with your grandfather and your view of his life and legacy shaped your outlook and writing?

Tullian: As you know, my granddad has served Jesus faithfully for over 60 years. No one in history (including Paul and Jesus) has preached the Gospel in person to more people than he has. Remarkable! But even more remarkable than his accomplishments, is his character. He amazes me. I just spent the day with him two days ago and it never ceases to amaze me just how simple and humble and self-sacrificial he truly is. Whatever else someone might say about him (trust me, he's had his critics—and still does) he has gained the respect of generations because of his simplicity and his humility. What can I say—he has loved God and loved others well his whole life. This has had, and continues to have, a profound influence on me. He's accomplished more than you and I will most likely ever accomplish and yet he thinks of himself, literally, as nothing. He makes time for everyone. He is incredibly approachable, accessible, and normal. In the acknowledgments section of my book I thank him for writing the foreword. This is what I say: "To Daddy Bill for writing the foreword. I can't believe the heritage God has given me. Because of your faithfulness to Jesus for more than sixty years, my children and my children's children will be blessed. You have been one of my closest friends and most reliable counselors all my life. I want to be just like you when I grow up." It's true!

Josh: Suppose you sat down next to someone and they asked you, "why should I read your book?" What would you say?

Tullian: This book was written with a wide range of readers in mind: those outside the Christian faith, newer Christians who feel confused about their relationship with God, and long-time Christians who remained confused on key questions like eternal security and assurance of salvation, faith and works, and so on. My goal is to show readers how to discover a genuine, vibrant and enduring relationship with God. And it all begins with the vital question: Do I Know God?

But specifically, to a pastor who would ask me, "Why should I read this book", I would say, "This book will help you present the Gospel in such a way that those listening won't be confused about whether or not they know God." I give some real practical pointers regarding ways in which we as pastors tend to confuse people with some of the things we say and don't say. It's imperative, in my opinion, that pastors understand the need to help people rightly identify their spiritual condition. I think this book will help them do that.

(To be continued...)

• Visit Tullian's church website or listen to his sermons

• Read Tullian's new blog.

• Buy the book

• Read its endorsements