Safely Home

It is rare to find a true "can't put down" book, but this is one, indeed. The writing is beautiful; the plot intriguing, the characters well-drawn, and surprises just keep coming.There's no reason to describe the plot; others have done so and done so well. Everything others have written is true (well, I have my doubts about "he's wrong about the nature of God and the nature of heaven" {paraphrase} -- I don't think any of us know that one -- but other than that...)But there is one clash, one major GONG about halfway through the book, one discordant note so strong that I almost took TWO points off for it rather than one... and honestly, it provoked me to the point that it stayed in the back of my mind for the rest of the book and longer.The book is about living as God would ask us to, as Jesus showed us, as no human could really live, so okay-- the fact that the Chinese protagonist was unearthly in his goodness was a bit disturbing, but you could see him written as a sort of modern-day saint, a Mother Teresa of the Chinese gulags. You WANTED him to be pure; it was beautiful that he could find God's will in imprisonment, because it gave him a "captive audience" that became his ministry, a whole new group of men whose minds "were focused as never before."But there was that one giant, discordant note, that one stroke of hate (sorry--that word has been misused to the point that it has lost all power and meaning, but there it is), that one moment that made you suddenly come back to reality and say "WHAT?"I hope this isn't a spoiler. If you're worried, stop reading.Okay. Right in the middle of a book about the power of love and how Christianity is all about love, about turning the worst evil in men's hearts into love...The author chose to make the Buddhist monks into demons.Yes, when he had no examples to quote, as he so obviously did about Mao and other seemingly demonically-possessed in history, the author had his two heroes stop by a Buddhist temple...One of them walked up, for no reason, to one of the monks in the doorway and said that there is no way to heaven except through Jesus. (... a little rude, especially at the temple door, but...)And then---in the one note that rang absolutely false, the monk shouted at him in a voice deep, low and powerful-- gutteral, demonic -- something like "Get out of here!"It knocked the men back over-- they fell to their backs on the pavement -- and they got up and left, filled with emotion, saying how yes, the Buddhists were possessed by (or were; it wasn't quite clear) demons. (And they agreed that the Dali Lama was, as well, with the peaceful Chinese protagonist, his voice shaking with rage, shouting that the Dali Lama's book must be removed from his house.)(We can see in comments how people now remark that they hadn't known about Buddhists and their "oppression." ) I'm a Christian; I don't think Jesus would agree with this; after all, he didn't say the same to the religious leaders, who, at the time, were persecuting people. So it was a disappointment.And maybe worse --it rang false. It was a cheap shot, a way to "own" the Buddhists, a kind of Chinese "TDS-syndrome," where -- if you don't have a real reason to hate, you just say everything about them is bad, and no, you don't need a reason, so there.It was awful. The rest of the book, as everyone has has told you, will bring you to tears and then to your knees and will stick in your mind for a long time. I wanted so much to recommend it to others I know, but I couldn't. The author lost credibility; the story itself lost credibility; I began wondering--- did he get anything else wrong? Can I count on the other truths he reported?In the end, I believe everything else he wrote in this fictionalized version of the sins of Chinese communism and their persecution of Christians. It especially scares me because we keep seeing scare headlines here in America about the bogeyman of "white Christian nationalists"... and then, when six Christians are murdered in Nashville (including 3 children) in a church, the White House won't even talk about them. What is in our OWN future?But that one false note... Please, Mr. Alcorn, put out a revised version and leave out the cheap shot.

Generally speaking, I have about as much use for Christian fiction as a dog has use for catnip.However, this "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn is different.Yes, it is shelved in "Fiction". But I have been following stories of Christian martyrs world wide for a while now. The book's main character, Li Quan (pronounced Lee Schwan) is what I would call a really well-drawn amalgamation of many, many Christians who are persecuted for being Christian all over this globe. Yes, in 2022, this is still happening. In some places, families are the ones who kill their own relatives who become Christian. In other places, governments have laws on their books (some old, some relatively new) that provide protection for "religious freedom" while others actually attempt to protect their Christian population. I've noticed many of those sorts actually protect these people by simply not jailing or arresting or torturing them -- themselves. Meaning the government has made laws against what used to be government practice to do such things. Others, like Li Quan's country, are showing off to the world how great they are in the Olympics while chaining their own people to keep them out of sight because they are afraid some of their own people might let this secret out. China really doesn't have to worry about this. This book was written years ago and remember, it is FICTION. That means "made up".But, it is so realistic you can almost reach out and touch it. The other main character, Ben Fielding, is a type of American. He's one step away from C.E.O. of a major corporation, who's name I found to be very tongue-in-cheek. There is no such company in America that I am aware of, nor is there a real Ben Fielding who fits this character that I am aware of.But again, the writing is so realistic, you can almost see yourself spotting him somewhere in America.And there are certainly many such men and women who fit, loosely, the general attitude that Ben Fielding has.The contrasts are what are truly fascinating. To quote, briefly:"It started as an uncomfortable mismatch: soft-spoken, polite, self-effacing Chinese and loud, brash, self-promoting American. Ben tossed footballs out the window while Quan grew sprouts on the windowsill. Ben was all onion rings and milk shakes; Quan ate bamboo shoots and brewed green tea. It didn't seem a match made in heaven."The contrasts start out 20 years before when they both went to Harvard and awkwardly were roommates. At least at first. Then they become friends. Ben almost accidentally introduces Li Quan to Christianity - while 20 years later Li Quan is forced to put real Christianity smack in the face of his friend, Ben Fielding. The pain Ben feels is real, and the conviction Li Quan brings to Ben is real pain To both of them. Strangely, yet realistically, both these pains are actually good.The story is like that all the way through, top to bottom and side to side. The comparison is sometimes comic, but mostly convicting. If there were ever a book I would want to see in a Christian Bookstore other than a Bible it would be this book.This is a must read for anyone who gave up on Christianity in America out of hurt, anger or disgust, all of which might be totally based in reality - or almost all. I used to be that person.This is a must read for anyone who calls themselves a Christian in America. It's a real Red Bull, double shot, eye opener.And for any person living in another country in this world who has either seen persecution of Christians or has themselves been persecuted, your voice is heard in this book. Your story is actually real, while this book is a work of fiction, but there are moments when you wonder when the author visited your little corner of the world.This is a keeper. One of those I hope will become a classic and stay that way for a very long time. I certainly hope it has been translated into many languages.

This book was very good, I was barely able to put it down. It’s a fast read, it opened a new idea of what heaven is like.

I am in a Christian fiction group online and recently someone asked members what book had been most life changing for them. Many mentioned this book so I acquired it. I would have to agree. Wow!

This was a phenomenal book that will stick with me the rest of my life. Hard to believe that in so many countries Christians are so punished. I pray all my loved ones will be saved and choose the Holy Son

I have just finished reading this book for the second time in succession. There was so much in there that I didn’t feel I absorbed the first time, that a second read was essential and I am sure I will come back to it again.I always enjoy Randy Alcorn’s books because of his amazing ability to inspire and illuminate the reality of heaven – our eternal home as Christians – and the shortness of this present life. I think he has single handedly done more for helping me gain an eternal perspective based on Biblical truth than any other.Safely Home concerns rich American and backslidden Christian, Ben Fielding, visiting his old university friend Li Quan in China. Quan has not become a celebrated history professor, as expected, but is a lowly locksmith’s assistant. This is because he is a Christian and job opportunities are few. He is also harassed and persecuted for his faith.There are times when these two characters become a little stereotypical but this is a minor fault. Overall the story is compelling and shocking especially for the Western Christian.The book highlights in a graphic yet I suspect truthful way, the reality of life for persecuted Christians in China. Unfortunately China is not the worst country where one can suffer for faith. The story told here certainly reveals the difference in outlook and lifestyle for Christians in these countries compared to Christians in the West.The shocking thing though is that persecuted Christians seem to have a more Biblical lifestyle than those living in freedom. If persecuted Christians really do believe and hang onto truth in the way Randy Alcorn describes, then non-suffering Christians have much to learn from them.Some of the greatest truths are that no matter how humble your lifestyle here on Earth, Jesus will exalt you for faithfulness in heaven. No matter how much you suffer here in Earth, if you hold true to your faith, all will be restored to you in eternity and all wrongs righted and all injustices dealt with in righteousness.It is a challenging book but one well worth reading at least once!

This is a story about 2 Harvard graduate buddies who meet up for the first time about 20 years after graduation. One's a successful, power hungry business man in America, the other is a an underground Christian in China. It takes place mostly in China with interesting bits of Chinese history mixed in. It also goes into detail about the persecuted church and how it effects the lives of these men. Though it's a story, a fantastically, interestingly told story that I didn't want to put down and I didn't want to end, there is much truth in it. It's as if the names and places have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved, but it reads like a true story. And most of it is very real, real life happenings with made up characters. It's a powerful Christian testimony. It also gives examples of answers to the most common objections to God through the details of the communications of these two friends and how relate to each other. Highly recommended, the world oughta know what's in this book.

This is a great book I borrowed from a friend. I love the 'watchers' reading the bible out over the earth. This is a agreat story about the hardship the church in china faces. I have read this book twice and have got so much out of it.

The most incredible book ever. Is my number one favourite book. Give an awesome account of a 'fictional' story that you know is so true to life I expect it is real. I love the glimpses of heaven throughout and the strength of the human spirit and attentiveness of God.

The story is so good I thought it might be a biography of someone. It leaves one challenged and thankful that I live as a Christian in the UK