|
|
Please note: All prices reflected here are for the lowest "NEW" books from associate booksellers at Amazon.com.
Each book will have a $3.99 S&H fee.
|
|
|
They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations
written by Dan Kimball
Studio : Zondervan
by Zondervan
Publisher : Zondervan
Released : 2007-03-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780310245902
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 48 reviews)
List Price : $18.99
Our Price : $6.97
|
|
| |
|
Product Description |
|
Many people today, especially among emerging generations, don't resonate with the church and organized Christianity. Some are leaving the church and others were never part of the church in the first place. Sometimes it's because of misperceptions about the church. Yet often they are still spiritually open and fascinated with Jesus. This is a ministry resource book exploring six of the most common objects and misunderstandings emerging generations have about the church and Christianity. The objections come from conversations and interviews the church has had with unchurched twenty and thirty-somethings at coffee houses. Each chapter raises the objection using a conversational approach, provides the biblical answers to that objection, gives examples of how churches are addressing this objection, and concludes with follow-through projection suggestions, discussion questions, and resource listings. |
| |
|
| |
|
A Powerful Yet Sobering Look at Contemporary Christianity |
There is little doubt that the contemporary church is in trouble. Statistics reveal an unsettling exodus from the church by younger generations who are "spiritual, but not religious." Pastor Dan Kimball has addressed this disturbing trend head-on in his new book They Like Jesus but not the Church (Zondervan, 2007). Dan is a pastor at Vintage Faith Church and the author of multiple books on the emerging church* His book is endorsed by Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, Greg Koukl, and other respected conservative voices.
Rather than relying on statistics to make his case, Dan interviewed non-Christians as to their perspectives of the contemporary church. He asked them two simple questions, "What do you think of when you hear the name Jesus?" and, "What comes to your mind when you hear the word Christian?" He found that emerging generations are largely favorable to Jesus with comments such as, "He is beautiful," "He is a wise man," and "I want to be like him."
But when asked what they think of Christians and the church, students' responses were markedly different. Most of the young people Dan interviewed held six common misperceptions of the church:
1. The church is an organized religion with a political agenda
2. The church is judgmental and negative
3. The church is dominated by males and oppressed females
4. The church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong
5. The church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally.
Dan asks an important question that is worth pondering: "Could it be because we have never really engaged in conversation and relationship with them, so they form stereotypes? Could it be that when we do engage in conversation with them or `witness' to them using our typical methods, we are doing more harm than good? Maybe in the church we have been doing so much talking that we haven't really listened. Shouldn't we hear their thoughts, hear their hearts?" (38)
There were many misperceptions during the inception of the early church that were only fully overcome when apologists explained what Christianity was truly about and Christians befriended non-Christians. Some of the misperceptions against the church today will only be overcome through apologetics and relationships.
Since we live in a culture that is increasingly post-Christian, Dan argues that we must think of ourselves as missionaries. No longer are the values influencing emerging generations shaped by pastors, Bible teachers, and Christianity as a whole. Emerging generations of young people no longer know the biblical story, they are open to all faiths, and they believe many of the stereotypes of religious people presented in the media. As a result, Dan suggests that take the following approach:
Instead of viewing our towns and cities as Judeo-Christian and feeling that everyone needs to automatically adhere to what we believe, we need to act like missionaries do when they enter a different culture. When missionaries enter another culture, they listen, learn, study the spiritual beliefs of the culture, and get a sense of what the culture's values are. They may try to discover what experiences this culture has had with Christians and what the people of the culture think of Christianity. Missionaries in a foreign culture don't practice the faiths or embrace the spiritual beliefs of that culture, but they do respect them, since the missionaries are on the other culture's turf (29-30).
You may disagree with parts of They Like Jesus but not the Church, but this is a book that must not be ignored. With love, compassion, and forthrightness, Dan challenges the contemporary evangelical church to take a hard look at how our actions and attitudes shape the perspective our culture has of Jesus. The cross is certainly a stumbling block to people as Paul makes clear (1 Corinthians 1:23), but the problem is, according to Dan, that many non-believers struggle over the attitudes of Christians before they even get to the cross. |
| |
|
Excellent - period! |
Being a Starbucks frequenter myself, I was delighted to read that Dan did most of his research for this book by talking to Coffee Shop folks. It is a fabulous resource if you want to know what non-church people really think of modern Christianity. Primo book!
Rev. Mark |
| |
|
Tough Words for the Church, But We Need to Hear Them |
This book grew on me as I was reading it. Dan Kimball has a passion to win people for Christ, but he is very sensitive about what non-Christians say about the church. He is concerned that sometimes, Christians come across as judgmental, narrow minded, homophobic, right wing Republican, and cliquish. He notes that most people he talks to in coffee shops like Jesus, and that they think highly of him. But they also feel that the church has misrepresented Him by making up a bunch of rules to keep women under the authority of men and to keep people under the authority of male ministers.
Kimball reports that emerging generations would like to see worship services that teach intelligently and thoughtfully about Jesus without dumbing things down. The church should allow for question and discussion times, and it shouldn't be centered around a superstar pastor or around any one person. The church should also have a good children's ministry.
Kimball says that people are hungry for spiritual knowledge and hungry in particular to get to know the Jesus of the Bible, but they are so put off by know it all Christians that they end up reading things on their own or just avoid organized religion altogether.
Kimball points out that churches are fooling themselves if they think people are going to shlep to church on Sunday morning just because they have contemporary music or if the sermon is good. Instead of trying to make people come to church, we need to bring the church to them through our witness in the world
I'm a pastor, so these are tough words for me to hear. But it challenges me to be more intentional about my friendships with people outside the church. Kimball also challenges pastors to be able to speak intelligently about the homosexual debate, the roles of women in the church, and theological issues such as why are there so many elements of Christian thought to be found in religions that came before Christianity.
I've been guilty in the past of assuming that most emerging church leaders were theologically dull and weak on witnessing, but boy was I wrong! This book is right on the money! Lord, forgive me for my own judgmentalism. |
| |
|
a Must Read |
I think this book should be required for anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time. The whole idea of the Christian bubble is something that I have struggled with for a long time. I found myself wanting to get out of that, but not really knowing how to go about it. Now, thanks to this book, I know. This book also illustrates just how far the modern Church has moved from Christ and the Apostles in the Bible. Today, too many Christians seem content to just stay in their Christian bubble and not make any effort to reach out to those outside the Church. Even though this book is technically geared towards those in Church leadership, I think it will greatly benefit everyone who reads it with an open mind and heart. This book will teach you how to balance that sometimes fine line between being in the world but not of it. Jesus was willing to hang out with tax collectors, prostitutes and lepers and other "sinners" so why aren't his followers willing to do the same?
I also know from experience that the technique that Dan is talking about really works. You must first win the trust of non-believers and really listen to them. We can't just demand they listen to us.
Back in 1996, I befriended an non-believer who rode the bus with me everyday. We sat together and got into some really awesome discussions. I won her trust and really listened to what she had to say. I was able to share Scripture with her and tell her what Christianity is really about. She really opened up to me. But then, one day, a overzealous Christian went up to her (they were complete strangers) and told her "Unless you put your faith in Christ, you will go to hell when you die." My friend was incredibly angry. After that, she completely shut down. She wouldn't discuss spiritual things with me anymore. Every time I tried, she would say she didn't want to talk about it. She had been incredibly open before. I lovingly confronted the man. I asked him if he thought that is how Jesus would approach a non-believer. He shrugged and said "That's how my church taught me to do it." Then he walked off. I tried to assure my friend that not all Christians are like this guy, and that I didn't agree with what he did. But by then, it was too late. The damage had already been done. Even though this incident occurred 13 years ago, it disturbs to me to this day. I had spent months dialoging with this woman, and that one incident was enough to shut her down. I wish this book would have been available then. I would have given a copy to that overzealous Christian. I have since lost touch with this woman. So I don't know where she is spirtually today, but I can't help but wonder if this man has now completely turned her off to Christianity.
This book also talks about how to be sensitive without compromise. That is so important. I think that every Church in America should do a series from this book. This book will revolutionize the way you think and feel about non-believers. I also like the fact that it encourages all Christians to be missionaries where they live. So often, Christians think of the mission field as going overseas. That is a mission field, but what about the mission field that is all around us right here in America?
If you are content in your Christian bubble and being numb to unbelivers, then don't read this book. But if you are ready to have all your preconceptions and comfort zone exploded, then read this book. If you are ready to take your Christianity to the next level, read this book. And while you are at it, buy several copies for your friends. This is definitely one you will want to pass on to others.
Thank you Dan Kimball for having the courage to write this book. It is sorely needed in the Church today. |
| |
|
A must read for Christians |
|
Dan Kimball presents a timely and applicable lesson for Christians. I think he describes a fairly accurate picture of Christians in the church and encourages us to move out of our comfort zone. |
| |
|
|
|
