Synopses & Reviews
Pastor and author Martin Thielen has compiled a list of ten things Christians need to believe--and ten things they don't--to be Christians. This lively and engaging book will be a help to seekers as well as a comfort to believers who may find themselves questioning some of the assumptions they grew up with.
Many people in the twenty-first century hunger for an expression of Christian faith that is different from the judgmental and narrow-minded caricatures they see on television or in the news. With an accessible style that's grounded in solid biblical scholarship, Thielen shows how Christians don't need to believe that sinners will be "left behind" to burn in hell or that it's heresy to believe in evolution. And while we must always take the Bible seriously, we don't always have to take it literally. At the same time, Christians do need to believe in Jesus--his life, his teachings, his death and resurrection, and his vision for the world. Thielen articulates centrist, mainline Christianity in a way that's fresh and easy to understand and offers authentic Christian insights that speak to our deepest needs.
This is an ideal book for individual, group, or congregational study.
Review
"This is a fine resource for clergy and laity alike, particularly those who have wondered: 'Do I have to believe that?'" John M. Buchanan, Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Illinois"Thielen engages the kinds of questions people actually ask. He combines theological acumen, a pastor's heart, and a knack for story-telling to fashion one of the most useful books I've read in a long time." Michael A. Smith, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee"For anyone still trying to get out from under that old, hard brand of Christianity that clinches its fist against science, women, or other faiths, and for those trying to sort out the simple basics of what we believe is at the heart of the Christian faith, Thielen's book is clear, accessible, down to earth, and reliable." James C. Howell, Senior Pastor, Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, and author of The Will of God
Review
"For anyone still trying to get out from under that old, hard brand of Christianity that clinches its fist against science, women, or other faiths, and for those trying to sort out the simple basics of what we believe is at the heart of the Christian faith, Thielen's book is clear, accessible, down to earth, and reliable." James C. Howell, Senior Pastor, Myers Park United Methodist Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, and author of The Will of God
Synopsis
Pastor and author Thielen has compiled a list of 10 things Christians need to believe--and 10 things they don't--to qualify as Christians. This lively and engaging book will be a help to seekers as well as a comfort to believers who may find themselves questioning some of the assumptions they grew up with.
About the Author
Martin Thielen is Senior Pastor of Brentwood United Methodist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. He previously served as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, for over a decade, during which the church experienced significant revitalization and growth. He has been a national worship and preaching consultant, seminary professor, and author, and has led more than one hundred church leadership workshops across the country. Visit his Web site at GettingReadyForSunday.com.