Synopses & Reviews
Why our churches are shrinking:
"e;In the discomfort between orthodox Christian faith and twenty-first century western dogma, we are tempted to do what it takes to make the pressure go away, to acquiesce on the beliefs that grate against contemporary sensibilities. Tweak, for example, your view on sexuality to be more embracing of today’s mood, or move from a particularist view of Jesus to a Universalist one, and you are warmly embraced into the fold.
"e;Thus for Christians raised under the ethic of relevance—that is, the desire to prove believers can be both holy and cool—the new pressure presented by an intolerant tolerance proves too much. Some compartmentalize their beliefs into an orthodox/secularist mashup; others simply disappear into the ghostly embrace of secularity.” – Mark Sayers
Disappearing Church is a direct answer to the most pressing question facing church leaders today: How do we reach—and keep—people in a world that keeps swallowing Christians?
Full of real stories and actionable insights, Disappearing Church offers practical wisdom for discipling in a highly secularized society. God will grow his church and protect its purity, but He will use each of us to do it. Are you up for the challenge?
Synopsis
When church and culture look the same...
For the many Christians eager to prove we can be both holy and cool, cultural pressures are too much. We either compartmentalize our faith or drift from it altogether into a world that s so alluring.
Have you wondered lately:
- Why does the Western church look so much like the world?
- Why are so many of my friends leaving the faith?
- How can we get back to our roots?
Disappearing Church will help you sort through concerns like these, guiding you in a thoughtful, faithful, and hopeful response. Weaving together art, history, and theology, pastor and cultural observer Mark Sayers reminds us that real growth happens when the church embraces its countercultural witness, not when it blends in.
It s like Jesus said long ago, If the salt loses its saltiness, it is no longer good for anything
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About the Author
MARK SAYERS is a cultural commentator, writer and speaker, who is highly sought out for his unique and perceptive insights into faith and contemporary culture. Mark is the author of The Trouble with Paris and The Vertical Self. Mark is also the Senior Leader of Red Church. Mark lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife Trudi, daughter Grace, and twin boys Hudson and Billy.