The Christing - Interview with Paul White
Take a gallop through the scriptures with Paul White in The Christing and discover the different images used to describe the Holy Spirit. In a fresh and conversational style, peppered with personal stories and the author’s own illustrations, you will see how the same dynamic power of God seen throughout the Bible is still available to us today.
Paul White has a degree in Fine Art (Painting). He now leads the Prayerhouse church in Weymouth. Married to Anna, he has four amazing children who are the craziest, but most beautiful friends and influencers in his life.
Paul, why did you decide to write The Christing?
The idea came whilst I was in Northern Ireland with a team from our church in 2017. It dawned on me that the anointing on Jesus as prophesied in Isaiah 61 and reported in Luke 4 is actually a person, not a thing. The very quality that makes Jesus the Christ is the Comforter Jesus promised to send and delivered at Pentecost.
This is an unusual title – why did you choose this?
I wanted to take the topic away from the jargon words and cliches and try to look at it with fresh eyes.
Who have you written this book for?
I would love everyone to read it, but I don’t suppose everyone will! I would dearly love the Christians who love the Bible but are nervous about the Charismatic Movement to read it. I would love those who want to devote their lives to ministry, take a gap year for Jesus, or join a discipleship course to read it. I would like church planters, business people, students, parents alike to open it and hopefully get excited about the amazing possibilities of the Christing.
You explore many images of the Holy Spirit used throughout the Bible – is there one that has particular resonance for you/ inspires you the most?
I love the Elijah/Elisha moment where the mantle falls on the younger man from the aged prophet. I love how this paints a graphic picture of Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit falling on the fledgling church, but I also ache to see that same mantle falling on young women and men in my lifetime.
You intersperse the book with your own line drawings. What do you think these add to the book? And why are you passionate about art and its connection with people (and God)?
I hope that those with shorter attention spans, like me, will enjoy them and read on to see what relevance they have to the text. I love creativity, I can’t stop scribbling and imagining - I’m sure that is a reflection of the awesome creativity of God. I would love to create a painting which people look at and it reduces them to tears as they experience a touch from God through it. Music is so quick to our hearts, yet we are intensely visual people.
You talk about the fact that God could do all the healings etc himself, but he has deliberately chosen to work through us – even in our frailty. That is a really amazing thought – why do you think this is so central to the gospel story and how should this impact how we should live our lives?
I think it is the essence of the Incarnation - God in the flesh. He has now handed that mission to us. I want people to have the courage to believe that it is possible for his Spirit to occupy our fleshly bodies. I want them to see that the “heroes of faith” were flawed and scared just like we so often are.
What was the most challenging element of writing the book?
When you paint, you can step back and take in the whole trying at once. I’m not a fast reader, so it was hard to step back and check that I wasn't disappearing down endless rabbit holes that might be intensely interesting to me, but just confusing to the reader.
And what was the most rewarding element of writing this book?
It was so exciting to keep unearthing more treasure in stories I have known since childhood. It was also very exciting when Rachael Franklin emailed to say that Authentic would like another conversation!
Have you learnt anything new / been reminded afresh about God/ your faith while writing this book?
I’m very challenged by what I have written, as I don’t want my best stories all to be in the past. I want to keep discovering more how I can live daily in the Christing.
Your writing helps readers to fall more in love with Jesus. What one bit of advice would you give to anyone who would like to experience more of the Holy Spirit in their lives?
Now you’ve made me cry! Be brave and invite him to come. Don’t be in a rush. Do respond to what you begin to interpret as his whispers. Do allow yourself to enjoy him!
What do you hope readers will most get out of reading this book?
A lifetime filled with adventures in walking with Jesus.
In one sentence, how would you describe The Christing?
A window into my journey of discovering the mysterious treasure of the anointing.
Is there anything we can pray for you?
Wow! Thank you! That I will continue to walk with Jesus every single day of my life and inspire others to do the same.