The Next Christians – a Helpful Book
Gabe Lyons is doing what he calls others to do and that is refreshing. He is living his life as a redemptive reality in a culutral season that is desperate for redemption. This is not a “how to” manual as much as it provokes the reader to think “I can too.” What a breath of fresh air in a room filled with the stale wind of so many saying the same things.
Seldom would anyone say a single chapter of a book is worth buying the whole book but in the case of The Next Christians, it may well be true. Chapter Ten, “Countercultural,**Not ‘Relevant’* may state some of the sagest wisdom any contemporary author has had the courage to state. *”The next Christians are living in the tension of being prophetic with their lives while serving others and inviting then to a better way.”* In much of the present literature that is designed to “help” christians do a better job being christian, there is some kind of copy and paste pattern to follow. Lyons is giving something different to his readers. Live in a real relationship with God, live in real relationships with people and trust the Holy Spirit to flow with life into all things we are part of.
This is a timely and important work and could prove to one of the most prophetic works for the believers that are coming into their purpose and time.
I have never thought of the obsurdity of buying a book for just one chapter, but now that I think of it I believe that it is a truly great work that would cause one to do this. I can only think of two books that I would buy based on this criteria. I would purchase the “Bible” for the Book of James or the Book of Romans and I would purchase Aldo Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” the “Thinking Like a Mountain.” Of course the truly wonderful thing about each of these books is that every other word in them is worth reading!
I know it seems absurd but I actually did not buy the book. I am a memebr of a group through Multinomah/Waterborrk publishing called Blogging for Books. I actually get to pick from a list of available books, they send it to me (fro free) I read it review it on my blog, their website and a retail outlet on line. THen I get to choose another, when ever I want and the process starts again.
However, it is a fantastic book that provoked thought in me and how we as beleivers ought ot have influence in our society but seldom take the risks to do so.