Jesus Is for Liars: A Hypocrite's Guide to Authenticity

by Tim Baker

Before you turn this book over and begin thumbing through the pages, you need to know something. This is not one of those books that tells you your life is going to be perfect. This isn’t a book that will make you feel like Joe or Jane Superchristian. And the great thing about that is you’re in good company. There are no perfect Christians―we all struggle. If you’re honest with yourself, you will probably admit that even as you try to follow Jesus, you mess up a lot. You may even feel like there isn’t a lot of room for questions and failures in the Christian faith. But the truth is those questions and failures is part of learning to follow Jesus. It’s time to think outside the box and see that real faith doesn’t mean trying to fit into a particular mold―real faith means being real with God. Jesus is for Liars doesn’t shy away from any of the tough subjects―it asks the hard, honest questions that will let you explore who you are and who God is so you can see that true faith isn’t about pretending to be perfect, it’s about following Jesus just as you are.

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2009

Reviews

[Navin Karri · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I agree with the authors assessment of the problem of authenticity of Christians as we navigate faith and life, in and out of the church, he doesn’t seem to resolve the questions he raises, rather than leaves them as loose ends for the reader, who may be left with imagining what things could be. The book is from an honest person, putting forth his gripes with the nature of God and reality, and marrying the facets of Gods nature with the dire reality we live in. What the author describes a lot of us as Christians would face in the journey of faith, the author does point that the journey is intensely personal. He does give some pointers, about what could be the possible things that could be to some of the things that maybe. It is like a lot of what ifs, to a lot of what ifs we face. I gave only three stars, because this book is like having a friend who talks and talks about a lot of issues we both face, but in the end, even though we do learn some direction, but no clear indication as to what could we do, in order to get there. As I’m writing these final sentences, I’ve changed the review to four stars, cos the author is uncharacteristically honest about faith and its implications, who doesn’t come off as a know it all, but rather as a journey in progress, to him or for the reader as well. I do wish churches have these kinds of mentors, where the faith isn’t dependent on rhetoric or routines but on authentic pursuit of God, in one’s own journey, in a way unique to each individual. To that end, the author does a tremendous job to paint the picture as it is, as a lot of believers face those situations in their own personal journey, like I did. I can relate to a lot of things the author mentions, like, Gods silence in our pursuit of Him, or letting God know of our own feelings. A lot of these things, would never be addressed at Church in general, so I applaud the author for writing a book about it, so that people may identify with him. But I would have given this 5 stars, if it were including rather definitive actions one could rely on to reach the desired outcomes to the issues raised in the book. My main gripe would be that, issues are raised but never addressed nor given a solution, but probably that wasn’t the intent of the author, but that would have helped me a bit, so I could be biased in that regard. All in all, a worthwhile read to someone who is authentic or honest like the author of this book.