The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
by Ronald J. Sider
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ronald J. SiderEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-02-01
ISBN: 0801065410
Number of pages: 144
Publisher: Baker Books
Book Reviews of The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience, Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Book Review: A Challenging Read But Asks Some Good Questions
Summary: 3 Stars
Jesus gave a stern description and warning to His disciples: "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matt. 5:13). Christ wants His followers to live in a way that honors him and proclaims the Gospel by their presence and behavior in the world. We are to be "salty" and live lives that are different from the culture around us, while still interacting with, loving and working in the culture. Ronald J. Sider's book, The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World? asks some hard questions about how well the American Evangelical church is living up to that call to discipleship and holy living. This is not an easy book to read - not because of length (it's only 131 pages), nor because of its writing style (easy to read), but because of the uncomfortable lens it turns and focuses on our failures as God's people.
"We proudly trumpet our orthodox doctrine of Christ as true God and true man and then disobey his teaching. We divorce, though doing so is contrary to his commands....Christ died to create one new multi-cultural body of believers, yet we display more racism than liberal Christians who doubt his deity." (pp. 50). Sider's tone throughout is close to sounding exasperated, but I think, that for the most part, his message needs to be heard! He is right, that much of our problem comes from poor teaching and understanding of the Biblical message: "If all there is to accepting the gospel is receiving the forgiveness of sins, one can accept the gospel, become a Christian, and then go on living the same adulterous, materialistic, racist life that one lived before. Salvation becomes, not a life-transforming experience that reorients every corner of life, but a one-way ticket to heaven, and one can live like hell until one gets there." (pp. 57-58).
Do I recommend this book? Yes, with qualifications. I think sometimes it is good to read people who challenge you and stretch your understanding. Sider, is at times, not careful enough with his words, as he can make behavior change seem like part of coming to Christ, rather than the result of Christ changing u s after we come to Christ. He also focuses a lot on social and political areas, sometimes in ways that are not helpful. Still, all in all, I believe that all Christians should read this book and be reminded, that the grace that saves us, is also the grace that must transform us. As Paul writes in Titus 2:11-12, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age." I pray that God would use books like this, to remind us that we are called to a transformed lifestyle when we come to Christ, and the more we fail to strive for holiness-the more the world sees our hypocrisy. Again, not a fun book to read, but an important one for all who are serious about following the Savior.
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