A New Way God is Building His Church

by Brence Minor

February 3, 2011

“The Good News about the End of Christian America.” This is what readers see above the title of Gabe Lyon’s book, The Next Christians. I first thought this was a bold and intriguing statement. I was almost offended. The end of American Christianity is good news? I will not lie, I was skeptical about this book by just reading the cover and looking at the table of contents. On the surface, the book seems to be about changing Christianity. However, my skepticism turned into belief as I read. This book is not about changing our faith, but restoring it. Gabe Lyons shows readers the new way God is using his people to build the church today. He writes about the ways that Christians are beginning to engage the culture. The Next Christians are described as:

Provoked, Not Offended

Creators, Not Critics

Called, Not Employed

Grounded, Not Distracted

In Community, Not Alone

Countercultural, Not “Relevant”

There is a chapter for each of these characteristics in which Lyons explains what it means and gives examples of real people. As I was reading these chapters, excitement came over me. I was inspired and encouraged by the things that God’s people are doing around the world. It looks like a movement that will spread like never before. Gabe Lyons holds this movement as equal to the Protestant Reformation. Christianity will never change, but the modes and methods by which it is made manifest does. One thing that I loved about the book was the repetition to keep the Gospel central to how we do God’s work in the world. Lyons says that we must be telling people that they are God’s creation, made in his image and that Christ came to save us from sin so that we can join back with him in the restoration of all his creation. Now that I have finished the book, I am propelled to join up with God in what he is doing in our world. Hopefully this book will inspire you in the same way.

I received a copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing group for this review.

Click here to read Chapter 1 from the book:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/48050016/The-Next-Christians-by-Gabe-Lyons-Chapter-Excerpt

Check out these places to buy the book:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Next-Christians-About-Christian-America/dp/0385529848/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&qid=1296781034&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Next-Christians/Gabe-Lyons/e/9780385529846/?itm=2&USRI=the+next+christians+the+good+news+about+the+end

Check out more information about Gabe Lyons and other people about how they are engaging the world:

http://www.qideas.org/