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Nabaza.net-The MarketPlace - So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore
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List Price: $11.99
Our Price: $9.59
Your Save: $ 2.40 ( 20% )
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Manufacturer: Windblown Media
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 248
EAN: 9780964729223
ISBN: 0964729229
Label: Windblown Media
Manufacturer: Windblown Media
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 191
Publication Date: 2006-03-01
Publisher: Windblown Media
Studio: Windblown Media
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Editorial Reviews:
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What would you do if you met someone you thought just might be one of Jesus original disciples still living in the 21st Century? That's Jake's dilemma as he meets a man who talks of Jesus as if he had known him, and whose way of living challenges everything Jake had previously known. So You Don t Want to Go To Church Anymore is Jake s compelling journal that chronicles thirteen conversations with his newfound friend over a four-year period and how those exchanges turn Jake's world upside-down. With his help, Jake faces his darkest fears, struggles through brutal circumstances and comes out on the other side in the joy and freedom he always dreamed was possible. If you're tired of just going through the motions of Christianity and want to mine the depths of what it really means to live deeply in Christ, you ll find Jake s story will give you hope for your own. This book probes the difficult questions and offers some far-reaching answers. It just might turn your world upside-down as well!
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Don't miss the forest for the trees
Comment: I finished the book in about two days. A very good and intriguing read. Perhaps the greatest thing that I have taken away from the book is a reminder of both the complexity and simplicity of Father's love.
I have read several of the comments written about this book, and I can't help but wonder if the majority of them have still missed the central message of the book and the gospel itself: Everything is about the Father's love.
A search of scripture will quickly reveal that the Father is much more interested in our unqualified fellowship with him than making sure that our ecclesiology is correct.
I read the book and immediately wanted my wife and all others I know to read it too. My hope was that they would get the same revelation that I did. Unfortunately, Father doesn't work that way. Father understands that this thing called "Christianity" is a journey not a destination. As He leads us, He desires intently that we remain in fellowship with him. His holiness is not subverted merely because we we forsake structure and seek him as a loving father, rather his holiness is magnified the tighter we cleave to him.
Paul wrote in Galatians that is was for freedom that Christ set us free. Not so that we can be burdened again with the yoke of the law; or as this book alludes, institutional religion. To be sure, in nearly every body of believers there are those who love the Lord with abandon and who deem it a privilege to be on this journey, seeking more and more about His person. But there are also those who seek their own gain and labor to perpetuate the institutionalism of the establishment. Serving the "church" for the sake of the "church." Doing away with "church" was not the goal of this book; rather it was about focusing on Father's love and leading--however that may look.
Let's not miss the proverbial forest for the trees. Gal 5:6 (NIV) "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." If we remain focused on Father's love for us, then our motives, actions, speech and direction will follow his leading and will be centered upon him. We won't need regulations, bylaws and rules because the driving factor is Father's love. When we miss the mark (sin) his forgiveness and grace readily abound. We then use our forgiven, grace-infilled lives as testimonies of Father's love.
If a fictional book can shift our focus to Father's love--great! If a Sunday morning service can shift our focus to Father's love--awesome! If a movie, car accident, children's book, documentary, tragedy, illness, or whatever can shift our focus to Father's love than praise be to God! The goal is Father's love. Period.
Look for Him to reveal His love as you read this book and know that He has promised that He will reveal it to you. Blessings on your journey!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Dramatic Fiction Title That Ministers To The Broken Hearted
Comment: "So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore" brought me to tears and ultimately, healing. I am personally guilty of thinking I could build a relationship with God without any involvement from the church. In the past, I have placed my pastors and leaders on pedestals on which they didn't belong. This book reminded me that the church is made up of fallible human beings, myself included. We are fallible, but usable by God. I have discovered a new favorite author in Wayne Jacobsen who ministers to my heart.
Customer Rating:
Summary: What I needed.
Comment: Haven't read thte entire book yet, but the first 4 chapters brought me to a place I knew I was looking for and once had.
Had moved from my "hometown" and church 12 years ago and have been very discouraged with the results of my looking for another home church. This book, so far, has reminded me of who my first love is and how my focus has been skewed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beware! More bad reviews by the same Guy!
Comment: The author gives an incredible challenge to all those attending church today. A message of authenticity, relationship and reconciliation inside and outside the physical walls of a church building. Jacobsen gives insights into the worldly beliefs we buy into that get in the way of real relationship with God and others.
This book gives hope to anyone following the Spirit of God and not man-made rules. Hope for discipling with the love of Christ versus trying to control and manipulate others with man made religious agendas and theology. As a long time elder of a local church, this book is not negative toward the local church; it is a book that casts a vision of what church could be like, if we follow Christ and not our own agendas!
Unfortunately, if you are a Christian who believes in an extremist view of reformed theology you will not like this book and probably not like any of the books by this publisher. If you are a top book reviewer with your own agenda of attempting to push extremist reformed theology onto all Christians (with no biblical support) then this book may anger you to the point that you would attempt to misrepresent its contents. This type of elitist attitude unfortunately can create the kind of division within the church body the author is warning against and, unfortunately, is false and misleading. Beware.
I doubt if any of us need any more humans telling us what we "must reject". However, if a controlling version of religion is what you are after, then please, heed the misleading advice, and ignore this book.
No doubt about it...5 stars!
Customer Rating:
Summary: I love the Local Church
Comment: On a positive note:
The author rightly raises red flags toward some of the legalism and Gnostic tendencies that some local churches exhibit. The desire to have church simplified and exhibit grace is definitely a good thing. He is correct in stating several times in the book that God will never love us any more or less based on our perfomance. Jesus' righteuosness imputed to us is what makes a sinner right before a Holy God.
Now for the Critique:
1) Poor Ecclesiology - Colsen builds a straw man argument from the get-go. It is clear from the book and his writing at the end of the book in his open letter to "fellow-believers" that he has a chip on his shoulder probably due to some bad experiences that he has had with whatever local church/s he has been a part of in the past. He rips on the whole idea of the local church. Yet over half the NT is addressed to specific local church congregations: Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Collossae, and Philippi, to name a few. All of these churches had governing bodies consisting of elders; deacons; and men and women using specific spiritual gifts so that these bodies had structure and organization (1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 4). Instead of attacking the NT model for the Church he attacks a poor model of the abuses in a fictional local church. I think he would have better served the Church by examining the biblical parameters laid out for the Church and thus could have developed a Biblical Ecclesiology. He never does this. He simply takes a few elements that were exhibited in the NT Church and picks those that fit his personal preferences. It is true that many of the NT Churches met in homes: however, it wasn't exclusively in homes, and preaching was always an integral part of their worship gatherings. Let's see what the Scriptures have to say (oh how refreshing to have an authority based on God's revelation and NOT ON FICTION) PLEASE READ CAREFULLY -Acts 2:42-47, 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together (not a home) and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. The author of Hebrews commands that we do not forsake meeting together as a body of believers (not the hippie hitch-hike approach the book condones). Hebrews 10: 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some (Colsen's recommendation), but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
2) Poor Theology Proper & View of the Gospel - The only side of God that is dealt with in the book is His grace. It is not even closely balanced with our sin against the law and God's just demands that necessitated both Christ's atonement and propitiation for our sins. God's holiness is not dealt with at all. The book totally focuses on `ME" and is totally man-centered (Romans 3-5).
3) Poor View of Preaching - Some of Paul's last instructions to Timothy we need to take VERY SERIOUSLY when examining what Colsen proposes in his hippie like manner of gathering whenever and wherever the spirit leads us. Look at what SCRIPTURE SAYS: 2 Timothy 4:1-4, 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. If you read 1 and 2 Timothy you will find a huge and heavy emphasis on studying the Scriptures diligently and the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. Jesus' own ministry was filled with the teaching and application of the Scriptures. I am deeply offended by Colsen's disdain for this clear mandate of the Apostle Paul to Timothy that is to be used throughout the ages for God's glory and the edification of the Church for whom our glorious Savior bled and died! People, who struggle with careful preaching from God's Word that is delivered in a gracious manner, don't have a problem with preaching...they have a problem with God's revelation! People always buck against preaching because it's too convicting. They would rather huddle with other sinners and give therapy to one another rather than be cut to the heart by God's Word.
4) Poor view of God's Word - it is correct that children shouldn't be scolded for not remembering verses as mentioned in the book. However, I am so glad that we give opportunities in our own Church body for Scripture memory because it gives our children absolutes to base their beliefs on. Kids learn by modeling, but they also need absolutes and authoritative truth to base their convictions and beliefs on. I'd like to hear Colsen's take on David's advice to young children from the Psalms: Psalm 119:9-11, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
I thank God for the godly men and women that taught me the Scriptures from my youth. It is these very Scriptures I learned as a youth that I am able to use now as an adult to keep me pure and to help me deal with the red flags I see in a book like Colsen's. Colson prefers a gathering where there is no dealing with guilt because of our sin before a holy God - instead where everything is flowers and strokes for felt needs. Colson would fit in well with the Bahai faith. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't doubt that most new age type groups would cherish this book! We as depraved sinners don't know what we need a lot of the time. That's why we need the authoritative Scriptures like we need bread and water daily. Because God knows we need to hear and be exposed to the truth about Him and ourselves daily (Psalm 1; Joshua 1:8).
I think overall that Colsen's book is dangerous because it attacks what Jesus died for -- The Church which consist of the many local churches since the ones established in the New Testament until Jesus comes back.
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