“You asked the Holy Spirit for a miracle, and now that you’ve got one you’re trying to argue it away. People who don’t believe in miracles shouldn’t pray for them.” The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson
The Cross and the Switchblade, written by David Wilkerson, is the powerful chronicle of Wilkerson’s experiences ministering to children and teen street gangs in New York. It all began in February of 1958 when David Wilkerson chanced to open a Life magazine in which there was an article about a teen murder trial happening in New York. Wilkerson was deeply moved and eventually left his pastoral position in Pennsylvania and moved his family to the streets of New York. The Cross and the Switchblade is his recording of the power of God at work through his obedience to work with the gangs of New York.
“Drugs, what a devil-inspired poison! It’s death on the installment plan.”
The Cross and the Switchblade is arguably one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Wilkerson writes in a simple and easy manner, but the content of the book is unlike anything I have ever read. A page-turner at least, his record of the miracles God chose to do through him is necessary for this generation to hear. Wilkerson heard God’s call and followed it. He thought that he knew what God was going to do through him, but God’s vision for his work was so much bigger than he could have ever imagined. The love that God gave to him for those gang kids was evident on every page. While listening to it as an audiobook, there were many times that I set down whatever I was working on and stilled my hands so that my heart could absorb all that Wilkerson was saying.
“Nicky Cruz: You come near me and I’ll kill you! David Wilkerson: Yeah, you could do that. You could cut me up into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece will still love you.
David Wilkerson’s tale is not an account for the fainthearted. It is raw and honest, and because of the nature of his experiences and ministry, things like murder, gang culture, teen sex, and drug addiction are discussed and handled constantly in the book. Wilkerson does not deal with these things in an inappropriate, crude or flippant manner and I sincerely believe that all Christians should read this book. If I had to pick a theme for this book it would be the miraculous redemptive power of Christ. However, I know that viewer discretion is necessary. This book is not for children.
Wilkerson began his ministry to street gangs began with his desire to help the seven teenagers convicted in the murder trial he first read of in the life magazine. However, he was never granted the ability to see any of those boys. Instead, his trips to NYC in an effort to help them opened many other opportunities to help other boys and girls like them. Eventually as a result of this, Wilkerson started the ministry Teen Challenge, which is now known globally for its addiction recovery programs.
“The Holy Spirit is in charge here.
We should write it for all to see on the lintels of every doorway we build. But since that might seem like so many words, we will do better: we will write it in our lives. And in all the lives we can reach out to and touch and inspire with the living Spirit of God.”
Moral Value: 5
Artistic Value: 4.5
Overall Value: 4.75
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