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Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America
Former Southern Baptist pastor and Christianity Today editor-in-chief Russell Moore calls for repentance and renewal in American evangelicalism
American evangelical Christianity has lost its way. While the witness of the church before a watching world is diminished beyond recognition, congregations are torn apart over Donald Trump, Christian nationalism, racial injustice, sexual predation, disgraced leaders, and covered-up scandals. Left behind are millions of believers who counted on the church to be a place of belonging and hope. As greater and greater numbers of younger Americans bleed out from the church, even the most rooted evangelicals are wondering, “Can American Christianity survive?”
In Losing Our Religion, Russell Moore calls his fellow evangelical Christians to conversion over culture wars, to truth over tribalism, to the gospel over politics, to integrity over influence, and to renewal over nostalgia. With both prophetic honesty and pastoral love, Moore offers a word of counsel for how a new generation of disillusioned and exhausted believers can find a path forward after the crisis and confusion of the last several years. Believing the gospel is too important to leave it to hucksters and grifters, he shows how a Christian can avoid both cynicism and complicity in order to imagine a different, hopeful vision for the church.
The altar call of the old evangelical revivals was both a call to repentance and the offer of a new start. In the same way, this book invites unmoored and discouraged Christians to step out into an uncertain future, first by letting go of the kind of cultural, politicized, status quo Christianity that led us to this moment of reckoning. Only when we see how lost we are, we can find our way again. Only when we bury what’s dead can we experience life again. Only when we lose our religion can we be amazed by grace again.
American evangelical Christianity has lost its way. While the witness of the church before a watching world is diminished beyond recognition, congregations are torn apart over Donald Trump, Christian nationalism, racial injustice, sexual predation, disgraced leaders, and covered-up scandals. Left behind are millions of believers who counted on the church to be a place of belonging and hope. As greater and greater numbers of younger Americans bleed out from the church, even the most rooted evangelicals are wondering, “Can American Christianity survive?”
In Losing Our Religion, Russell Moore calls his fellow evangelical Christians to conversion over culture wars, to truth over tribalism, to the gospel over politics, to integrity over influence, and to renewal over nostalgia. With both prophetic honesty and pastoral love, Moore offers a word of counsel for how a new generation of disillusioned and exhausted believers can find a path forward after the crisis and confusion of the last several years. Believing the gospel is too important to leave it to hucksters and grifters, he shows how a Christian can avoid both cynicism and complicity in order to imagine a different, hopeful vision for the church.
The altar call of the old evangelical revivals was both a call to repentance and the offer of a new start. In the same way, this book invites unmoored and discouraged Christians to step out into an uncertain future, first by letting go of the kind of cultural, politicized, status quo Christianity that led us to this moment of reckoning. Only when we see how lost we are, we can find our way again. Only when we bury what’s dead can we experience life again. Only when we lose our religion can we be amazed by grace again.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published July 25, 2023
About the author
Russell D. Moore
48 books320 followersRussell D. Moore is President of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention’s official entity assigned to address social, moral, and ethical concerns.
Dr. Moore earned a B.S. in history and political science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also received the M.Div. in biblical studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Ph.D. in systematic theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He blogs frequently at his “Moore to the Point” website, and is the author or editor of five books, including Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, and The Kingdom of Christ: The New Evangelical Perspective. In addition to these, Dr. Moore is also the author of dozens of academic articles and essays within the field of systematic theology and Christian ethics. He also serves as Senior Editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity.
Dr. Moore earned a B.S. in history and political science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also received the M.Div. in biblical studies from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Ph.D. in systematic theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He blogs frequently at his “Moore to the Point” website, and is the author or editor of five books, including Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, and The Kingdom of Christ: The New Evangelical Perspective. In addition to these, Dr. Moore is also the author of dozens of academic articles and essays within the field of systematic theology and Christian ethics. He also serves as Senior Editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity.
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August 29, 2023
My dear Wormwood,
I cannot express how delighted I was to receive your letter and discover that your new patient is a Southern Baptist minister. You have an important task here. I do not exaggerate when I say that if you and the other members of your team succeed well enough, we may finally achieve the breakthrough we have been working for all these years. The groundwork is laid, we must just be resolute and follow through.
I fully understand that you are a little nervous, given the responsibilities the senior devils have placed on you. Don't be. You have the training, you know what to do. You say your minister is a fundamentally decent type. That may well be so; but your job, and don't forget it for a moment, is to exploit his fallible human understanding and make him turn his good qualities against himself. Play your cards right, and within a year he will be doing our bidding and bringing the whole of his congregation under our control. You have many cards, study them carefully.
Your patient often hears he is living in exceptional times. Keep reminding him of that. Encourage him to think that exceptional times require exceptional solutions, that the usual rules no longer apply. The Enemy will try to give him hope. Do what you can to counter that. Make him feel that the situation is almost hopeless, that only methods he would normally not even consider have a chance of saving him now. Use strong, physical phrases like "fight fire with fire" and "hit below the belt". Make him remember that he is a weak human body and forget that he is an immortal spirit. Make him feel that the people you have taught him to fear are not the Enemy's children at all, but mere vermin who must be exterminated in order to save his flock. You will be surprised how easy it is.
The Enemy has given your patient free will, but do what you can to make him forget that. Tell him he has no choice, there is only one person who can help him. His conscience is no doubt already aware that the person in question is the Antichrist, but encourage his "rational" thoughts, which will be of great assistance to you. Use phrases like "lesser of two evils" to describe monstrous wrongs, and "baby Christian" to describe utter immorality. With a little persuasion, you will find he accepts these arguments as plausible and even self-evident. Luckily for us, the modern Church has long ceased to place much store in logic. Work systematically, and you will soon make your patient trust this person far more than he does the Enemy's disgraceful son.
Dear Wormwood, cast your doubts aside. I know you will succeed. But before I conclude, I must warn you about one detail which did somewhat disquiet me. You mentioned that your patient had yesterday visited a bookstore and seen a recent tract by Russell Moore entitled Losing Our Religion. I do not wish to alarm you, but please keep your patient away from this book. The Reverend Moore seems entirely too well informed about our plans, and we are urgently reviewing our internal security procedures. Luckily, he is only one fallible human. Remind your patient that most of his coreligionists dislike Moore and consider him a dangerous heretic. It is to be regretted that these people are no longer burned at the stake; it was an expeditious solution I always rather liked. But the modern methods are only slightly less reliable. Just be sensible, and this problem will soon resolve itself.
With all my best wishes,
Your affectionate uncle
Screwtape
I cannot express how delighted I was to receive your letter and discover that your new patient is a Southern Baptist minister. You have an important task here. I do not exaggerate when I say that if you and the other members of your team succeed well enough, we may finally achieve the breakthrough we have been working for all these years. The groundwork is laid, we must just be resolute and follow through.
I fully understand that you are a little nervous, given the responsibilities the senior devils have placed on you. Don't be. You have the training, you know what to do. You say your minister is a fundamentally decent type. That may well be so; but your job, and don't forget it for a moment, is to exploit his fallible human understanding and make him turn his good qualities against himself. Play your cards right, and within a year he will be doing our bidding and bringing the whole of his congregation under our control. You have many cards, study them carefully.
Your patient often hears he is living in exceptional times. Keep reminding him of that. Encourage him to think that exceptional times require exceptional solutions, that the usual rules no longer apply. The Enemy will try to give him hope. Do what you can to counter that. Make him feel that the situation is almost hopeless, that only methods he would normally not even consider have a chance of saving him now. Use strong, physical phrases like "fight fire with fire" and "hit below the belt". Make him remember that he is a weak human body and forget that he is an immortal spirit. Make him feel that the people you have taught him to fear are not the Enemy's children at all, but mere vermin who must be exterminated in order to save his flock. You will be surprised how easy it is.
The Enemy has given your patient free will, but do what you can to make him forget that. Tell him he has no choice, there is only one person who can help him. His conscience is no doubt already aware that the person in question is the Antichrist, but encourage his "rational" thoughts, which will be of great assistance to you. Use phrases like "lesser of two evils" to describe monstrous wrongs, and "baby Christian" to describe utter immorality. With a little persuasion, you will find he accepts these arguments as plausible and even self-evident. Luckily for us, the modern Church has long ceased to place much store in logic. Work systematically, and you will soon make your patient trust this person far more than he does the Enemy's disgraceful son.
Dear Wormwood, cast your doubts aside. I know you will succeed. But before I conclude, I must warn you about one detail which did somewhat disquiet me. You mentioned that your patient had yesterday visited a bookstore and seen a recent tract by Russell Moore entitled Losing Our Religion. I do not wish to alarm you, but please keep your patient away from this book. The Reverend Moore seems entirely too well informed about our plans, and we are urgently reviewing our internal security procedures. Luckily, he is only one fallible human. Remind your patient that most of his coreligionists dislike Moore and consider him a dangerous heretic. It is to be regretted that these people are no longer burned at the stake; it was an expeditious solution I always rather liked. But the modern methods are only slightly less reliable. Just be sensible, and this problem will soon resolve itself.
With all my best wishes,
Your affectionate uncle
Screwtape
July 28, 2023
This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. Insightful, challenging, honest, and hopeful. And the last chapter may have been my favorite. It left me with a full heart and a fire in my bones.
Moore has been, for me, one of the voices that has helped me stay sane in the midst of the madness. I’ve read and heard a lot of what he has to say in the last few years, but he saved some of his best for this book.
4.5 stars
Moore has been, for me, one of the voices that has helped me stay sane in the midst of the madness. I’ve read and heard a lot of what he has to say in the last few years, but he saved some of his best for this book.
4.5 stars
August 25, 2023
This is a brave book.
Russell Moore is willing to name the elephant in the room, pointing to the ways that so many evangelicals have become entangled in politics in all the wrong ways and lost their souls in the process.
Here he does in book form what he has already done in his editorials for CT and with his very life in the SBC -- he issues a clear call for evangelicals to awaken from moral turpitude and reembrace the gospel we say we believe.
I'm thankful for his voice. I hope it invigorates a new generation of believers to live faithfully.
Russell Moore is willing to name the elephant in the room, pointing to the ways that so many evangelicals have become entangled in politics in all the wrong ways and lost their souls in the process.
Here he does in book form what he has already done in his editorials for CT and with his very life in the SBC -- he issues a clear call for evangelicals to awaken from moral turpitude and reembrace the gospel we say we believe.
I'm thankful for his voice. I hope it invigorates a new generation of believers to live faithfully.
September 9, 2023
Religion, like politics, is one of those conversation topics that most people find uncomfortable, except, of course, for those people who are deeply religious and vocally political.
Full disclosure: I was one of those deeply religious people. I was a “born-again” Christian, which basically came about when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Born-agains live for church and worship songs and telling more people that they should accept Jesus into their life, and, for a while, I was really into this lifestyle. I went to Bible study weekly, had prayer sessions, and I was supposed to really like “Veggie Tales” and “Seventh Heaven”. I also wasn’t supposed to even think about sex before marriage, and I wasn’t supposed to like Marilyn Manson.
My foray into Evangelical Christianity didn’t last that long. Probably a little over four years. What ended it? Honestly, it was George W. Bush.
Like many liberal Americans, I thought W. was dumb. Like, really really dumb. (Keep in mind: this was before Trump, who came along and said, “America, hold my beer…”) I was supposed to really like W. because he was a Christian, but I thought he was—-besides dumb—-shifty, shady, and full of shit. He reminded me exactly of why I never joined a frat in college.
Bush—I’m not exaggerating here—-ruined Christianity for me. Because politics, for me, became pretty important in my life, moreso than religion. Rather, my religious doctrines that I was supposed to be preaching and believing quickly became at odds with my political views. I was for same-sex marriage and perfectly okay with homosexuals. (Christianity told me that I was supposed to consider gay people “sinners” and that same-sex marriage was an affront to God.) I was pro-choice. (Christianity told me that I’m supposed to believe that abortion is murder, which I don’t believe. I’m not a huge fan of abortion, mind you, but I just believe that it’s a big decision that is ultimately up to the woman who is pregnant to make.) I don’t really like guns and I don’t want guns in my house. (Weirdly, Christianity—-or a huge segment of Christianity anyway—-told me that I’m supposed to love guns and the Second Amendment.) I think things like lying, committing adultery, secretly committing huge crimes and covering them up are wrong. (Christianity told me that these are wrong UNLESS they are committed by a person who is a Christian, and then it’s okay because Jesus forgives them. “Love the sinner, not the sin,” I heard constantly. Unless, of course, the sinner is gay, had an abortion, or believed in gun control.)
I’m being flippant, I know. And kind of an asshole, but you get my point.
You know what the really sucky thing is about losing your religion? A huge part of me still really misses believing in something that strongly.
I am, apparently, part of a hugely growing demographic of people leaving the church (any church, of any and all denominations) and considering myself non-religious. There are many names for us: lapsed, de-churched, Nones (a term that stems from checking off “no religious affiliations” on forms that ask that question).
Russell Moore is not part of that demographic. In fact, Moore is a Baptist minister. When he comes across that question on a form, he probably checks off the “really really religious” box.
But something really weird and awful happened to Moore back in 2016. He had the audacity to say that Donald Trump was not a good man and not qualified in any way to be president of the country. Surprisingly, many of his Baptist friends (including some of his mentors) lambasted him and kicked him out of his job. Rather than see Trump for the awful human being that he was, many Christians were letting Trump’s many past transgressions (and crimes) slide. Apparently, for a lot of ultra-conservative Republicans who happened to be Christian, politics trumped religion. Pun intended.
Moore, a smart guy, spent a lot of time mulling this situation over. The result is his book “Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America”, a book that I have no idea why I decided to read and a book that I don’t understand why I actually really loved.
Well, that’s not completely true. I loved it for a few very specific reasons.
One reason is that the book is not an anti-liberal diatribe or a vitriolic vengeful hit-piece against all the people that ostracized and hated on him. Indeed, Moore—-who professes to be very conservative—-doesn’t pick on liberals. In fact, he—-more times than any conservative should be comfortable with—-makes statements that are pretty liberal-ish, like this one: “[M]any evangelical Christians don’t recognize authoritarianism because the petri dish for authoritarian experiments has often been evangelical churches.” (P.72) He also often quotes famous liberals (and, Egad! Socialists) like Hannah Arendt, who said, “[T]hose who choose the lesser evil quickly forget that they chose evil.” (p.162)
Another reason is that Moore is talking about Character, which is one of those words that a lot of Trumpian conservatives and Trumpian Christians kind of hate now, because it’s wrapped up in concepts such as Ethics, Morality, and Integrity. You know: everything that is missing from Trump. Moore believes that the ends don’t always justify the means, but the means should always justify the ends. I totally dig that.
Moore also kind of reminds me of why I was attracted to Christianity in the first place: Christ. Let’s face it: Jesus was just an awesome dude who preached a lot of good stuff, like loving one’s neighbor, turning the other cheek, forgiveness. Christians, according to Moore, occasionally get so wrapped up in all the legalistic religiosity bullshit that they forget that it’s all about the “WWJD?” moments in life.
I recommend this book for anyone who, like Moore, recognizes that major changes are happening in Christianity, and that they don’t have to be scary or awful changes. I also recommend it for anyone who, like me, laments the loss of their faith and still holds out some hope of maybe one day getting it back.
Full disclosure: I was one of those deeply religious people. I was a “born-again” Christian, which basically came about when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Born-agains live for church and worship songs and telling more people that they should accept Jesus into their life, and, for a while, I was really into this lifestyle. I went to Bible study weekly, had prayer sessions, and I was supposed to really like “Veggie Tales” and “Seventh Heaven”. I also wasn’t supposed to even think about sex before marriage, and I wasn’t supposed to like Marilyn Manson.
My foray into Evangelical Christianity didn’t last that long. Probably a little over four years. What ended it? Honestly, it was George W. Bush.
Like many liberal Americans, I thought W. was dumb. Like, really really dumb. (Keep in mind: this was before Trump, who came along and said, “America, hold my beer…”) I was supposed to really like W. because he was a Christian, but I thought he was—-besides dumb—-shifty, shady, and full of shit. He reminded me exactly of why I never joined a frat in college.
Bush—I’m not exaggerating here—-ruined Christianity for me. Because politics, for me, became pretty important in my life, moreso than religion. Rather, my religious doctrines that I was supposed to be preaching and believing quickly became at odds with my political views. I was for same-sex marriage and perfectly okay with homosexuals. (Christianity told me that I was supposed to consider gay people “sinners” and that same-sex marriage was an affront to God.) I was pro-choice. (Christianity told me that I’m supposed to believe that abortion is murder, which I don’t believe. I’m not a huge fan of abortion, mind you, but I just believe that it’s a big decision that is ultimately up to the woman who is pregnant to make.) I don’t really like guns and I don’t want guns in my house. (Weirdly, Christianity—-or a huge segment of Christianity anyway—-told me that I’m supposed to love guns and the Second Amendment.) I think things like lying, committing adultery, secretly committing huge crimes and covering them up are wrong. (Christianity told me that these are wrong UNLESS they are committed by a person who is a Christian, and then it’s okay because Jesus forgives them. “Love the sinner, not the sin,” I heard constantly. Unless, of course, the sinner is gay, had an abortion, or believed in gun control.)
I’m being flippant, I know. And kind of an asshole, but you get my point.
You know what the really sucky thing is about losing your religion? A huge part of me still really misses believing in something that strongly.
I am, apparently, part of a hugely growing demographic of people leaving the church (any church, of any and all denominations) and considering myself non-religious. There are many names for us: lapsed, de-churched, Nones (a term that stems from checking off “no religious affiliations” on forms that ask that question).
Russell Moore is not part of that demographic. In fact, Moore is a Baptist minister. When he comes across that question on a form, he probably checks off the “really really religious” box.
But something really weird and awful happened to Moore back in 2016. He had the audacity to say that Donald Trump was not a good man and not qualified in any way to be president of the country. Surprisingly, many of his Baptist friends (including some of his mentors) lambasted him and kicked him out of his job. Rather than see Trump for the awful human being that he was, many Christians were letting Trump’s many past transgressions (and crimes) slide. Apparently, for a lot of ultra-conservative Republicans who happened to be Christian, politics trumped religion. Pun intended.
Moore, a smart guy, spent a lot of time mulling this situation over. The result is his book “Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America”, a book that I have no idea why I decided to read and a book that I don’t understand why I actually really loved.
Well, that’s not completely true. I loved it for a few very specific reasons.
One reason is that the book is not an anti-liberal diatribe or a vitriolic vengeful hit-piece against all the people that ostracized and hated on him. Indeed, Moore—-who professes to be very conservative—-doesn’t pick on liberals. In fact, he—-more times than any conservative should be comfortable with—-makes statements that are pretty liberal-ish, like this one: “[M]any evangelical Christians don’t recognize authoritarianism because the petri dish for authoritarian experiments has often been evangelical churches.” (P.72) He also often quotes famous liberals (and, Egad! Socialists) like Hannah Arendt, who said, “[T]hose who choose the lesser evil quickly forget that they chose evil.” (p.162)
Another reason is that Moore is talking about Character, which is one of those words that a lot of Trumpian conservatives and Trumpian Christians kind of hate now, because it’s wrapped up in concepts such as Ethics, Morality, and Integrity. You know: everything that is missing from Trump. Moore believes that the ends don’t always justify the means, but the means should always justify the ends. I totally dig that.
Moore also kind of reminds me of why I was attracted to Christianity in the first place: Christ. Let’s face it: Jesus was just an awesome dude who preached a lot of good stuff, like loving one’s neighbor, turning the other cheek, forgiveness. Christians, according to Moore, occasionally get so wrapped up in all the legalistic religiosity bullshit that they forget that it’s all about the “WWJD?” moments in life.
I recommend this book for anyone who, like Moore, recognizes that major changes are happening in Christianity, and that they don’t have to be scary or awful changes. I also recommend it for anyone who, like me, laments the loss of their faith and still holds out some hope of maybe one day getting it back.
August 6, 2023
Listen, I know there’s nothing more on brand for me than a 5/5 review for Russell Moore’s work but I really think this might be my favorite thing he’s ever written! It was contemplative but not dramatic, honest but not harsh, and had applied wisdom but wasn’t overly prescriptive. Moore writes with a delicate balance of sobriety and hope — his voice is just so needed for the church! I’m thankful for the ways he has influenced/inspired me for years (especially those years this book focuses on) and know I will return to this work for years to come!
September 29, 2023
I’ll preface with the fact that my husband had to read the last two pages of the book out loud to me bc I was SOBBING. In the last few years, Russell Moore has become one of my most respected spiritual leaders. We’ve met a few times now, and when they say “don’t meet your heroes”, it doesn’t apply to him.
Clear, convicting, truth spoken in love and experience through scripture. It breathed life into me to know that what I’m experiencing isn’t new and to be reminded of the God who still is no matter how many people manipulate His name for their cultural, power-hungry, fear-based, or intellectual gain. It was comforting and enlightening. TY Russell.
See below a few of very MANY highlighted sections in my book:
“Jesus was well aware of the pull of humanity to a gospel that is about finding a political avatar or accommodating the appetites..He was willing to see those crowds and walk away..What happens when the motivations of supposedly born again people seem to be lined up exactly with their tribal boundaries in a way that would be the same even if Jesus were still dead?..Christian nationalism might well “work” in the short term in cementing bonds of cultural solidarity according to the flesh. But apart from the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins..Christian nationalism cannot turn back secularism, because it is just another form of it. In fact, it is an even more virulent form of secularism because it pronounces as “Christian” what cannot stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ.”
“No matter how many people wave ‘Jesus Saves’ signs over their atrocities and insurrections, that doesn’t stop the fact that, well, he does…There will be people who will remind the rest of the church to search the scriptures daily to see if these things are so. There will always be people standing around rivers or streams or horse troughs or space pods, reminding everyone else that there is still power in the blood. I’m counting on those people being there.”
Clear, convicting, truth spoken in love and experience through scripture. It breathed life into me to know that what I’m experiencing isn’t new and to be reminded of the God who still is no matter how many people manipulate His name for their cultural, power-hungry, fear-based, or intellectual gain. It was comforting and enlightening. TY Russell.
See below a few of very MANY highlighted sections in my book:
“Jesus was well aware of the pull of humanity to a gospel that is about finding a political avatar or accommodating the appetites..He was willing to see those crowds and walk away..What happens when the motivations of supposedly born again people seem to be lined up exactly with their tribal boundaries in a way that would be the same even if Jesus were still dead?..Christian nationalism might well “work” in the short term in cementing bonds of cultural solidarity according to the flesh. But apart from the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins..Christian nationalism cannot turn back secularism, because it is just another form of it. In fact, it is an even more virulent form of secularism because it pronounces as “Christian” what cannot stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ.”
“No matter how many people wave ‘Jesus Saves’ signs over their atrocities and insurrections, that doesn’t stop the fact that, well, he does…There will be people who will remind the rest of the church to search the scriptures daily to see if these things are so. There will always be people standing around rivers or streams or horse troughs or space pods, reminding everyone else that there is still power in the blood. I’m counting on those people being there.”
July 8, 2023
In Losing Our Religion, Russell Moore gives encouragement to fellow Christians who are discouraged and disillusioned by the current state of evangelicalism in America. We are reminded that although religion, politics, and leadership fail us, Jesus never will. His gospel remains true even if the organizations or denominations that preach it seem to be falling apart.
To be honest, there were parts of this that made me wonder if it was just another book about taking political sides (I.e. remarks about COVID). It is good to know that going in, but I would encourage readers who may not agree with Moore on every political point to keep reading. His message for American Christians is one of hope and reason, precisely because the gospel is so much bigger than anything that can be described as American.
I especially liked the chapter on integrity. In it, he acknowledges the widespread hypocrisy of leadership within the evangelical church, which of course is disheartening. But rather than name calling and ending on a note of hopelessness, he reminds all followers of Christ of a better way, namely, that character trumps giftedness, and meekness trumps “telling it like it is” in the kingdom of God.
I have so appreciated Russell Moore’s voice and leadership during his time as president of the ERLC and in the years since. He is winsome, states his convictions and reasons for them clearly, and leads with integrity. This book is a great example of all of those and will be an encouragement to many.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sentinel, an imprint of Random House, for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
To be honest, there were parts of this that made me wonder if it was just another book about taking political sides (I.e. remarks about COVID). It is good to know that going in, but I would encourage readers who may not agree with Moore on every political point to keep reading. His message for American Christians is one of hope and reason, precisely because the gospel is so much bigger than anything that can be described as American.
I especially liked the chapter on integrity. In it, he acknowledges the widespread hypocrisy of leadership within the evangelical church, which of course is disheartening. But rather than name calling and ending on a note of hopelessness, he reminds all followers of Christ of a better way, namely, that character trumps giftedness, and meekness trumps “telling it like it is” in the kingdom of God.
I have so appreciated Russell Moore’s voice and leadership during his time as president of the ERLC and in the years since. He is winsome, states his convictions and reasons for them clearly, and leads with integrity. This book is a great example of all of those and will be an encouragement to many.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sentinel, an imprint of Random House, for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
November 29, 2023
I just appreciate Russell Moore. From the neurological effects of social media to the difference between repentance vs apology for the sake of branding, he is humble, thoughtful, and honest. It’s part confession, part expose, and part sermon (in the best way).
If you find yourself discouraged by the polarization in American “evangelicalism” or are struggling to figure out how real faith integrates & differentiates from religious tradition, you’ll appreciate this book.
I love the story towards the end of the book where he talks about his friendship with Beth Moore. Few people will publicly eat their words the way he does and it’s a beautiful thing.
If you find yourself discouraged by the polarization in American “evangelicalism” or are struggling to figure out how real faith integrates & differentiates from religious tradition, you’ll appreciate this book.
I love the story towards the end of the book where he talks about his friendship with Beth Moore. Few people will publicly eat their words the way he does and it’s a beautiful thing.
December 22, 2023
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Sentinel for this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review of the book.
I write all of this as a Latter-day Saint (LDS) (Mormon), which many in the Evangelical community consider a cult, or at the very least, a non-Christian religion. And this might surprise many here: why would a Mormon want to read a book such as this, given this opinion.
There are many reasons but chief amongst them is that not one leader/influencer of my Church that I’m aware of are discussing the primary topic of this book: that the Christianity of today (and a majority of her membership including the 60 plus % of LDS who identify as Republicans/Trumpism supporters, has abandoned its primary mission of declaring the good news of Jesus Christ, His gospel and saving ordinances. That many Christians today many are beholden as documented and discussed in today’s media to white Christian Nationalism, Southern honor culture, American Exceptionalism, support white racial backlash, etc.
So what is one such as I to do when I observe society and religion around me degenerating into behaviour that Christ would not recognise and support if he were to return? I seek out the sources of wise council such as this author. It did not disappoint me. I took extensive notes. But it is disappointing that no leader of my Church has given a sermon/talk about this very subject. In essence this saddens me, as so many are allowed to depart from the essential iron rod and straight and narrow path to adhere to.
I write all of this as a Latter-day Saint (LDS) (Mormon), which many in the Evangelical community consider a cult, or at the very least, a non-Christian religion. And this might surprise many here: why would a Mormon want to read a book such as this, given this opinion.
There are many reasons but chief amongst them is that not one leader/influencer of my Church that I’m aware of are discussing the primary topic of this book: that the Christianity of today (and a majority of her membership including the 60 plus % of LDS who identify as Republicans/Trumpism supporters, has abandoned its primary mission of declaring the good news of Jesus Christ, His gospel and saving ordinances. That many Christians today many are beholden as documented and discussed in today’s media to white Christian Nationalism, Southern honor culture, American Exceptionalism, support white racial backlash, etc.
So what is one such as I to do when I observe society and religion around me degenerating into behaviour that Christ would not recognise and support if he were to return? I seek out the sources of wise council such as this author. It did not disappoint me. I took extensive notes. But it is disappointing that no leader of my Church has given a sermon/talk about this very subject. In essence this saddens me, as so many are allowed to depart from the essential iron rod and straight and narrow path to adhere to.
February 29, 2024
If you want a sensational and (admittedly) fun read about contemporary evangelicalism, read Kristin Kobes Du Mez Jesus and John Wayne. But if you want a book with real solutions, read this book.
Moore quotes Wendell Berry in the introduction, saying that many people today think we need a solution as big as the problem itself. But Berry says that the "greatest problems call for many small solutions."
Moore says that the evangelical church is losing its credibility, authority, identity, integrity, and stability. In his words, "this book considers all the ways in which evangelical America has sought these things in the wrong way-- and suggests that perhaps its by losing our "life" that we will find it again. Along the way, I will suggest little choices you can make, not just to survive this dispiriting time, but in order to envision a different future." (22)
Moore quotes Wendell Berry in the introduction, saying that many people today think we need a solution as big as the problem itself. But Berry says that the "greatest problems call for many small solutions."
Moore says that the evangelical church is losing its credibility, authority, identity, integrity, and stability. In his words, "this book considers all the ways in which evangelical America has sought these things in the wrong way-- and suggests that perhaps its by losing our "life" that we will find it again. Along the way, I will suggest little choices you can make, not just to survive this dispiriting time, but in order to envision a different future." (22)
December 27, 2023
It took me way too long to read this one, but it was just so impactful. Russell Moore shows such grace and humility, while focusing on the gospel throughout this book. By far, my favorite quote is in the conclusion:
“Evangelical Christianity as we know it might not survive. American evangelicalism might not be there for the future. But someone will be. As long as there’s a church, there will be people within reminding everyone else that the Spirit blows where he wills, and that there’s hope, no matter how far gone a person goes, to be born again.”
“Evangelical Christianity as we know it might not survive. American evangelicalism might not be there for the future. But someone will be. As long as there’s a church, there will be people within reminding everyone else that the Spirit blows where he wills, and that there’s hope, no matter how far gone a person goes, to be born again.”
September 17, 2023
An important message that American evangelicals need to hear—especially those who are politically conservative. That we Christians should be embracing the gospel rather than fighting for political wins for our tribe. And we should view our country as a “mission field” rather than a “battlefield.”
Here’s an interesting TGC article/review.
And here’s Manny’s clever Screwtape review.
A few quotes:
‘We see now young evangelicals walking away from evangelicalism not because they do not believe what the church teaches, but because they believe the church itself does not believe what the church teaches. And, more than that, many have concluded that the church itself is a moral problem.’
[p 41]
‘A similar phenomenon is found in Christian circles with the so-called "theo-bros," who think they are the opposite of the hyperdeconstructing evangelical firebrands, but who share the very same "aren't we naughty?" ethos. What becomes the source of authority in these cases is not the persuasive appeals or the moral credibility of those speaking but their willingness to brawl and to transgress norms in ways that can seem shocking. Civility, then, is surrender. Empathy is sin. Love of neighbor is "liberal." Justice is "Marxism."’
[p 73]
‘Try saying: "You and we see things differently on this. We love you, and we want to see you. Can't we just leave the politics aside and talk about other things?" This isn't that big of an ask. We all do that all the time... Agreeing together on avoiding topics that would only cause discord is not lying about those matters. It's just agreeing that you like being with one another more than you value being proven right about those things.’
[p 90]
‘…evangelical Christians in this time of confusion and disorientation must discern what precisely it is that we are seeking to "revive." If that is merely the nostalgic restoration of some previous (and mostly imaginary) golden age of Christian influence and morality, then no revival is possible…The goal is not to "get back" to something but to seek renewal for the future, a renewal that might have continuity with the past but will often look strikingly different from it.’
[p 221]
Here’s an interesting TGC article/review.
And here’s Manny’s clever Screwtape review.
A few quotes:
‘We see now young evangelicals walking away from evangelicalism not because they do not believe what the church teaches, but because they believe the church itself does not believe what the church teaches. And, more than that, many have concluded that the church itself is a moral problem.’
[p 41]
‘A similar phenomenon is found in Christian circles with the so-called "theo-bros," who think they are the opposite of the hyperdeconstructing evangelical firebrands, but who share the very same "aren't we naughty?" ethos. What becomes the source of authority in these cases is not the persuasive appeals or the moral credibility of those speaking but their willingness to brawl and to transgress norms in ways that can seem shocking. Civility, then, is surrender. Empathy is sin. Love of neighbor is "liberal." Justice is "Marxism."’
[p 73]
‘Try saying: "You and we see things differently on this. We love you, and we want to see you. Can't we just leave the politics aside and talk about other things?" This isn't that big of an ask. We all do that all the time... Agreeing together on avoiding topics that would only cause discord is not lying about those matters. It's just agreeing that you like being with one another more than you value being proven right about those things.’
[p 90]
‘…evangelical Christians in this time of confusion and disorientation must discern what precisely it is that we are seeking to "revive." If that is merely the nostalgic restoration of some previous (and mostly imaginary) golden age of Christian influence and morality, then no revival is possible…The goal is not to "get back" to something but to seek renewal for the future, a renewal that might have continuity with the past but will often look strikingly different from it.’
[p 221]
October 21, 2023
I copied down hundreds of Moore’s words as I read. They were confirming, convicting, revealing and, ultimately, hopeful.
If you have grieved at all over the knot that has formed between American Christianity and Republican politics, please read this book. Moore peels back layers of church and social history to uncover the massive scale of the mess. And he points relentlessly back to truth for correctives small enough to be tackled by a single willing heart.
“The gospel is not a means to any end, except for the end of union with the crucified and resurrected Christ who transcends, and stands in judgement over, every group, every identity, every nationality, every culture.”
Moore isn’t silent on the personal aspects of the evangelical identity crisis, but they’re not the focus.
He tells, for example, about leaving a “particularly hostile” Southern Baptist leadership meeting and hearing his wife say, “I love you. I’m with you to the end. And you can do whatever you want. But if you’re still a Southern Baptist by summer, you’ll be in an interfaith marriage.”
His exit was not unusual but it was unusually public. I recognized his pain in some of the places it overlapped with my own departure from the fundamentalism in which I was raised: “… simultaneously grieving my lost religious home and my own burdened conscience, recognizing complicity in participating for so long in something that now seemed both inane and predatory.”
He writes from experience and from data to show how a “fusion with Trumpism, Christian nationalism, white-identity backlash, the dismissing of issues such as abuse as ‘social justice,’ secularism, and several others – are (some of them or all of them) dividing almost every church, almost every family, almost every friendship I know. Every institution – from the presidency to local churches to family dining room tables – seems to be in crisis, almost to the point of breakdown.”
If you can’t relate, I wonder what island you’ve been hiding on.
This a tough read, both for its spiritual and emotional content and for Moore’s meandering sentence structure. I found myself backing up regularly to be sure I understood a lengthy passage. (It’s my single significant beef with the book, but the content was ultimately so good, it wasn’t enough to change my rating.)
Sometimes though, he was on point so succinctly I wanted to print and frame his words. On the concept of legislating Christian morals on American culture, for example, he wrote: “If morality means everything, no gospel is necessary.”
On slippery slopes: “What many of us never realized is that every side of an issue has slippery slopes and if one only sees one of them, one is probably sliding down another.”
On how the isolation of the pandemic accelerated the crisis. “Almost any disconnection of people from organic community leads to extremism and anger – no matter the place on the ideological spectrum.”
On lesser evils: “If you commend what is evil because it’s the best way to fight what you find more evil, all we end up with is a haggling contest over the price of one’s soul.”
But I don’t mean to suggest that his long sentences aren’t also worthwhile. The section on exile was so powerful that I have to give you a big chunk of it.
“The point of ‘exile’ language is exactly the opposite of the idea that Western Christians should lament or resent losing a ‘Christian culture.’ The point is that in every place and every culture, from the first to the second comings of Jesus, every Christian community are to be ‘strangers and exiles.’ If we can look backward and find some time when we were not so, it’s because we are accommodated to idolatry. … And if we can look forward to a time when we can displace the sense of marginalization and find a cultural ‘home’ in the span of history as we know it, then that too is because we are accommodated to idolatry. …
“If exile language is used to bemoan a ‘darkening’ or ‘growingly hostile’ culture, rather than to see our situation as fundamentally the same as every other era before us, then we don’t understand what the Bible means by exile. Exile language does away with both a sense of entitlement and with a siege mentality. We don’t look to merge into whatever seems ‘normal’ around us – and we don’t rage when we’re not accommodated there. We see our normal situation as not occupation but pilgrimage.”
I cannot shake this section from my mind, nor do I want to.
I loved his thoughts on the well-known story of Jesus cleansing the temple. I hadn’t noticed before that the merchants were set up for business in the court of Gentiles. The sacred was being made useful, and “the space taken up was that of the most marginal and vulnerable people. … Jesus here once again upended expectations of what a Messiah should do. The one who was expected to clear the temple of outsides, aliens, and foreigners, instead ends up clearing out temple space for them.”
Moore breaks the book into five sections: Losing our credibility, our authority, our identity, our integrity and our stability. Each part ends with suggestions for recovering what’s been lost, one person at a time.
He urges Christians, for example, to remember who their enemy is: “Pivot away from a focus on culture war to a focus on your neighbors as a mission field. Pivot away from seeing human beings as your enemy and look for the old serpent of Eden.”
He calls for renewed awe at the greatness of God and the graciousness of our salvation. “Maybe the reason we as Christians seem to seethe with resentment and find our loyalties in tribal factions and ideologies is because we’ve lost that sense of standing in worshipful awe before a God who is not a set of doctrines or a motivation for institutional survival or a national deity or a political mascot. Maybe our clamoring for those sorts of hive minds is because we’ve become bored – unsurprised by joy, unamazed by grace. Perhaps the answer for awful times is an awe-full solution.”
The American church has been guilty of misrepresenting Christ.
“Some of us contributed to it. Some of us were crushed by it. … [But] no matter how many people wave ‘Jesus Saves’ signs over their atrocities and insurrections, that doesn’t stop the fact that, well, he does. American evangelicalism might not be there for the future. But someone will be. As long as there’s a church, there will be people within reminding everyone else that the Spirit blows where he wills and that there’s hope …”
“Maybe when we’re lost enough, we can re-find the Way. Maybe all the dangers, toils, and snares are worth it. Maybe only when we lose our religion will we be, once again, amazed by grace.”
If you have grieved at all over the knot that has formed between American Christianity and Republican politics, please read this book. Moore peels back layers of church and social history to uncover the massive scale of the mess. And he points relentlessly back to truth for correctives small enough to be tackled by a single willing heart.
“The gospel is not a means to any end, except for the end of union with the crucified and resurrected Christ who transcends, and stands in judgement over, every group, every identity, every nationality, every culture.”
Moore isn’t silent on the personal aspects of the evangelical identity crisis, but they’re not the focus.
He tells, for example, about leaving a “particularly hostile” Southern Baptist leadership meeting and hearing his wife say, “I love you. I’m with you to the end. And you can do whatever you want. But if you’re still a Southern Baptist by summer, you’ll be in an interfaith marriage.”
His exit was not unusual but it was unusually public. I recognized his pain in some of the places it overlapped with my own departure from the fundamentalism in which I was raised: “… simultaneously grieving my lost religious home and my own burdened conscience, recognizing complicity in participating for so long in something that now seemed both inane and predatory.”
He writes from experience and from data to show how a “fusion with Trumpism, Christian nationalism, white-identity backlash, the dismissing of issues such as abuse as ‘social justice,’ secularism, and several others – are (some of them or all of them) dividing almost every church, almost every family, almost every friendship I know. Every institution – from the presidency to local churches to family dining room tables – seems to be in crisis, almost to the point of breakdown.”
If you can’t relate, I wonder what island you’ve been hiding on.
This a tough read, both for its spiritual and emotional content and for Moore’s meandering sentence structure. I found myself backing up regularly to be sure I understood a lengthy passage. (It’s my single significant beef with the book, but the content was ultimately so good, it wasn’t enough to change my rating.)
Sometimes though, he was on point so succinctly I wanted to print and frame his words. On the concept of legislating Christian morals on American culture, for example, he wrote: “If morality means everything, no gospel is necessary.”
On slippery slopes: “What many of us never realized is that every side of an issue has slippery slopes and if one only sees one of them, one is probably sliding down another.”
On how the isolation of the pandemic accelerated the crisis. “Almost any disconnection of people from organic community leads to extremism and anger – no matter the place on the ideological spectrum.”
On lesser evils: “If you commend what is evil because it’s the best way to fight what you find more evil, all we end up with is a haggling contest over the price of one’s soul.”
But I don’t mean to suggest that his long sentences aren’t also worthwhile. The section on exile was so powerful that I have to give you a big chunk of it.
“The point of ‘exile’ language is exactly the opposite of the idea that Western Christians should lament or resent losing a ‘Christian culture.’ The point is that in every place and every culture, from the first to the second comings of Jesus, every Christian community are to be ‘strangers and exiles.’ If we can look backward and find some time when we were not so, it’s because we are accommodated to idolatry. … And if we can look forward to a time when we can displace the sense of marginalization and find a cultural ‘home’ in the span of history as we know it, then that too is because we are accommodated to idolatry. …
“If exile language is used to bemoan a ‘darkening’ or ‘growingly hostile’ culture, rather than to see our situation as fundamentally the same as every other era before us, then we don’t understand what the Bible means by exile. Exile language does away with both a sense of entitlement and with a siege mentality. We don’t look to merge into whatever seems ‘normal’ around us – and we don’t rage when we’re not accommodated there. We see our normal situation as not occupation but pilgrimage.”
I cannot shake this section from my mind, nor do I want to.
I loved his thoughts on the well-known story of Jesus cleansing the temple. I hadn’t noticed before that the merchants were set up for business in the court of Gentiles. The sacred was being made useful, and “the space taken up was that of the most marginal and vulnerable people. … Jesus here once again upended expectations of what a Messiah should do. The one who was expected to clear the temple of outsides, aliens, and foreigners, instead ends up clearing out temple space for them.”
Moore breaks the book into five sections: Losing our credibility, our authority, our identity, our integrity and our stability. Each part ends with suggestions for recovering what’s been lost, one person at a time.
He urges Christians, for example, to remember who their enemy is: “Pivot away from a focus on culture war to a focus on your neighbors as a mission field. Pivot away from seeing human beings as your enemy and look for the old serpent of Eden.”
He calls for renewed awe at the greatness of God and the graciousness of our salvation. “Maybe the reason we as Christians seem to seethe with resentment and find our loyalties in tribal factions and ideologies is because we’ve lost that sense of standing in worshipful awe before a God who is not a set of doctrines or a motivation for institutional survival or a national deity or a political mascot. Maybe our clamoring for those sorts of hive minds is because we’ve become bored – unsurprised by joy, unamazed by grace. Perhaps the answer for awful times is an awe-full solution.”
The American church has been guilty of misrepresenting Christ.
“Some of us contributed to it. Some of us were crushed by it. … [But] no matter how many people wave ‘Jesus Saves’ signs over their atrocities and insurrections, that doesn’t stop the fact that, well, he does. American evangelicalism might not be there for the future. But someone will be. As long as there’s a church, there will be people within reminding everyone else that the Spirit blows where he wills and that there’s hope …”
“Maybe when we’re lost enough, we can re-find the Way. Maybe all the dangers, toils, and snares are worth it. Maybe only when we lose our religion will we be, once again, amazed by grace.”
August 7, 2023
I’ve appreciated the author’s ministry for many years through his work at the ERLC, his podcasts and books. I also identified with his dismay after Trump won the Republican primary in 2016. In the years since, I’ve grown weary of relentless critiques of evangelical Christianity from within. In spite of the many faults of the Church, she’s still the light of the world! More Christians serve on the front lines of mercy ministry, adoption and foster care than their progressive secular counterparts.
The primary concern I had reading this work is I reject the assumption that Christians who care about state of the culture prioritize white nationalism (racism and nativism) as their top agenda. I think that’s a very tiny minority (and repugnant), but this book mainly addresses that issue. Almost every believer I know is extremely concerned about abortion and marriage/gender issues (which get very little attention in this book by comparison). Even since just 2016, the decline into a post Christian society has accelerated to the degree that it is head spinning. Where is the encouragement here for believers who are dismayed? I recently read Abolition of Man, by CS Lewis. This little book of essays, written in 1943, identifies the key issue facing society, which applies to us today in an extremely intense way: Anthropology, what does it mean to be human. We’ve witnessed a collapse of the understanding of what it means to be human, and of a belief in natural law itself. Now anyone can construct their own meaning about human nature, and they can’t be argued against. Does Moore have words of wisdom for Christians facing this current climate? I hope he will share them. Meanwhile, I’ve enjoyed the work of Carl Trueman and Rosaria Butterfield to help our family navigate this troubling time we’re living in.
The primary concern I had reading this work is I reject the assumption that Christians who care about state of the culture prioritize white nationalism (racism and nativism) as their top agenda. I think that’s a very tiny minority (and repugnant), but this book mainly addresses that issue. Almost every believer I know is extremely concerned about abortion and marriage/gender issues (which get very little attention in this book by comparison). Even since just 2016, the decline into a post Christian society has accelerated to the degree that it is head spinning. Where is the encouragement here for believers who are dismayed? I recently read Abolition of Man, by CS Lewis. This little book of essays, written in 1943, identifies the key issue facing society, which applies to us today in an extremely intense way: Anthropology, what does it mean to be human. We’ve witnessed a collapse of the understanding of what it means to be human, and of a belief in natural law itself. Now anyone can construct their own meaning about human nature, and they can’t be argued against. Does Moore have words of wisdom for Christians facing this current climate? I hope he will share them. Meanwhile, I’ve enjoyed the work of Carl Trueman and Rosaria Butterfield to help our family navigate this troubling time we’re living in.
February 19, 2024
Russell Moore came to loggerheads with the Southern Baptist Convention over the 2016 Republican nomination of Donald Trump. That watershed moment has left many to ask the question of how entangled American evangelicals are with the Republican political establishment. While Moore's experience is from the conservative side, the same critique can certainly be made over the enmeshment between progressive Christians and the Democratic party. Moore calls for the church to disentangle herself from politics: to refuse to do so is to pollute the gospel and tarnish the church's witness.
Moore's call is important for those of every time and place. The lure of political protection has been present since the kings of Israel were tempted to find security in the arms of Egypt and Babylon. While Moore doesn't offer much by way of a third way (how does a Christian constructively engage in politics?), his point is important and remains timely.
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
Moore's call is important for those of every time and place. The lure of political protection has been present since the kings of Israel were tempted to find security in the arms of Egypt and Babylon. While Moore doesn't offer much by way of a third way (how does a Christian constructively engage in politics?), his point is important and remains timely.
For more reviews see thebeehive.live.
March 26, 2024
A justifiable sermon to the choir of the American evangelical church that occasionally gets lost in thickets of biblical tropes and echoes of hymns ‐ not to mention preposterously long run-on sentences - but more often accurately diagnoses and lovingly ministers to the sickness that has transformed large swaths of American protestantism into a fever of politics and compromised faith.
May 27, 2024
Russell Moore is horrified and heartbroken that the denomination of his raising and education has so drifted from the values it espoused. While he includes all evangelicals in this indictment, specifically he centers on the Southern Baptist Convention, which has turned a blind eye to character flaws of Donald Trump as well as sex abusers among its own clergy while ostracizing leaders like Moore who point this out. I agree with Moore that the church has lost its credibility and integrity. Too often evangelicals follow a false god of earthly power and nostalgia of a falsely idealized past. I so wanted to like this book, but I must say it’s very hard to follow—-long paragraphs with countless quotes, references, and complicated analogies. The takeaway I will most remember is that Christians have lost the reality of being exiles in the world and thus are stricken when national culture doesn’t go their way or status of the institutional church is compromised. This truth is something to ponder. Moore says we must make peace with homelessness in terms of denominational and political loyalties. I have felt the discomfort of that myself. This book is a call to integrity. Some good thoughts but not an easy read.
December 18, 2023
This book is an excellent critique of what has been happening to the evangelical church in America in the past few years. The author writes from a place of deep pain over his own experiences with the Southern Baptist denomination and the often narcissistic men who care more about their own positions of power and keeping up appearances than they do about the welfare of those under their care.
The book also deals with how unscrupulous and morally bankrupt politicians have co-opted Christianity to gain votes and approval for their political agendas. Moore laments how a broad swath of Christians have abandoned their former positions of "character counts" to accept deeply flawed leaders who promise to support their causes.
The book also deals with how unscrupulous and morally bankrupt politicians have co-opted Christianity to gain votes and approval for their political agendas. Moore laments how a broad swath of Christians have abandoned their former positions of "character counts" to accept deeply flawed leaders who promise to support their causes.
March 14, 2024
Russell Moore put into words so much of what I’ve been feeling and not understanding with the current political climate and Christianity in America. He is incredibly wise and walks through multiple ideas on what we are losing as a church in America: credibility, authority, identity, integrity, and stability. We are broken, sinful people so the church will never be perfect, but it is extremely shattered and focused more on tribal allegiance than the gospel at times.
“Maybe only when we lose our religion will we be, once again, amazed by grace.”
“Maybe only when we lose our religion will we be, once again, amazed by grace.”
January 21, 2024
We are tempted to emphasize what the Bible vaguely mentions and ignore what it proclaims. Our faith requires us to cut through the personality and profit driven messages of the gospel and remember what the message of Jesus is.
This at times will require us speak when it would be more comfortable to be silent. Other times may require us to breath deeply when we would rather debate.
This was a beautiful reminder to return to the basics of our faith even when it seems like the institution of Church has lost the teaching of Jesus.
This at times will require us speak when it would be more comfortable to be silent. Other times may require us to breath deeply when we would rather debate.
This was a beautiful reminder to return to the basics of our faith even when it seems like the institution of Church has lost the teaching of Jesus.
August 8, 2023
Sobering yet gracious and hopeful, particularly the concluding chapter. I do think with chapter lengths running at 50 pages or so, subheadings would have been helpful.
September 3, 2023
Initial thoughts after finishing: reading this is like drinking a cup of cold water on a hot day.
It's bracing, pastoral, respectful, clear, intelligent, and points to Christ as all in all.
Not Evangelicalism, not political parties, not denominations, not racism, misogyny, or theological differences, not tribalism, not Christian nationalism, not moral relativism that will excuse anything in order to "win."
He succinctly rebukes the many evils of Evangelicalism as it stands today, and his pastoral heart shines through in every exhortation and opportunity to repent.
I cried. I laughed. I was angry and shocked at times. I felt seen always. Or more like - I felt not crazy. And by the end I felt hopeful. Not for the "rise of Evangelicalism" but for a rebirth and repentance of the Church, wherever that may lead.
It's bracing, pastoral, respectful, clear, intelligent, and points to Christ as all in all.
Not Evangelicalism, not political parties, not denominations, not racism, misogyny, or theological differences, not tribalism, not Christian nationalism, not moral relativism that will excuse anything in order to "win."
He succinctly rebukes the many evils of Evangelicalism as it stands today, and his pastoral heart shines through in every exhortation and opportunity to repent.
I cried. I laughed. I was angry and shocked at times. I felt seen always. Or more like - I felt not crazy. And by the end I felt hopeful. Not for the "rise of Evangelicalism" but for a rebirth and repentance of the Church, wherever that may lead.
November 20, 2023
(4.75/5 stars) Honestly this book was so needed for me at this point in my life; the past few years (especially 2020-2022 but really starting in 2016) have left me so disillusioned with the church. I have long followed Moore on various forms of social media (primarily Twitter) and have always respected him as a straight-shooter and an honest and brave voice in the SBC.
I can certainly identify with those whom Moore describes as "...young evangelicals walking away from evangelicalism not because they do not believe what the church teaches, but because they believe the church itself does not believe what the church teaches." After years in a church that left me disillusioned, heartbroken, exhausted, and grieving because it felt like the subtext to every Sunday sermon was speaking out "against culture" (aka "Discipleship by Fox News/Gab/Truth Social/whatever new-social-media is accepted by the far right") and where, as Moore puts it, "“truth” is seen as a means to tribal belonging, rather than as a reality that exists outside of us," this book felt like a balm and a reminder that even when people fail us, Jesus never does. Moore calls readers to "conversion over culture wars, to truth over tribalism, to the gospel over politics, to integrity over influence, and to renewal over nostalgia". This book left me feeling hopeful and leaning on the sovereignty of God. Kingdoms (and churches and denominations) will rise and fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now, and I would highly recommend it!
I can certainly identify with those whom Moore describes as "...young evangelicals walking away from evangelicalism not because they do not believe what the church teaches, but because they believe the church itself does not believe what the church teaches." After years in a church that left me disillusioned, heartbroken, exhausted, and grieving because it felt like the subtext to every Sunday sermon was speaking out "against culture" (aka "Discipleship by Fox News/Gab/Truth Social/whatever new-social-media is accepted by the far right") and where, as Moore puts it, "“truth” is seen as a means to tribal belonging, rather than as a reality that exists outside of us," this book felt like a balm and a reminder that even when people fail us, Jesus never does. Moore calls readers to "conversion over culture wars, to truth over tribalism, to the gospel over politics, to integrity over influence, and to renewal over nostalgia". This book left me feeling hopeful and leaning on the sovereignty of God. Kingdoms (and churches and denominations) will rise and fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now, and I would highly recommend it!
July 7, 2024
"...there is more than one way for you to secularize, and in one of those ways your atheism can make you feel even more Christian than you did before; all it takes is substituting adrenaline for the Holy Spirit, political "awakening" for rebirth, quarrelsomeness for sanctification, and a visible tribal identity for the kingdom of God."
"If you conform to Christ only when the culture is "neutral" enough to allow you to win on their terms, then Jesus is not Lord and you are not his disciple. You are Lord and he is your disciple. Just as culture-warring is easier than conversion, influence is easier than integrity."
I had far too many excerpts that I wanted to include here. Russell Moore provides a powerful and convicting look at the modern evangelical church. I am extremely glad that I read Tim Alberta's The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory first. Alberta's book provided the stories while Moore provides a biblical analysis of the state of the church. I was both impressed and convicted by his humility in how he approached such delicate issues, all while reminding the reader that there is an ultimate, if not cliche answer, in Jesus.
This will be a book that I will need to re-read several times in the future. So good.
"If you conform to Christ only when the culture is "neutral" enough to allow you to win on their terms, then Jesus is not Lord and you are not his disciple. You are Lord and he is your disciple. Just as culture-warring is easier than conversion, influence is easier than integrity."
I had far too many excerpts that I wanted to include here. Russell Moore provides a powerful and convicting look at the modern evangelical church. I am extremely glad that I read Tim Alberta's The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory first. Alberta's book provided the stories while Moore provides a biblical analysis of the state of the church. I was both impressed and convicted by his humility in how he approached such delicate issues, all while reminding the reader that there is an ultimate, if not cliche answer, in Jesus.
This will be a book that I will need to re-read several times in the future. So good.
November 16, 2023
Necessary reading for believers who are confused, disgusted, dismayed, heartbroken by the current state of affairs in the institutionalized "church" and the politicization of Christianity - so contrary to the message of Christ and Scripture, who calls us to personal and communal faith in the King of Kings who insisted that his kingdom was NOT of this world. The Zealots of Christ's day were angry, and ready for the Savior to overthrow the existing political authorities, so that they could reclaim their rightful position in the world as God's Chosen. (Sound familiar?) Jesus was quietly insistent that His kingdom was all about righteousness and peace and the joy of the Holy Spirit, about unity in the living out and spreading of the gospel, seeking FIRST His Kingdom and His righteousness.
Russell Moore has been through the wringer with the powers that be in the SBC; he has the credibility and personal experience to speak the way he does in this book. His voice is breathtaking, with the passion of a prophet who loves the Jesus of Scripture, who loves the Church as Jesus has instituted it to be: a place of hope and healing and truth and graciousness. His passion comes from seeing and experiencing an appalling politicization from within the American church, and especially its leadership - a frightening and angry nostalgia, a demonization of those who aren't "us" - and seeing how horribly off-base all this is when we look to Jesus and to Scripture.
He explores the strange and sudden shifts in American evanglical identity - the reasons for movements of "ex-evanglicals" - the reasons that Christianity seems to now be identified as a conservative political movement in many unbelievers' minds, instead of what it actually IS: a movement of God within the person and the people so that they would reflect the God-centered love and compassion of Christ. This is what the Church is identified as in Scripture. I know precious few unbelievers who would have any sense of that now, given what they've observed within "Christian" movements in the US in the past 8 years.
I am so grateful to Russell Moore for this book, for his clear prose, for his historical references and quotes that give context to what the Church is called to be - and how far the American church at large has fallen from that. I'm grateful that he has not "given up" on the Church. We are called to be God's people, salt and light, with compassion and humility, with truth and grace. The church that Jesus calls us to be is still our calling; the answer to the awful place that American Evangelicalism has moved into is NOT to abandon the Church and our call to be God's people. The answer is to know from Scripture - not from whatever politically conservative rhetoric is currently popular - who and what we are called to be, and to follow Jesus, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, into being the people that He wants us to be.
May there be true revival in the scriptural sense; may the hearts of believers return to their first love - Jesus Christ, their Savior - and leave behind the tactics and temptations of this world that totally misrepresent who the Christ is and what He calls His people to do and to be. May we not be lovers of earthly power agendas and haters of those who are different; but may we heed the ancient and eternally relevant teaching of Jesus, who told us that the greatest commands of God are to love God with everything in us (which transforms us by knowing Him) and to love others as we love ourselves (which transforms others and the entire world we live in).
Russell Moore has been through the wringer with the powers that be in the SBC; he has the credibility and personal experience to speak the way he does in this book. His voice is breathtaking, with the passion of a prophet who loves the Jesus of Scripture, who loves the Church as Jesus has instituted it to be: a place of hope and healing and truth and graciousness. His passion comes from seeing and experiencing an appalling politicization from within the American church, and especially its leadership - a frightening and angry nostalgia, a demonization of those who aren't "us" - and seeing how horribly off-base all this is when we look to Jesus and to Scripture.
He explores the strange and sudden shifts in American evanglical identity - the reasons for movements of "ex-evanglicals" - the reasons that Christianity seems to now be identified as a conservative political movement in many unbelievers' minds, instead of what it actually IS: a movement of God within the person and the people so that they would reflect the God-centered love and compassion of Christ. This is what the Church is identified as in Scripture. I know precious few unbelievers who would have any sense of that now, given what they've observed within "Christian" movements in the US in the past 8 years.
I am so grateful to Russell Moore for this book, for his clear prose, for his historical references and quotes that give context to what the Church is called to be - and how far the American church at large has fallen from that. I'm grateful that he has not "given up" on the Church. We are called to be God's people, salt and light, with compassion and humility, with truth and grace. The church that Jesus calls us to be is still our calling; the answer to the awful place that American Evangelicalism has moved into is NOT to abandon the Church and our call to be God's people. The answer is to know from Scripture - not from whatever politically conservative rhetoric is currently popular - who and what we are called to be, and to follow Jesus, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, into being the people that He wants us to be.
May there be true revival in the scriptural sense; may the hearts of believers return to their first love - Jesus Christ, their Savior - and leave behind the tactics and temptations of this world that totally misrepresent who the Christ is and what He calls His people to do and to be. May we not be lovers of earthly power agendas and haters of those who are different; but may we heed the ancient and eternally relevant teaching of Jesus, who told us that the greatest commands of God are to love God with everything in us (which transforms us by knowing Him) and to love others as we love ourselves (which transforms others and the entire world we live in).
October 17, 2023
Though Russell Moore and I come to different theological conclusions in many areas, this book continued to surprise and encourage me in its offering of a much needed, critical analysis of the current state of the American evangelical church.
Some notable quotes:
"Watch though, when culture wars are defined as spiritual warfare, with human beings as demons to oppose. That's precisely what can happen when tribalism connects with resentment and resentment connects with fear ... usually, of course, people don't literally mean their political or cultural opponents are supernatural evil spirits, but metaphors matter. Think of what happened throughout history when the metaphors of rats or insects or animals are applied to human beings."
on radical reformation vs revival: "What if the current tumult around us at this current moment is not the evangelical movement imploding? What if it is, instead, God tearing the evangelical movement down? If so, perhaps we should ask 'why?' before we ask 'what's next?'"
Some notable quotes:
"Watch though, when culture wars are defined as spiritual warfare, with human beings as demons to oppose. That's precisely what can happen when tribalism connects with resentment and resentment connects with fear ... usually, of course, people don't literally mean their political or cultural opponents are supernatural evil spirits, but metaphors matter. Think of what happened throughout history when the metaphors of rats or insects or animals are applied to human beings."
on radical reformation vs revival: "What if the current tumult around us at this current moment is not the evangelical movement imploding? What if it is, instead, God tearing the evangelical movement down? If so, perhaps we should ask 'why?' before we ask 'what's next?'"
May 13, 2024
This was a fantastic socio-religious analysis on the current cultural climate. Rus is an exile because he rejected hardline extremism and MAGAism, and stood up for biblical values. He stood up for women, children, immigrants, and the least of these because “the Bible tells me so.” By trying to be biblical, he was branded a liberal by a ‘conservative’ social gospel movement, which in Phil Vischer’s words is “liberation theology for white people.”
I was seriously amazed at how Rus put into words the difficult realities of this climate. He painted the picture for Christians who believe the Bible but not this movement which tries to appropriate Scripture for secular ends. Rus, if you can hear me: Keep fighting the good fight!
I was seriously amazed at how Rus put into words the difficult realities of this climate. He painted the picture for Christians who believe the Bible but not this movement which tries to appropriate Scripture for secular ends. Rus, if you can hear me: Keep fighting the good fight!
August 16, 2023
This book was so good, helpful, and hopeful! Moore shares a bit of personal journey (particularly in chapter 1), but mostly gives and incisive critique of our cultural moment (particularly within the evangelical church).
There is so much wisdom here, and I’m already looking forward to re-reading because Moore is such a gifted writer. Lots to chew on think about and process. But even more to be hopeful for - he brings sanity in an age that feels increasingly insane, and light where there is mostly heat. Grateful for him and this book! Take, read, and heed!
There is so much wisdom here, and I’m already looking forward to re-reading because Moore is such a gifted writer. Lots to chew on think about and process. But even more to be hopeful for - he brings sanity in an age that feels increasingly insane, and light where there is mostly heat. Grateful for him and this book! Take, read, and heed!
April 15, 2024
I really appreciated reading Russell Moore's testimony about his experiences. He manages to tell the gritty details while not losing hope for the future, and pastoring my heart into the real and refreshing truth of the gospel.
The problem is that I listened to the audiobook so I wasn't able to underline and dog-ear my pages so I am only left with the feeling of challenge, conviction, courage and admiration. The call is to BELIEVE the gospel, not believe in cultural Christianity, and to tell the TRUTH no matter what. Our hope is not in a Christian nation - our hope is in Jesus Christ.
(Maybe what we thought was the Shire was actually Mordor all along...)
The problem is that I listened to the audiobook so I wasn't able to underline and dog-ear my pages so I am only left with the feeling of challenge, conviction, courage and admiration. The call is to BELIEVE the gospel, not believe in cultural Christianity, and to tell the TRUTH no matter what. Our hope is not in a Christian nation - our hope is in Jesus Christ.
(Maybe what we thought was the Shire was actually Mordor all along...)
February 13, 2024
I am very thankful for Dr. Moore’s voice in this present age. There were many good points in this book but the one that I needed to be reminded of the most was that as Christians, our power comes not from a political party or cozying up with the right people in power, but it comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh that we as the western church would repent and hold fast to that truth.
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