Skip to main content

The Next Christians

This book was provided by Waterbrook/Multnomah Press and the Blogging for Books program to review.
Gabe Lyons, one of the authors of UnChristian has just written a provocative book entitled *The Next Christians: How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith.* The main thesis of the book is that no longer can America be called a Christian nation anymore. Even though our country has many deep roots historically in Christianity, we have become a land of spiritual seekers who find their practices outside the more traditional religions (27). In recognizing the truth of our cultural and spiritual climate, Lyons points to the idea and practice of being restorers, that is those who "seek to mend the Earth's brokenness" and "They don't separate from the world or blend in; rather, they thoughtfully engage" (47). What does it mean to thoughtfully engage the world? None other than living out the gospel story in our own lives through a sense of understanding the fallen world in which we live, seeing the creational good that God has made, and seeking to bring good news to a world that is hurting.


One of the reasons that I think this book is so important is that it addresses key issues of the church and of those families and individuals wanting to be a light to the culture. Lyons does not call believers to retreat from culture (separatists) nor does he call us to become so blended by culture that we lose our distinctive witness.

One of the best sections of the book deals with culture and the idea of serving all those in the culture around us. There is a commonplace idea among people that we should strive for the public good (the most good for the most people) (103). Lyons takes this view to task in commenting that this position distorts the Christians role to do the most good for "all" people. We generally want to do good to those people who can help us in some way or another. But, instead, if Christians are to love their neighbors and be a part of the larger gospel narrative, then they are to do good for all people. This concept and action point is demonstrated by the very creation itself, being made by God as good.



Overall, I would say this book is an excellent work for those interested in growing as a Christian, for anyone tired of just getting by in life. This book is a wake-up call to take the gospel seriously and to love all people with a passion. Ministry takes place where you live in the midst of your failures and in the midst of the healing power of God.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rise of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

  The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman Navigating the culture that we take up residence in, with its laser focus on sexual identity, tolerance, and an individualism that raises its head at every corner, Christians need a robust account of how we got to this point in our Western culture without retreating to our churches nor morphing with the latest trends.   Carl Trueman, professor of religion and theology at Grove City College, brings his keen historical research to bear on this issue in his new book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.   Part historical survey and philosophical analysis, Dr. Trueman traces the trajectories of key thinkers such as Rousseau, Freud, and Marx, while also incorporating the insights of Charles Taylor and Phillip Rieff to form a cogent argument as to how we got to this point in our history, both in our expressive individualism and sexual freedom outlooks.   The book is surprisingly insightful and yet demands from the reader the pa
Post a Comment
Read more

The Conditioned Mind

The Conditioned Mind: Overcoming the Crippling Effects of Sin and Guilt by Michael J. Mannia Counselor and author Michael J. Mannia knows firsthand how the spiraling of sin and guilt can eat away at life.  His new book, The Conditioned Mind, is a look into how believers can overcome the effects of sin and guilt and live in the freedom that we have in Christ.  Through a careful look into the patterns that we develop and the mindsets that we get ingrained in, Michael is able to offer ways through guilt that bring freedom and healing.  I think this is not only a timely but a book that aims toward bringing real healing to its readers. In the first chapter Michael looks at two needs that we have: our need for love and our need for security.  Love isn’t something optional for the human race, but something it needs at its core.  “Additionally, we need to reciprocate love.  We need to feel loved as much as we need to love others (8).”  Love is a two-way street that inv
Post a Comment
Read more

Passover and Jesus

The Messiah in the Passover , Edited by Darrell Bock and Mitch Glaser Why should Christians celebrate and remember the Passover?   This is a striking question that needs to be understood as well as the historical and theological context of the Passover.   However obscure we sometimes view the Old Testament, there is some significant reasons why we should reach back and study the Passover.   Mitch Glaser in the Introduction states, “When Christians celebrate the Passover, they grow in their understanding of the Old Testament, affirm the Jewishness of the Gospel, deepen our understanding of the Lord’s Supper, and build community with fellow Christians…” (20).   This book is answer to why celebrate the Passover but even more importantly an answer to what the Passover is and what it signifies to us today.   The various contributors of this book, Messiah in the Passover, bring a wealth of ministry experience in relating the Jewishness of both Jesus and the Old Testament to
Post a Comment
Read more