Evangellyfish [Kindle Edition]

Douglas Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Evangellyfish is a ruthless, grimly amused, and above all honest look at one of the darkest corners in the western world. Douglas Wilson, a pastor of more than thirty years, paints a vivid and painful picture of evangelical boomchurch leadership. . . in bed.
Chad Lester's kingdom is found in the Midwest. His voice crawls over the airwaves, his books are read by millions (before he reads them), and thousands ride the escalators into the sanctuary every Sunday. And Saturday. And Wednesday, too. He is the head pastor of Camel Creek -- a CEO of Soul. And souls come cheap, so he has no overhead.

When Lester is (falsely) accused of molesting a young male counselee, his universe begins to crumble. He is a sexual predator, yes. But strictly straight (and deeply offended that anyone would suggest otherwise). Detectives, reporters, assistant pastors, and old lovers and pay-offs all come out to play.

John Mitchell is also a pastor, but he has no kingdom to speak of -- only smalltime choir feuds. He is thrilled at the great man's fall, but his joy quickly fades when the imploding Lester calls him -- and a lover or two -- for help. How low can grace go? Whores, thieves, and junkies, sure. But pastors?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Before I dipped into this novel, I was told it was a satire. What satire? Reading this made me squirm." --Mark Galli, Senior Managing Editor, Christianity Today

"Scathing....Insightful....Hilarious...." --Tim Challies, Author and Book Reviewer, Challies.com

"Wilson's almost medical precision with the human soul makes Evangellyfish a fantastic read...." --The American Conservative (May 2012)

About the Author

Douglas Wilson is pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, ID, editor of Credenda/Agenda magazine, former newspaper columnist, and author of over thirty books on a variety of subjects. He has written for The Huffington Post, World, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, and more. He blogs regularly at dougwils.com.

Product Details

• File Size: 234 KB
• Print Length: 237 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1591280982
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Canon Press; 1st Edition edition (January 31, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007L889I4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,275 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyable, thoroughly convicting March 25, 2012

By Matthew Hurley

Format:Hardcover

Evangellyfish is a satirical novel about, as the title suggests, evangelical hypocrisy, particularly regarding sex. Being a novel, it reminded me more of Persuasions than Wilson's purely theological works. It read like a combination of P.G. Wodehouse, Flannery O'Connor, and Patrick McManus. Wodehouse on the plot and development front, O'Connor because the characters are orchestrated train wrecks in need of grace, and McManus in the comedy and exuberance department.

Wilson's own pastoral experience, and subsequent knowledge of human nature, enable him to craft characters who accurately and damningly model the psychology of sin. Certain parts were definitely close to home and uncomfortable; I know some of these people, and on occasion *am* some of these people. But while the characters are sinful and self-destructing, the story doesn't end with their need for grace, but continues to the hope of restoration. After the train wreck, there is reconstruction.

Evangellyfish's style is fresh and riotous; not just a few strained, obvious witticisms, but sustained hilarity. Wilson employs a great vocabulary, with Lord of the Rings references, phrases like "a sad, pastoral smile," and words like "foofyness."

Recommended for anyone (especially evangelicals) who would benefit from an example of how Christians can expose their own weaknesses with devastating wit, and offer a practical doctrine of grace as the solution.

Sample quote: "God was supposed to judge you for things you did, not for things you didn't. And he was supposed to do it at the end of the world, not in the middle of your damn...in the middle of your life." (p. 35)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, Irritable, Revealing and Pointed February 27, 2012

By C.L. Mershon

Format:Hardcover

"Back in Arkansas, we were all good Christians until we got our drivers' licenses. After that we were good pagans. It is the mixing of categories that I find so troublesome" Pg. 102

Evangellyfish is a hilarious (in the true Doug Wilson tongue-in-cheek fashion) look at the modern evangelical church. The book tells the story of the pastor of a megachurch who is caught up in a sex scandal which may or may not actually be true. Parallel to this and providing his commentary is a pastor of a small country church who fits the bill nicely for a modern day Pharisee. The following exchange between the megachurch pastor (Chad) and the Pharisee (John) highlights their interplay perfectly.

Chad was grinning at him with his puffy cheeks and bloodshot eyes. "I knew you'd come," he said, "Guys like you have to come. The better-than-you boys always come. Like the ambulance." Pg. 200

This story by itself, these types of exchanges and Wilson's sense humor make the book a worthy read, however it is the issues that the author is exploring on a deeper level that help this novel to stand out from the rest. This book is written in such a way that whether you are the Pharisee or the Immoral Deist you will squirm as it forces both types too look deeper into the consequences of and reasoning behind their actions.

"After they were seated, Michelle folded her hands together and said, "Girls, we need to talk through these issues concerning your father because we really need each other. I know we have the inner resources to get through this." Her facial expressions and cadences were just like Oprah..." Pg. 105

My recommendation, pick it up today it will no doubt have you chuckling and squirming from the start.

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An Inside Joke for the Truly Reformed March 4, 2013

By Terri J. Rice TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I got bogged down in the cleverness of the writing. I am thinking the author intended to come across like P. G. Wodehouse wherein the sentences trail along finally ending in sly wittiness, but Evangellyfish is instead burdensome- "When asked what he did for a living, he would sometimes quote Fletch- 'I'm a shepherd.' He generally had to explain the reference, and it was never as funny as he hoped. When asked what his degrees were in, he would say that his undergrad was in philosophy, and he had an Mdiv from Westminster, but that everything he did was 'deeply rooted in the blues.' Some people didn't get that either."

Yes, some people didn't.

If you are a mocker of mega churches you will love to read along, guffawing at all the jabs to those dastardly folks. If you relish reading of modern day Pharisees getting their comeuppance, then this will surely delight. If you love poking your finger in the eye of churchy people and their paraphernalia- (Testamints(tm)) you will love the poking that goes on here. If you like the sort of joking that lets everyone know you have it way more together than all those other Christian sinners, this is the book for you.

It's an inside joke, a satire, to be read by all those smart enough to 'not be that guy.' Ever.