Is it possible that we have left Christ out of Christianity? Is the faith and practice of American Christians today more American than Christian? T...
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Nov 03, 2008
Paul
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Is God perhaps a supporting character in your life movie, however strong and important a character he may be, or have you been rewritten as a new character in God’s drama of redemption? If the former, then the focus is on us and our activity rather than on God and his work in Jesus Christ. “Us and out activities” may be all very fine things. Perhaps we’re fixing our marriages, becoming relevant to the culture, making disciples, doing what Jesus would do, overcoming addictions, even blogging and
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Aug 01, 2011
Timothy
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Horton brings us another winner! He takes the challenge straight to the American church to show where we've lost the gospel. He argues that it is not in new forms of heresy per se (although he draws strong parallels from today to Gnosticism and Pelagianism). He argues that even where there are doctrinal statements are good, we relegate Christ to obscurity in our church practice. He demonstrates that our gospel has been turned therapeutic and inward as opposed to the outward God who comes to us o
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Nov 26, 2010
David
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Pros:
1) Horton offers excellent critiques of some of the weaknesses of contemporary evangelicalism.
2) He calls for the church to put a singular focus on the Gospel.
3) Very thought provoking and challenging. Pastors should REALLY read this book.
Cons:
1) The book could have used an editor I think. Horton is extremely repetitive in some chapters and this gets tiring.
2) Hotron is correct in many of his assessments but sometimes I think he is a little too pessimisti More...
1) Horton offers excellent critiques of some of the weaknesses of contemporary evangelicalism.
2) He calls for the church to put a singular focus on the Gospel.
3) Very thought provoking and challenging. Pastors should REALLY read this book.
Cons:
1) The book could have used an editor I think. Horton is extremely repetitive in some chapters and this gets tiring.
2) Hotron is correct in many of his assessments but sometimes I think he is a little too pessimisti More...
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Jul 26, 2010
Mike
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I had been wanting to read a book by Horton for a little while. I confess that the arrogant, self-righteous part of me wanted to read this book to watch Horton hammer the seeker-friendly, megachurch. He does that but not to the degree I initially imagined (and immaturely and sinfully hoped for). What I found was his continual pointing to Christ and the cross filled the pages. I learned a lot about grace, proclaiming Christ and what the dangers of a man-centered theology(if that’s not a contradic
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Feb 22, 2010
John
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This is a hard-hitting wake-up call for those of us in the American Church. Horton, a professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, essentially dismantles what passes for theology at most evangelical churches in this country.
While he does confront the errors of “pop theology” movements such as the “Word-Faith” or “Prosperity Gospel” of Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen, and the “seeker-sensitive” or “Emergent Church” of guys like Brian McLaren, h More...
While he does confront the errors of “pop theology” movements such as the “Word-Faith” or “Prosperity Gospel” of Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen, and the “seeker-sensitive” or “Emergent Church” of guys like Brian McLaren, h More...
Aug 06, 2011
Christopher
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If there was a book I wish I'd written, this is the book. Horton's writing drips with the gospel and a passion for the Word of God in the church. He is unflinchingly biblical in his critique of the American church, claiming that no tradition is immune from reverting to "moralistic theraputic deism." While conservatives and liberals alike are in danger of becoming theologically vacuous, he is especially hard on the "seeker-friendly" movement and the "emergent church"
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Sep 24, 2011
Gavin
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Really terrific book. Horton argues that many American, evangelical churches are on the way to replacing the preaching of Christ and the gospel with preaching "moralistic, therapeutic deism." He pretty much destroys Joel Osteen and the many like him that preach Dr. Phil-isms from the pulpit instead of preaching the gospel.
He opens the book with a sobering illustration. What would our American cities look like if Satan were in control? There wouldn't be porn shops on each corn More...
He opens the book with a sobering illustration. What would our American cities look like if Satan were in control? There wouldn't be porn shops on each corn More...
Sep 04, 2011
Jared
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Christless Christianity is Michael Horton's diagnosis and prognosis of the state of the Christian church in America. Going into painful detail, he presses in on the places where the church has shifted its focus from God's activity to ours, from Christ as Savior to Christ as coach, from the transforming Good News to our own transformed lives.
Horton says that our narcissism has taken the form of what has been coined "moralistic, therapeutic deism", but he suggests that, at its core, it i More...
Horton says that our narcissism has taken the form of what has been coined "moralistic, therapeutic deism", but he suggests that, at its core, it i More...
Feb 10, 2012
Walt
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Horton has some profitable things to say about how we can be unwittingly endorsing our culture by accommodating it, and leaving the gospel behind as a result. However, there are holes in his writing, most notably his unwillingness to actually define the gospel, and his insistence on ordinances as "means of grace." I believe that Horton is guilty of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, and that he advocates for practices that I'm not even sure he believes are appropriate or will wo
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Apr 14, 2011
Ryan
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Apr 30, 2011
Debi
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This was a good book though I felt like the writing was a little philosophical and a bit over my head. So I may not have gotten as much out of the book as I didn't completely understand it. Here are some good quotes though.
"...whether we will offer Jesus Christ as the key to fulfilling our narcissistic preoccupation or as the Redeemer who liberates us from its guilt and power. Does Christ come to boost our ego or to crucify our ego and raise us up as new creatures with our identit More...
"...whether we will offer Jesus Christ as the key to fulfilling our narcissistic preoccupation or as the Redeemer who liberates us from its guilt and power. Does Christ come to boost our ego or to crucify our ego and raise us up as new creatures with our identit More...
Apr 18, 2010
Brian
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The one thing that stands out before anything else in this book is Mike Horton's explanation of law versus gospel. He defines it as "everything in the Bible that reveals God's moral expectations is law and everything in the Bible that reveals God’s saving purposes and acts is gospel. " So the problem is that "across the board in contemporary American Christianity [the:] basic message seems to be some form of law (do this) without the gospel (this is what has been done)."
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Dec 04, 2009
Lori
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Yes! Wish I'd said that. Actually, I have. Numerous times. And with often less than ideal results. Which I am sure will be the same response to this very timely and, unfortunately, necessary book. Evangelicalism has too often sold its soul for full pews and popularity.
In John 6 many disciples turned from Jesus's teachings because they were too hard. Imagine if He'd said, "Wait! That's not exactly what I meant. You don't have to eat of my flesh and drink of my blood to have eter More...
In John 6 many disciples turned from Jesus's teachings because they were too hard. Imagine if He'd said, "Wait! That's not exactly what I meant. You don't have to eat of my flesh and drink of my blood to have eter More...
Mar 24, 2011
Casey
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The book club I’m in went through this book and we enjoyed it. Horton alerts readers to the tendency in all of us to make Christ a supporting character in the movie of our lives rather than Lord of all. He also reveals the growing tendency in the American church to have a “happy” church where people have neat, fulfilling, successful lives, but Christ is not heralded as the Savior who pays for our sins and rescues us from a desperate plight. His concern is not that the church is becoming liberal
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Feb 12, 2010
Elaine
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I really wanted to like this book. It is so rare to find a really good rant against Pelagianism written in modern English, but I don't recall the last time I read a book so desperately in need of a good editor. This book is almost 300 pages, and it is divided into only 7 chapters. Those are long chapters. A couple of them have some idea of organization or focus, but much of this book is just a jumble of ideas and examples. I found it very difficult to follow, and I was agreeing with it.
Nov 24, 2008
Kate
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This is an excellent book. It examines the history and theological landscape of American Christianity, and offers an insightful critique. I would recommend this book to any of my Christian friends (those of other faiths might be interested, too) and would value your thoughts. It deserves a thoughtful read.
Feb 16, 2009
Nathan
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This books is similar to the Wittmer book (Don't Stop Believing). If I could, I would read them both, but if I could only read one, I'd get the Wittmer book (only because the way it is broken down by specific chapter/topic makes it easier to understand and apply the implications it is making to a particular issue I was facing. Horton is probably the more "profound" writer (ie you'll hear more of his quotes making their way into sermons than Wittmer's) but even so, you won't find yourse
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Aug 09, 2011
This book had some good points and theology throughout, although I almost totally disagree with the conclusions the author came to. His thoughts on atonement were great but lacking on methodology. In addition his main points could have been covered in about 25 pages, but instead drug on for 250.
Nov 17, 2009
Really enjoyed the first chapter, but it quickly started going over my head. I'll have to revisit this book once I have a better grasp of the different philosophies that were mentioned in the book. I understood the general gist of what he was saying, but I think I'd get so much more out of this book if I read up a bit more on the topic.
Aug 03, 2011
This book is great in it's readability, but more importantly into its insight at some of the things plaguing the American church. Any thinking and truth-seeking believer should read it an be sure they are driven, served, and serving in truth.
Jan 17, 2010
Anita
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tore through this book. I loved Horton's casual style, but hard hitting truth about the state of much of the evangelical church. I felt that there may have been times he was a little too hard on the church, but overall I would recommend the book to anyone.
Oct 19, 2011
Josh
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If you know Horton from his radio show/podcast, much of this material will seem familiar, but it is nevertheless the best distillation yet of his devastating critique of the American Church, and the ultimate hope of Christ Jesus himself.
May 18, 2009
Holly
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The moderate conservative Christian church's response to the growing wave of "megachurches" and born-again evangelicalism. Having come from the moderate convervative background myself, I'm interested in analyzing this argument.
My main caveat to this book is that the author (not surprisingly) often takes a stance of analytical certitude and moral authority. This doesn't necessarily diminish the argument (as the argument is based on his perspective anyway), but it might annoy More...
My main caveat to this book is that the author (not surprisingly) often takes a stance of analytical certitude and moral authority. This doesn't necessarily diminish the argument (as the argument is based on his perspective anyway), but it might annoy More...
Sep 24, 2011
Becky
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Parts of the book feel a bit too reliant on other, better-known work (such as Christian Smith's research that determined American religion consists of "moralistic therapeutic deism"). But Horton is good at setting forth the unadulterated gospel and identifying all the ways we try to distort Christianity into something works-based. His critique of Joel Osteen is particularly satisfying, even if saying that does feel a little bit like gloating.
Feb 04, 2011
Christopher
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While he is not a Lutheran, and perhaps quoted too often in Missouri circles, he rightly diagnoses the captivity of the American Church. Perhaps the book deserves 4 stars instead of 3. Lots of good quotes and sermon fodder. Here is a summary statement to perhaps wet your appetite: “This is finally where American spirituality leaves us: alone surfing the Internet, casting about for coaches and teammates, trying to save ourselves from captivity to this present age by finding those excitements tha
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Jun 11, 2009
Amy
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While I agree with his premise, this book was tedious. His point could have been made in 50 pages instead of 259... but hey, who's counting?
Nov 21, 2009
Dennis
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Insightful and hard hitting against liberals and conservatives alike. The chapter on our current moralistic, therapeutic deism and the chapter explaining the shallowness of Joel Osteen were favorites. I have waged a battle this year to keep the flag and national holidays out of our worship services. Horton provided the support and encouragement I needed.
Jun 23, 2010
Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church by Michael Horton (2008)
Jul 29, 2011
Matt
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This book deserves to be read by any committed Christian. That is all...
Apr 04, 2010
Aoife
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An interesting book with some good observations, but very dense and VERY Reformed and I just could not get myself to read it all the way through.
