a book worth reading

Perceptions and perspectives about the Church's place in our society are radically changing. "Christian America," a descriptive phrase with a million interpretations is a fading concept.

If you're feeling a little lost in identifying your place as a follower of Christ in today's chaotic culture, Gabe Lyons is one of the guys with a compass. In his latest work: The Next Christians, Lyon's baseline assertion is that there is good news attached to the "End of Christian America."

Lyons previously contributed to a book that was incredibly helpful to me: Unchristian - What a New Generation really thinks about Christianity. Unchristian was a research based, fact-driven analysis that in many ways affirmed what I believed, and in other ways opened my eyes and heart to the incredible challenge churches are facing. This challenge which seems daunting now will only grow exponentially if ignored. What I've come to appreciate about Gabe Lyons is not only his willingness to provide research based reality on the issues, but his insatiable desire to provide solutions. That's what this book is all about.

Lyons provides six characteristics that set apart "the next Christians"

Provoked, not offended
Creators, not critics
Called, not employed
In community, not alone
Counter-cultural, not relevant

This was a really refreshing read and a source of motivation for me. I'm grateful to Gabe for not merely pointing fingers or identifying problems which is all too easy to do and not really helpful to anyone. This is a book about following Jesus, and taking his grace, mercy, and love to bring about change in our neighborhoods. Lyons not only provides the framework to accomplish the goal, he provides real flesh and blood examples of how people are living it out - right here, right now.

We're going to work through this book together with the group that meets in my house every Wednesday. I have high hopes for how it will inspire us and challenges us to act. That's what a good book does right?