false 5 0 false true Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 09 11:28:38 -0700 2009 Wed Sep 09 11:41:47 -0700 2009
The book is unique because it's personal, theological, and written in a narrative style. As the title would suggest, it's the story of a man who's not content with church as he's experiencing it, and his journey of finding something more.

While the first part of the book I knew before I read it, I was surprised at all of the insight it contained on why the system, as it is, is broken. From feeding people's idols of affirmation, to the legalism of "children's ministry", and the use of guilt to make the machine run. Much of the content in this section reminded me of my own personal journey as expressed in this blog musing: http://joeburnham.com/monday-musings/hey...

When the book took the expected turn to the current fad of House Church, it surprised me. While most texts, even the ones for professionals today, focus on the form of the House Church and why that structure is superior to the large congregation, this one sifted through the garbage and boldly declared that it's not about the form, but about living in and under the Gospel. In other words, style doesn't matter, but substance does, and as the book puts it, most religious substance today serves more as an inoculation against the real thing than a true dose of what God desires to give people in Christ.

Oddly enough, this book about not going to church, made me want to pastor a typical congregation who's ready and willing to explore something new, and step out on a journey of discovering grace and just what life in and under the Gospel looks like.]]>