When Christians Get It Wrong

When Christians Get It Wrong by Adam Hamilton
Abingdon Press, 2010
120 pages
Non-fiction; Christian
4/5 stars

Source: Received a free e-galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick read addressing some of the points that have turned many young people away from Christianity and the church.  I identified as some of those issues had turned me away when I was younger.  These are covered in five chapters looking at unchristian behaviors, Christian attitudes toward science and politics, relationships with other religions, the question of "why does God let bad things happen?", and homosexuality.  I thought some of his treatments were a bit shallow but this was a good broad look with some nice things to ponder.  I felt really encouraged to reflect on how I and other Christians act.  I see this as a nice jumping-off point to pursue other books devoted entirely to one of those topics.

Hamilton concludes with a lovely chapter about how Christians get it right.  Mainly we do that when we follow the example of Jesus and put people before rules. He is a shining example of compassion and love and that is how Christians and the church need to be when interacting with outsiders and within our own community.

Why Jesus?

Why Jesus? by William H. Willimon
Abingdon Press, 2010
165 pages
Non-fiction; Christian
4/5 stars

Source: Received a free review copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Willimon asks two questions: "Why, Jesus?" and "Why Jesus?" in this new book, written in a very down-to-earth style.  Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of Jesus' character: Vagabond; Peacemaker; Story Teller; Party Person; Preacher; Magician; Home Wrecker; Savior; Sovereign; Lover; Delegator; and Body.  Probably not the first words you necessarily think of when you think of Jesus.  But he illustrates each well with scripture and he also includes asides to Jesus that really challenged my complacent lifestyle.

I think I liked those challenges the most because they defy expectation.  We might think of God in some way but that's not necessarily how He is.  And He didn't come to fulfill those expectations but to challenge and uproot what we think we know so that He can bring us to Him.  Why did He do certain things and not other things that we might have assumed.  He is so much greater than we can fathom.

My main problem was the style.  All of the scripture he quotes has been rendered into colloquial speech that took away some of the reverence I think is due God.  It seemed like Willimon was trying much too hard and I became annoyed.

Overall: A fun read overall.

Read for Ebook challenge.