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A review by michaelesch
Letters to the Church by Francis Chan
3.0
I think Chan tapped into a big issue in the American church and that is the centrality of entertainment. We throw big fun events to attract people, then we get the latest and greatest music and sermons, we put on plays and funny skits. We act like the gospel is not powerful so we fill it with cheap substitutes that the world loves.
His solution to this is to go to God's word and do what it says. God commands singing so we sing, God commands reading the word, so we read, God commands that we take care of those in need, so that is what we do with our offers. God commands the pastors to equip the people for ministry, so we equip them, not look at ourselves as the only ones in ministry. God also commands that we make disciples, so we go and make disciples (all of us).
He hit it on the head when he said what are you most concerned about "people's expectation" or "God's expectation"? If we got rid of one of those lists which one would your people be upset about? He encouraged leaders to preach to the sheep and if the goats complain and walk away that is okay. Jesus did that when people came to follow Him. He didn't make it easier, He always explained that it would cost them their lives (not a simple prayer).
Where this book falls short was not fleshing these ideas out furthers. I thought in his chapter, sacred, he would dig further into the Regulatory Principle of Worship. He built up that chapter so well then did not continue with it. Also, in this time where he talked about worshiping on the Lord's Day, he really down played the the role of preaching and teaching, to just reading the Bible. The Bible cannot be more clear on the issue of both reading along side of teaching. He also went to say that pastors should not be paid, without fully saying it, even though that goes against many OT and NT commands to pay those who teach their wage and not to muzzle the oz as he treads. Not that it is necessary, churches should strive to pay double honor to their elders.
I was also not a fan of comparing churches in countries that are persecuting churches to churches in America. At one point he said that they laugh at us because of the way we do worship and fellowship. Both environments have their struggles reaching people who think that Christianity is for dumb people in a first world country is a lot different than reaching people who know that they will be imprisoned if they join a church. It also largely ignored the good that American churches do for these countries. Just as in the NT, some churches were more well off and safer than other churches and they supported each other when the time came, not laughed and mocked one another for their struggles.
I love Chan and think that he very passionate about sharing the gospel. I also believe that he is a brother in Christ. He did quote people who I think are not safe people and should not be listened to, which might indicate that he is moving more towards the heretical charismatic groups, but in this book I did not see anything heretical, though there were two or three continuist comments. He talked about helping people with their gifts, but did not really unpack what that meant. The book also has a bunch of good one liners. Having 5 years under his belt, he has shown a lot of growth in the home church movement and I will be interested to see where it goes.
His solution to this is to go to God's word and do what it says. God commands singing so we sing, God commands reading the word, so we read, God commands that we take care of those in need, so that is what we do with our offers. God commands the pastors to equip the people for ministry, so we equip them, not look at ourselves as the only ones in ministry. God also commands that we make disciples, so we go and make disciples (all of us).
He hit it on the head when he said what are you most concerned about "people's expectation" or "God's expectation"? If we got rid of one of those lists which one would your people be upset about? He encouraged leaders to preach to the sheep and if the goats complain and walk away that is okay. Jesus did that when people came to follow Him. He didn't make it easier, He always explained that it would cost them their lives (not a simple prayer).
Where this book falls short was not fleshing these ideas out furthers. I thought in his chapter, sacred, he would dig further into the Regulatory Principle of Worship. He built up that chapter so well then did not continue with it. Also, in this time where he talked about worshiping on the Lord's Day, he really down played the the role of preaching and teaching, to just reading the Bible. The Bible cannot be more clear on the issue of both reading along side of teaching. He also went to say that pastors should not be paid, without fully saying it, even though that goes against many OT and NT commands to pay those who teach their wage and not to muzzle the oz as he treads. Not that it is necessary, churches should strive to pay double honor to their elders.
I was also not a fan of comparing churches in countries that are persecuting churches to churches in America. At one point he said that they laugh at us because of the way we do worship and fellowship. Both environments have their struggles reaching people who think that Christianity is for dumb people in a first world country is a lot different than reaching people who know that they will be imprisoned if they join a church. It also largely ignored the good that American churches do for these countries. Just as in the NT, some churches were more well off and safer than other churches and they supported each other when the time came, not laughed and mocked one another for their struggles.
I love Chan and think that he very passionate about sharing the gospel. I also believe that he is a brother in Christ. He did quote people who I think are not safe people and should not be listened to, which might indicate that he is moving more towards the heretical charismatic groups, but in this book I did not see anything heretical, though there were two or three continuist comments. He talked about helping people with their gifts, but did not really unpack what that meant. The book also has a bunch of good one liners. Having 5 years under his belt, he has shown a lot of growth in the home church movement and I will be interested to see where it goes.