The Gospel Blimp and Other Modern Parables

by Joseph Bayly

Here is a collection of Joe Bayly's best-loved The Gospel Blimp (which sold over 200,000 copies in its original edition); the famous Gooley stories; How Silently, How Silently the classic Christmas Parable; and others. "A long-overdue, embarrassingly accurate commentary on the feverish futility of too many sincere but pathetically misguided evangelical Christians. The power of this provocatively written, first-person narrative explodes unexpectedly as one breezes through the all-too-familiar situations." Eugena Price , Novelist

Genres: Fiction, Christian, Christianity, Theology, Humor, Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[Joshua Reitano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug Wilson's foreword to The Gospel Blimp begins, "there is a difference between being a contrarian and being a grouch." Wilson goes on to observe that, of course, the difference is primarily one of attitude. The grouch delights in being grumpy, while the contrarian would rather not always be contrary, if he could avoid it. But secondly, Wilson contends the difference between the two is in how they "see." The grouch simply sees something new and different (or that doesn't match his preferences) and complains. The contrarian challenges, but because he sees the trajectory of ideas. He sees where things are going.

I would add a third difference between the grouch and the contrarian. The grouch merely spouts off, with the goal of getting things off his chest. But the contrarians is strategist, and the best ones are artists. They want to change minds, and so they work on the medium of their message. When didactic statements won't be heard, they tell stories.

That's why The Gospel Blimp is so good. Joe Bayly's carefully crafted satire is an indictment of the direction of modern evangelicalism in both its market-driven consumerism and watered-down theology. But rather than simply write that (and have no one would listen), Bayly designed a compelling story about a group of folks who, rather than actually get to know their neighbors, decided to evangelize their neighbors by dropping tracts from a blimp. It's just ridiculous enough to take soften the blow, but clear enough to be convicting. And all the more impressive because, though a telling satire for today's evangelicalism, he wrote it back in 1960.

It's a great story and well worth your time. I would give The Gospel Blimp 5 stars on its own merits, but here it is presented in a collection with other stories that are not of the same caliber. Still, a strong 4 stars for the collection.

[Andy Ardern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the gospel blimp. Some of the other stories were okay.

[Dean Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Bayly had a unique perspective as a story teller. So often we are told a writer should just tell a story and not try to make a point, but that sure isn't the way Jesus told stories. Bayly understood you could go into a story with the intention of teaching a lesson, and yet still make his characters and his stories rich. The Gospel Blimp is, of course, the main attraction and still has much to teach about mistakes made in evangelism. The two Gooley stories are great fun, poking fun at the uncomfortable balance of being in the world but not of it. How Silently is one of the best stories ever in the "what if Jesus lived in our time" genre. But I think my favorite story in the book is Remembering John, I story that makes it clear why we mustn't forget Joseph Bayly.

[Noel Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story about the Gospel blimp was great! It was clear that one of the take aways was that our efforts to serve Christ and share our faith should be in the simple rubbing of shoulders with our neighbors and not an elaborate scheme and complicated and timely programming to where we have little time to even say hello to those around us. The rest of the stories in this book where a mixed bag of decent and confusing stories. Perhaps confusing is not the right word. I simply didn’t understand what he was trying to communicate with some of them. But don’t get me wrong, the Gospel blimp was superb!

[Garrett Wishall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm rating the gospel blimp parable itself as a four-star and the rest of the collection of parables as two-star. I'm probably part of the problem, of the 24 chapters I felt lost in about half of them, but I'm a very linear thinker. The Gospel Blimp parable was a good one reminding Christians to not lose personal relationship and hospitality in our evangelistic efforts amid programs that promote evangelism.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough read. I bought the book for The Gospel Blimp. It was an interesting little read, for sure. I probably enjoyed a few of the short stories more. That said, there were a few I was glad to finish because they were not so great. All in all, a quick read and a book that will make you think.

[Cale Fauver · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5) Every pastor should read the blimp parable. It is by far the most humorous and convicting/correcting illustration on the modern church’s evangelism failures/attempts/blindness.

Some of the others were humorous (computers denying the existence of their designer) and the downgrade of the importance of communion was rather edgy!

[Ben]

"It's easy to get out of the world on a blimp, isn't it?"

[Daniel Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and not so subtle.

[Jason Skeffington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book (and old movie) on building relationships to share the gospel rather than gimmicks.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gospel Blimp story was far and away the best parable, but good stuff throughout.

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

Umm…that was unique. It was good and so weird…there was a good point but that’s it.

[Nick Patchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Gospel Blimp story and the one about the people flying. It was a fun, easy read.

[Sheri Ingersoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite clever.

[Abi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't for me. It made me frustrated. I understand the concept behind it, but honestly I would prefer to read the parables in the Bible above these ones!!

[Joshua Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Gospel Blimp” short story is definitely the reason to pick up this book. The other short stories are...not as good. I’m rating this solely on “The Gospel Blimp.” Poignant and convicting, “The Gospel Blimp” mirrors American evangelism. We spend so much and do so little. This story cuts through the appearance of our self-righteousness to the problem at hand...why don’t we just witness to those we know? Why don’t we just get involved in their lives and personally give them the Gospel? A transforming read.

[Telps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of stories and parables. I was anxious to read the next story, but found myself spending time in contemplation, which I guess was the author's intent. One story made little sense, but it probably has to do with my personality and my interests. I would recommend this book to someone of faith who would like their faith challenged and nurtured.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful little book of parables that cut right to the heart of things, often with a healthy dose of humour. One or two are convoluted duds, but the rest are great. Bayly especially highlights our propensity for getting distracted from Jesus by our misguided attempts to serve him.

[Paul Kurtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this book on the radio show "The White Horse Inn" and decided to read it. I'm glad I did. It was full of very witty satire about the mind-set of evangelicalism. Even though it was written in the 1960's, it is still spot on. It was funny and convicting at the same time.

[Jeffrey Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm begging you to read this book. The brilliance that come from Bayly's pen is only trumped by the next story. This compilation was so very well put together, it started with a bang and didn't let up. I'm putting in my children's required reading list. I require you to read it as well.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Poignant and powerful. Satirical without viciousness.

[Robert Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is laugh out loud funny while being painfully accurate. It is also hard to believe this book was written in 1962 - it reads much more like a commentary on the present or recent past!

[Jonathan Clede · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about evangelism that is funny, yet hits close to home and makes me think carefully about my own life as a Christian and relationships with my neighbors!

[Matt Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of stories. I'd never read the late Joseph
Bayly until now, but he had a knack for skewering Evangelicalism, and then skewering me with gracious conviction.