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Lord, Save Us from Your Followers: Why Is the Gospel of Love Dividing America?
by
Dan Merchant
Why is the Gospel of Love dividing America?
Fed up with the angry, strident language filling the airwaves that has come to represent the Christian faith, author, director, and follower Dan Merchant set out to explore the collision of faith and culture in America. What is all this fighting really about? The book and upcoming documentary represent a two-year effort to "
...moreHardcover, 216 pages
Published
March 11th 2008
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
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Wonderful Read! If you struggle with your Christian faith because of the acts of fellow Christians, or you think you know everything about your Christian faith, or you were alienated by Christians, or you know nothing about Christianity, this is the book for you. Dan Merchant, a professed Christian, interviews people about the 'wedge' issues of the day (homosexuality, abortion, intelligent design, the religious right, etc.) and uses humor to take the edge off the discussion. He interviews wel...more
this book was FANTASTIC!!! really made me analyze my life and actions as a christian. even more so, however, it has challenged me to rethink how to live my life in the way that Jesus would want me to. the best part about this book was the tone and language the author used. although it dealt in some heavy topics and interviewed a wide range of people, this was something even I (who keeps a notebook dictionary handy) could understand. and it was HILARIOUS! i laughed out loud constantly while...more
I have to admit, I was scared of this book. My inital reaction to the cover was "utoh" thinking it would end up being something along the lines of Bill Maher's new movie (Religulous).
Thankfully it, it was not.
There were several things I enjoyed about the book, but, I have to say my favorite was the "comic book" section in the middle. You must read it to fully appreciate it. I also really enjoyed the conversations he had with alot of people who self-...more
Thankfully it, it was not.
There were several things I enjoyed about the book, but, I have to say my favorite was the "comic book" section in the middle. You must read it to fully appreciate it. I also really enjoyed the conversations he had with alot of people who self-...more
Picked up this book on a whim because it was cheaper than dirt and looked interesting. Apparently it was based on a Christian documentary which I likely will never see, though it may be worthwhile if you get your hands on it.
Merchant's book and film project ask the question: why is the gospel of love dividing America? He explores these 'cultural wars' engaged in by the evangelical conservatives and the godless secular leftists. I have been in Canada for several years so I haven't had t...more
Merchant's book and film project ask the question: why is the gospel of love dividing America? He explores these 'cultural wars' engaged in by the evangelical conservatives and the godless secular leftists. I have been in Canada for several years so I haven't had t...more
I love Dan Merchant. The movie was obviously better (because he set out to make a film, not write a book) and extremely powerful, though the book fleshed out what he talked about in the film and gave a few more anecdotes that added to the story. The message of Christ is simple and we STILL don't get it. You love God, you love people. You follow God, which again means loving unconditionally. That's it.
I have great hope after watching his film and reading his book that all of this m...more
I have great hope after watching his film and reading his book that all of this m...more
I just finished reading Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant. This book was fantastic. Dan Merchant also made a movie under the same title, which I am now interested in seeing. Dan basically took two years to travel across America and ask people on the streets and experts "Why is the Gospel of Love Dividing America?"
For most of his interviews on the streets, he dressed up in what he deemed "Bumper Stick Suit", which was basically a white painters suit plas...more
For most of his interviews on the streets, he dressed up in what he deemed "Bumper Stick Suit", which was basically a white painters suit plas...more
Another in the line of books that I picked up as an ointment to the irritation that I get from seeing all the truly lunatic books for Christians. The science textbooks for 'Christian Schools' are truly an obscenity.
The book asks a question that the author, Dan Merchant, finds some hints to answering, but leaves others lying on the ground. A strong recurring theme in the book is the lack of communication we have, which, in some sense, is the premise of the book.
For some of t...more
The book asks a question that the author, Dan Merchant, finds some hints to answering, but leaves others lying on the ground. A strong recurring theme in the book is the lack of communication we have, which, in some sense, is the premise of the book.
For some of t...more
I had been noticing this book for awhile, but thinking it was just another them-us book, I never bought it. I saw it on sale the other day and bought it thinking I'd read it and give it away.
Well, it's not another them-us book - far from it! This book asks us to love each other because we're all God's children. And the best way to communicate with each other is to listen and love each other.
Dan Merchant "opens a panoramic view of how God's people are viewed by everyday Americans...more
Well, it's not another them-us book - far from it! This book asks us to love each other because we're all God's children. And the best way to communicate with each other is to listen and love each other.
Dan Merchant "opens a panoramic view of how God's people are viewed by everyday Americans...more
This book was sort of strange for me. It's very disjointed. It goes from one topic to another with very little transition. It is also a movie and I think it might work better in that form. Some of the interviews were interesting and I really enjoyed the confessional chapter. At first I thought he was just going to rehash Don Miller's confessional story from Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality but he actually does his own booth at a gay pride rally where he apolog...more
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. He didn't make his own position perfectly clear from the onset. Once I got into it, especially his interviews with representatives from both sides of the political and religious fences, it was a really enjoyable read. I really respect someone who can put themselves out in the open like this for what they believe in, and not just have it be for publicity or to get in someone's face. He really challenges Christians to start acting more Chri...more
I got this for Xmas from my wife and it was a surprisingly quick and entertaining read. It's a book based on a documentary movie that a christian film-maker made examining why the christian religion seems to be turning people off or away from the church. Interesting information about how certain factions of the church have to create controversy in order to raise money and how the christian religion seems to have strayed away from the red-letter sections of the new testament, those words typica...more
Disjointed in structure (which is what you'd expect from a book written by a documentary filmmaker about his experiences making a documentary film) but filled with interesting stories & an offbeat perspective on the widening gap between what people outside the Christian faith perceive about us and what we actually believe.
The author argues essentially for followers of Christ to attempt to actually follow Christ in our rhetoric & practice: love, serve, give... lather, rinse, repeat. S...more
The author argues essentially for followers of Christ to attempt to actually follow Christ in our rhetoric & practice: love, serve, give... lather, rinse, repeat. S...more
What is it about the way Christians portray their faith today that so polarizes their audience? How much should Christians focus on understanding and meeting the lost where they are at? How does the involvement of Christians in politics impact perceptons of Christianity by the lost? Is there a better and more fruitful way to evangelize? In a year-long experiment, Merchant took these and other questions to America's streets, prominent believers and lost folks for their input. The results of ...more
Very thought provoking read. Having seen the movie a couple of times, I'm not sure the book adds that much more. Nevertheless, even on a third "viewing", Dan continues to make me re-evaluate how I present Christ. While I don't agree with everything Dan said (and certainly don't agree with everything others interviewed in the book said!) I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who calls themselves a Christian. It challenges us to reconcile our actions and our words with "...more
Kristal Cooper
added it
A study of how and why too many of the people who claim to be Christian don't act very Christ-like, written by one of their own! This guy has a refreshing new perspective and he shares it with an easy-to-enjoy voice. If you ever find yourself on either side of discussions about religion, this book gives some great strategies for how to foster communication that won't quickly devolve into arguments. I think I'm a better person after reading this book.
This book has a very silly, entertaining, yet introspective approach to how people perceive others. Not just how non believers see Christians, but how Christians see themselves and non believers. The author, who is a Christian himself, interviews other people Christians and non Christians alike about why there is so much hate and division between Christians and non. As a former Christian, this was an enjoyable read.
Ashley
rated it
I watched the documentary about six months ago and really enjoyed it, so when I saw the book in my local Half Price Books, I couldn't resist picking up a copy! While much of the content was familiar to me, having already seen the documentary, there were a number of tidbits that hadn't been included in the film that I really enjoyed.
Dan Merchant might be a little gimmicky at times, but he was able to have some genuinely inspiring, transparent, and interesting conversations with a wide...more
Dan Merchant might be a little gimmicky at times, but he was able to have some genuinely inspiring, transparent, and interesting conversations with a wide...more
This is one of those books that just spoke to me, especially two chapters: one on a reverse confessional booth and one on washing the feet of the homeless. I can completely identify with Dan Merchant and his desire to understand how a group of people (Christians) who are told to simply believe and love one another can become involved in such a strong "us vs. them" mentality that doesn't really accomplish much of anything positive. I love that instead of trying to get people to think th...more
If you're involved in discussions about politics, religion, ... actually, if you have heated opinions about anything, you should probably give this book a gander. Yes, its focus in God, religion, and christianity, but I think almost anyone can take something from this book.
His goal is to be a mostly silent observer, listening to what people on opposite sides of the line have to say about one another and the idea of the "Culture Wars." Merchant doesn't think he has all the a...more
His goal is to be a mostly silent observer, listening to what people on opposite sides of the line have to say about one another and the idea of the "Culture Wars." Merchant doesn't think he has all the a...more
I loved what the author had to say and mostly agreed with it. Is it a great book? Well, the language is very informal and the book is a very easy read. I appreciated that people from both the left and the right were interviewed. Interesting comments about Christianity from random people on the street.
I enjoyed the premise of the book and appreciated what Merchant was attempting to do. However, I found that the non traditional format of the book feel flat. Merchant is a documentary film maker and not necessarily an author. The context of the book was worthy of 4 stars, I did not enjoy reading from the direct transcripts of his interviews. It also lacked a jounalistic style and I found his overly diplomatic takes on certain people and key issues to be weak and confusing. Perhaps this book...more
This book had a certain healing effect. Whether you're a Christian absolutly over the hatred spewing followers you see on the tv or at church every week, or on the other side and you've been ran off from the faith because of Christians, I believe this book was written to help us heal one another.
After having watched the documentary of the same name a year or so ago, Merchants book seems to solidify a lot of what is shared in his film. Not only does it solidify but it actually adds new, personal insight into the journey that went into making his film. A very challenging and eye opening book I would highly recommend it.
Fantastic insight into and experiments about why the word of Christ is dividing, rather than uniting, Americans (and others). Great interviews and great stories. The movie is great too. Christians, and especially non-Christians alike will enjoy this book.
Wow. I was very challenged by this book... why does the Gospel divide America? In a nutshell... b/c we often aren't walking what we talk and instead of spreading love, we spread hate in the name of God.
Everyone should read this- especially if you consider yourself a person of faith at all. Helps you to see how we have failed to love like Christ told us to, and we ruin His reputation in the process.
I liked it. It's a bit uneven at times. However, he makes a very good point about our faith. That is we fly off the handle we judge and we act nothing like what God wants us to act like.
An interesting and profound look at what it means to be Christian. Advocates loving a sinner instead of thumping them over the head with a Bible.
This book changed my life. Everyone, Christian or not should read this book. In some parts it made me cry and in others it pointed out to me my own faults and things that I want to change in my life.
To quote John Lennon:
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal."
All you need is love! You don't need to shove the bible or your specific brand of Chris...more
To quote John Lennon:
"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal."
All you need is love! You don't need to shove the bible or your specific brand of Chris...more
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers = The best kind of conviction
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