Dogma is the drama

In Indelible Ink there is the best appendix I know listing the top three books of a host of Christian people (over 100). One of these is Alister McGrath who used to run my Vicar Factory and he listed Dorothy Sayers Creed or Chaos? as one of his top three:

'Official Christianity, of late years, has been having what is known as a bad press. We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist too much upon doctrine—dull dogma as people call it. The fact is the precise opposite. It is the neglect of dogma that makes for dullness. The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man—and the dogma is the drama.

It is the dogma that is the drama—not beautiful phrases, nor comforting sentiments, nor vague aspirations to loving-kindness and uplift, nor the promise of something nice after death—but the terrifying assertion that the same God who made the world, lived in the world and passed through the grave and gate of death. Show that to the heathen, and they may not believe it; but at least they may realize that here is something that man might be glad to believe.'

(Quote via Trevin Wax)