Challenging Discussion on the Chrisitan Life

books:


	• Adventures in Missing the Point: How the Culture-Controlled Church Neutered the Gospel Brian D. McLaren, Tony Campolo Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2006 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 30 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

EYE OPENING

THIS BOOK REALLY CHANGED MY UNDERSTANDING OF A LOT OF THINGS.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN IT I THINK THAT'S A GOOD READ FOR EVERYONE.
IT WILL MAKE YOU THINK.
IT WILL SHOW YOU A DIFFERENT SIDE TO THINGS THAN THE ONE YOU'RE PROBABLY USED TO HEARING FROM CHURCH, ETC.

Challenging & Thought-Provoking

"Adventures in Missing the Point" is one of my favorite books.

I'm not saying that I agree with all that it asserts.
But the very fact that I don't is the reason I liked it so much.
It was challenging and thought-provoking. It offered new and fresh perspectives on traditional Christian thoughts.

It seems increasing rare to find a contemporary Christian title that challenges and spurs its readers in such a way.
However this book does both. It is the best of McLaren and Campolo wrapped into one.

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Challenging Discussion on the Chrisitan Life

Mclaren and Compolo team up to provide insights and questions into a wide array of topics and their relation to Christians in today's culture.

Readers will soon realize that the title of the book is not really on target with the text. The book is not so much about "missing the point" and little if at all about a "culture controlled church" or a "neutered gospel."

The book is written as an open discussion by the authors on topics that are theological, relational and cultural. One author will write on the topic and the other author will write a response that more than a few times contrasts with some of the other author's ideas/opinions.

What I like most about the book is that both authors offer honest, transparent writing about their beliefs, struggles and experience with the Christian life. They admit in the introduction that they too "miss the point" at times in their lives and even in the book. This is a refreshing admission because by the nature of the book it can seem at times that they are pointing the finger at the church. Their writing inspired quite a bit of personal reflection and meditation on my part. A few of their ideas and Biblical interpretation I disagreed with; the way the book is written, it is okay to disagree and I didn't feel condemned or insulted---just challenged in a good way to discover and affirm my beliefs.

What I didn't like about the book are the general criticisms of the church. When the author(s) accuse the entire church (body of Christ) of something, it is too general of a blanket statement and therefore inaccurate. Some of the things didn't apply to any of the individual churches that I have belonged to, so it lessens the credibility of the message. I also dislike when Christians quote non-believers to accuse the church (again the whole church) for example, the author will write "I have a friend who is a doctor and an atheist because he says the church is ...." or "I have a friend who is a homosexual who says it would be easier to get sex on the street than a hug in a church (actual statement from the book." These statements are rarely, if ever, true of the entire church.

Both authors affirm the infallibility of scripture but also allow sentimentalism to cause them to try to excuse, justify or interpret away some of the seemingly harsh truths of the gospel. To their credit, they are trying to discover the path of Jesus--to live an honest, loving Christian life as Jesus would today.

Overall, the tone of the book is helpful, encouraging and challenging to believers. The authors admit they aren't right about everything, but they do ask the right questions and try to walk and lead in the right direction. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from for the writing, and I think they are both great witnesses for Christ.

I recommend this book to those searching for truth and who enjoy discussion about spiritual topics rather than an author who thinks his words are an extension of the gospel.

As for the "post-modernism" emphasis of the book, the last chapter addresses this term, but I still don't know what it is supposed to mean and don't think it matters.

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A good primer

These guys seemed to have to work at disagreeing. But they covered the topic the church finds herself wrestling with quite well. If you want an overview of how the gospel message speaks to a rapidly changing time, this is a good start. Also this books will introduce you to two truly compassionate, thoughtful men who take some of the tarnish off the gospel, put there by many of their bigotted norrow minded contemporaries. Read it with an open mind, for that is the point.

a good start

We need more books like this -- that challenge how much of church is truth and how much is culture. It's nice that the authors even disagree with each other. I thought there were a few opinions that were still not reasonable, especially the section on homosexuality. However, most of the book made excellant points, and more importantly, the book will hopefully promote healthy questioning of traditions.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6

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