The Search is Over

Joseph Loconte's book The Searchers is not a theological examination of Luke's account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  If that type of book is what you want, continue your search.

Quite frankly, when I started reading his book, I skipped the introduction to save time -- something I never do.  Loconte frustrated me by not delving more into an exegetical understanding of the passage.  It was only after completing the read that I perused the introduction and he captured me.  On page xx of the introduction, he shares his personal journey along his "Emmaus road" when he was there as his mom was diagnosed, fought, and succumbed to cancer.  Why did he capture me?  Simply, my own search has begun due to my mom being diagnosed with cancer and she is in the fight for her life.  With this unorthodox read of the book, I get it -- completely.

Loconte does not offer an exegetical analysis because he is not a trained theologian (yet, he reveals his angst in multiple places for Calvinistic beliefs).  He is a history professor - a man after my own heart - that opens up this story in a unique manner.  Clearly, Loconte is well-read and knowledgeable as he cites numerous historical works, movies, modern literature, and mythology to more fully develop the components of the story.  The end result is a refreshing read with some solid thoughts along this road.  My fear rests in a simple statement -- if God's Word is authoritative enough for us to entrust our eternal destiny, then we should be cautious in works about Scripture that do not study Scripture.

His struggle with his mother has certainly helped me as I try to make sense of what is happening with my mother; however, I do have a slight criticism.  My main critique is the somewhat open-ended conclusions at each chapter.  Some of the more modern works used to further his explanation dove-tailed nicely with his analysis of the road to Emmaus story, but others certainly did not.  Chapter 4 - The End of Illusions - is the one that stands out to me as needing a much better tie in to the Emmaus road story. 

At times, he skates on the thin ice of elevating God's love over His righteousness, which some may interpret as a relativistic bent of faith.  I do not perceive it that way and hope that the author was not suggesting a sacrifice of God's truth for man's gain.

A worthy read?  Yes.  Page 177 provides an absolutely delightful and pleasing summary to his entire work.  In less than 3 paragraphs, he draws it all together for you and I as searchers on our own personal roads to Emmaus.  If we look and listen, it may be that we find Jesus right there with us through His Word.  He may be there for purposes of comfort, revitalization, and commission.  The key is to never stop searching.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”