Reviews
The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist by Craig Groeschel
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
5.0
This was an outstanding book.
Excellent theology on why God is true and why Jesus is our savior.
I really enjoyed the points covered in this book.
Each chapter breaks up arguments and myths and things about Christianity, and then discusses them and proves the Christian-side. Of course, it also shows why just being a Christian isn't enough. Why just being a good person isn't enough. It is a complete life that needs to be fully devoted.
I was especially moved by the chapters on evangelism and witnessing. Some really strong and moving stories.
I would highly recommend this book.
4.8/5
Excellent theology on why God is true and why Jesus is our savior.
I really enjoyed the points covered in this book.
Each chapter breaks up arguments and myths and things about Christianity, and then discusses them and proves the Christian-side. Of course, it also shows why just being a Christian isn't enough. Why just being a good person isn't enough. It is a complete life that needs to be fully devoted.
I was especially moved by the chapters on evangelism and witnessing. Some really strong and moving stories.
I would highly recommend this book.
4.8/5
thebookishpersuasion's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
kketelaar's review against another edition
3.0
Nothing groundbreaking, but nice reminders nonetheless.
mrerickeith's review against another edition
4.0
Very inspirational read. There's something for everyone in here. If you're a new believer, quasi-believer, or a bible thumping pro, there's something to take from this book.
shelfreflectionofficial's review against another edition
5.0
"My selfish Christian Atheist view was that God existed for me, rather than I for him. If he'd do what I thought he should, I'd trust him more. If he'd come through for me, I'd give him more of my life. If he made my life better and pain-free, I'd believe him more passionately. But anytime God didn't meet my expectations, we had a problem. God created me in his image. I returned the favor and created him in mine. The kind of God I wanted to believe in was this: if he's not what I want, then he can't have my whole life."
A provocative title and important book. It's easy to call yourself a Christian. It's easy to say you believe in God. But it's hard to live like it. Have you ever thought there was no point to prayer? Have you ever questioned if God loves you, cares about you, or fights for you? Have you ever resented that evil people seem victorious and good people are sick, robbed, oppressed, killed? Do you spend time worrying about your kids or your job? Are you resigned to stay the way you are? Is a prominent goal in your life to just be happy? Are you jaded by the ways the church has failed you? Do you largely keep your faith to yourself? Congratulations, you're a Christian Atheist. Just like me.
It's not enough to just say I believe in God. This book challenged me in all the right ways. I can't devote my life to Christ and be okay with worry, okay with prioritizing money, happiness, comfort over faith, okay with criticizing God's church. With each chapter I had to do some self-reflection and ask myself- Is He Lord over this area of my life? Because if he isn't, I don't really believe He is who he says he is.
I love the use of the word 'atheist' because it shocks us. As Christians we scoff that we could ever be an atheist. After all, we believe in God and Jesus, we go to church, we usually pray, we're generally good, nice people. But if we're honest with ourselves we don't live like it. If we really know him for who he is then we wouldn't trust ourselves over prayer; we wouldn't make earthly happiness and a pain-free life our end goal and ultimate achievement; we wouldn't be afraid or resistant to change; we wouldn't treat God like his role is to serve us. And how often do I do that?? I need to take every thought captive and challenge myself daily- am I living or making choices like God exists or not? Do I truly live like I believe?
Let this book make you uncomfortable. And come away with a heart to know and believe in your God.
"'Whatever it takes' became my heart's cry. Whatever it takes to know him. Whatever it takes to live like I truly love God. Whatever it takes to love eternity more than this world. Even if I have to fight, scrape, and crawl away from my Christian Atheism into a genuine, crucified life of faith and radical obedience to Christ, I'll do whatever it takes."
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
A provocative title and important book. It's easy to call yourself a Christian. It's easy to say you believe in God. But it's hard to live like it. Have you ever thought there was no point to prayer? Have you ever questioned if God loves you, cares about you, or fights for you? Have you ever resented that evil people seem victorious and good people are sick, robbed, oppressed, killed? Do you spend time worrying about your kids or your job? Are you resigned to stay the way you are? Is a prominent goal in your life to just be happy? Are you jaded by the ways the church has failed you? Do you largely keep your faith to yourself? Congratulations, you're a Christian Atheist. Just like me.
It's not enough to just say I believe in God. This book challenged me in all the right ways. I can't devote my life to Christ and be okay with worry, okay with prioritizing money, happiness, comfort over faith, okay with criticizing God's church. With each chapter I had to do some self-reflection and ask myself- Is He Lord over this area of my life? Because if he isn't, I don't really believe He is who he says he is.
I love the use of the word 'atheist' because it shocks us. As Christians we scoff that we could ever be an atheist. After all, we believe in God and Jesus, we go to church, we usually pray, we're generally good, nice people. But if we're honest with ourselves we don't live like it. If we really know him for who he is then we wouldn't trust ourselves over prayer; we wouldn't make earthly happiness and a pain-free life our end goal and ultimate achievement; we wouldn't be afraid or resistant to change; we wouldn't treat God like his role is to serve us. And how often do I do that?? I need to take every thought captive and challenge myself daily- am I living or making choices like God exists or not? Do I truly live like I believe?
Let this book make you uncomfortable. And come away with a heart to know and believe in your God.
"'Whatever it takes' became my heart's cry. Whatever it takes to know him. Whatever it takes to live like I truly love God. Whatever it takes to love eternity more than this world. Even if I have to fight, scrape, and crawl away from my Christian Atheism into a genuine, crucified life of faith and radical obedience to Christ, I'll do whatever it takes."
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
bassistbriar2023's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
themtj's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty similar to Crazy Love and/or Radical. I don't think it was particularly interesting or helpful, but its easy to read and can provide some good challenges.
genieinanovel's review against another edition
5.0
[full review on my blog]
Have you ever read a book that makes you take a hard look at your life and how you’re living it? Well, I hadn’t either, until I picked up this one.
Christian Atheist is a book written by pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv and through this book he explains the difference of how a Christian lives and how a Christian Atheist lives. There is quite a difference there. Unfortunately, a lot of the characteristics of a Christian Atheist were and are ones that can apply to me. Some of them I have grown out of while others, well, I’m still working on (worrying and anxiety being the big ones).
So what is a Christian Atheist? Well, Groeschel defines it simply as, “a person who believes in God, but lives as though He doesn’t exist.”
In other words, someone who tells people they’re a Christian, but lives like any other non-Christian in the world.
Yes, I stated above that I was and am guilty of a few of the characteristics of a Christian Atheist. I worry too much, I’m not great at sharing my faith, and sometimes my actions don’t always reflect Jesus (usually when I’m hungry or pressed for time, but that’s no excuse). There’s plenty more where those came from, as Groeschel covers in the book, and some of these I’ve gotten a lot better with, while others need more work. This book made me really look at my life and every area I need to work on in my life to live a life that reflects Jesus, and I needed that.
Have you ever read a book that makes you take a hard look at your life and how you’re living it? Well, I hadn’t either, until I picked up this one.
Christian Atheist is a book written by pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv and through this book he explains the difference of how a Christian lives and how a Christian Atheist lives. There is quite a difference there. Unfortunately, a lot of the characteristics of a Christian Atheist were and are ones that can apply to me. Some of them I have grown out of while others, well, I’m still working on (worrying and anxiety being the big ones).
So what is a Christian Atheist? Well, Groeschel defines it simply as, “a person who believes in God, but lives as though He doesn’t exist.”
In other words, someone who tells people they’re a Christian, but lives like any other non-Christian in the world.
Yes, I stated above that I was and am guilty of a few of the characteristics of a Christian Atheist. I worry too much, I’m not great at sharing my faith, and sometimes my actions don’t always reflect Jesus (usually when I’m hungry or pressed for time, but that’s no excuse). There’s plenty more where those came from, as Groeschel covers in the book, and some of these I’ve gotten a lot better with, while others need more work. This book made me really look at my life and every area I need to work on in my life to live a life that reflects Jesus, and I needed that.
crizzle's review against another edition
4.0
Chapters include: When you believe in God but don't really know Him, When you believe in God but not in prayer, When you believe in God but don't think He's fair, When you believe in God but don't think you can change, When you believe in God but trust more in money, When you believe in God but don't share your faith, When you believe in God but not in His church.
Reminded me of "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. An easy yet hard read sometimes- convicting. I'm doing the workbook too for our Sunday School class.
Reminded me of "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. An easy yet hard read sometimes- convicting. I'm doing the workbook too for our Sunday School class.