Synopses & Reviews
Turn on a cable news show or pick up any news magazine, and you get the impression that Christian America is on its last leg. The once dominant faith is now facing rapidly declining church attendance, waning political influence, and an abysmal public perception. More than 76% of Americans self-identify as Christians, but many today are ashamed to carry the label.
While many Christians are bemoaning their faith’s decline, Gabe Lyons is optimistic that Christianity’s best days are yet to come. In the wake of the stunning research from his bestselling book, unChristian, which revealed the growing disenchantment among young generations for Christians, Lyons has witnessed the beginnings of a new iteration of the faith. Marked by Lyons’ brutal honesty and unvarying generosity, Lyons exposes a whole movement of Christians—Evangelicals, Mainline, Protestants, Orthodox, Pentecostals, and others—who desire to be a force for restoration even as they proclaim the Christian Gospel. They want the label Christian to mean something good, intelligent, authentic, and beautiful.
The next generation of Christians, Lyons argues, embodies six revolutionary characteristics:
“When Christians incorporate these characteristics throughout the fabric of their lives, a fresh, yet orthodox way of being Christian springs forth. The death of yesterday becomes the birth of a great tomorrow. The end of an era becomes a beautiful new beginning. In this way, the end of Christian America becomes good news for Christians.”
In THE NEXT CHRISTIANS, Lyons disarms readers by speaking as a candid observer rather than cultural crusader. Where other people shout, Lyons speaks in a measured tone offering helpful analysis of our current reality while casting a vision for how to be a Christian in a world disenchanted with the faith. Both a celebration and a reckoning, THE NEXT CHRISTIANS combines current day models and relevant research with stories of a new generation of Christian leaders. If you are worried by what you see transpiring around you, this book will take you on a surprising social exploration in hopes that you too will restore confidence in your faith.
Synopsis
In the wake of the stunning research findings displayed in his 2007 bestselling book, unChristian—which revealed the growing disenchantment younger generations have with Christians—Gabe Lyons carefully articulates what he has learned from years of interviews, research and focus groups about the next iteration of the movement. Now Lyons looks to the future, carefully observing the end of Christian America’s dominance, and offers a compelling vision for how followers of Jesus can recover their core identity while faithfully navigating our current cultural milieu. Citing current-day models of renewal alongside practical examples of how the faith is adapting in a pluralist, post-modern world, Lyons debunks the popular view and paints a surprisingly optimistic picture of why Christianity’s best days just may lie ahead as a new generation makes their mark in our unprecedented, post-Christian age.
Synopsis
A new leader in Christian thought follows up his bestselling work with a look forward at the tremendous future that exists for Christianity by restoring six basic practices.
In the wake of his stunning book, unChristian, which broke news on the growing disenchantment younger generations have with the current practice of Christianity, Gabe Lyons now looks at the end of the existing Christian era and shows how the Church must change to remain relevant. We live in a postmodern, pluralistic, post-Christian setting. And while that could be disconcerting for some, Lyons sees horizons of opportunity for the gospel to go forward in new, yet historic ways. The question is how. What does cultural engagement look like? Can we stay grounded in the gospel, yet winsome and credible to wider society? Gabe explores a few of the marks of the next generation of Christians who are turning the unChristian perception problem on its head.
Synopsis
In the wake of the stunning research findings displayed in his 2007 bestselling book, "unChristian"--which revealed the growing disenchantment younger generations have with Christians--Gabe Lyons carefully articulates what he has learned from years of interviews, research and focus groups about the next iteration of the movement. Now Lyons looks to the future, carefully observing the end of Christian America's dominance, and offers a compelling vision for how followers of Jesus can recover their core identity while faithfully navigating our current cultural milieu. Citing current-day models of renewal alongside practical examples of how the faith is adapting in a pluralist, post-modern world, Lyons debunks the popular view and paints a surprisingly optimistic picture of why Christianity's best days just may lie ahead as a new generation makes their mark in our unprecedented, post-Christian age.
About the Author
Gabe Lyons was at the top of the Christian food chain several years ago. He was a graduate of Liberty University, Vice President of a prominent Christian organization, and co-founder of Catalyst, the nation’s largest gathering of young Christian leaders. There was only one problem: he was embarrassed to be called Christian. So Lyons set out on a personal journey, leaving his comfortable job to found Q (qideas.org), a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good. He also commissioned stunning research, which became the basis of his landmark book, UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters. As a respected voice for a new generation of Christians, he has been featured by CNN, The New York Times, Newsweek, and USA Today. Gabe, his wife Rebekah, and their three children live in New York City.