Church-Free Christianity
They Like Jesus But Not The Church: Insights From Emerging Generations book review.
Daniel T. Haase
July 1, 2007
A recent special on CNN was titled: "What Is a Christian? Where Do You Fit?" Obviously, many people are interested in the subject, but when it comes to actually entering a church and exploring the life of a congregation, they are hesitant. It would seem that many people like Jesus but not the church. And this dynamic is not limited to non-Christians. A few years ago I was teaching a course about the church and our culture at a Christian college. Mid-lecture a hand went up, and with all sincerity a student probed, "Do we really need the church?" In this student's mind the church was not a given. Then it hit me: the classroom was filled with future church leaders. These young Christians were sold out for Jesus and longing to be his disciples, but being sold out for the church was troubling. Dan Kimball's latest book, They Like Jesus but not the Church, tackles this phenomenon. Written by a pastor for pastors, Kimball is strikingly humble in his approach to this topic. (He even includes an appendix that outlines criticisms of the book.) Drawing from his experience with those "outside the church" and displaying a passion for people to be heard, Kimball says, "Christians are now the foreigners in a post-Christian culture, and we have got to wake up to this reality if we haven't." The book is divided into three parts. Part one examines "why emerging generations are changing." Here, Kimball lays the philosophical foundation built out of his personal experiences and research. Part two takes the reader on a listening tour of "what emerging generations think about the church." This section may seem long, but Kimball's ability to capture the voices and experiences of those outside the church makes it a rewarding read. Part three looks ...
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