Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel Of The American Church (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
Author Michael Horton has put his finger on what is, at bottom, the problem with North American evangelicalism, and that is it's tendency to focus on the self rather than on Christ.It is not surprising to read of the likes of Joel Osteen and the other preachers of the prosperity gospel who teach pretty much that you can get what you want by using the right techniques to manipulate God. Joel Osteen's book "Your Best Life Now" gives you seven instructions to follow. The book doesn't even mention Christ. John MacArthur has remarked that if you listen to Joel Osteen, this will indeed be your best life now, because the one to follow most certainly will not be as good.Less obvious, however, than the prosperity gospel is that taught by the "deeds, not creeds" mentality, which wants to put the focus on discipleship at the expense of doctrine.Horton points out that the default position among Christians is one of semi-Pelagianism, in which Christ is still important but it's still essentially about us. God may be our co-pilot but it's still our story, in which we've found a place for God.No wonder people are burning out at church. They've got it backwards. And here is Horton's main point: Biblical Christianity is not about finding a place for God in our story, but about dying to ourselves and our story, and becoming a part of God's story. I remember what Greg Koukl once said: we are expendable in God's plan of things. That doesn't mean that God doesn't care about us, but it does mean that we should not expect that we can have our best life now. Our best life is to come, and God is preparing us for that.We need a fundamental re-orientation, where we recognize that the power is in the gospel, not in programs or techniques. We go to church not primarily to find our ministry, but to shut up and listen to the Word and see it in the sacraments. Then and only then will we be adequately equipped to minister to each other and to the world. When it comes to Christianity, we need to get away from the American "can-do" mentality.We can't do, but by putting the focus where it has to be, and that is on the whole counsel of God in His Word, we find our place in God's story, and with that, we also discover a renewed sense of purpose and contentment. Horton hits on a much needed topic with this book. Churches, particularly in the Western Hemisphere are striving to be relevant in today's culture, but at the expense of not preaching Christ and His Gospel. It is a book that I would recommend to church leaders and members. A couple of constructive criticisms: the book only had 7 chapters, but 259 pages. That meant very long chapters. Also, Horton does a lot of repeating in this book. I would have liked to see more chapters and less repeating. Overall though, it was a good book.
What do You think about Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel Of The American Church (2008)?
Horton is brilliant and adds much heart-felt intellectualism to the mind of the believer.
—viviana
Outstanding. Truth about the present world from the Reformed perspective.
—Bcawsofme
Excellent. The last two chapters are the best.
—Iwin
