44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shake! Rattle! Roll! Amazing book!, March 5, 2002
This review is from: How to Meet in Homes (Paperback)
A previous commentator remarked that Gene Edward's book, How To Meet In Homes, is "cynical and bitter." I recently purchased this book and can testify that this is absolutely not the case, though I can understand why some people may presume such initially; it is because this book is entirely offensive to the modern concept of what it means to "attend church."
I have to say that it is probably without dispute among most Protestant Christians that Martin Luther's 95 thesis, nailed to the Catholic Church's door, are not viewed as being merely the remarks of man who was bitter or cynical (and neither do most Christians regard Luther as being negative or wrongly critical), but most Christians would probably agree in saying that they were penned by a man who was graciously enlightened by God's truth, desperate for closer relationship with Christ, and this revelation motivated him to inspire others with this newfound liberty and not put up with the mistruths and deceptions any longer. Without meaning to elevate brother Gene on too high a pedestal, I would like to suggest that Gene's book be approached with a similar attitude; that Christians would honestly weigh his comments and see if they do not speak truth. I believe he has something powerful to say and I pray that the Church, the body of Christ, will have ears to hear.
This book, in my opinion, has enormous potential to stir and motivate Christians to get bravely real about their approach to the pursuit of the Lord Jesus and their embracing of one another in the body of Christ. This book calls for difficult introspection, honest assessment of our actions (both corporately and individually), and a call to a radical choice, whereby we will either remain content with tradition and dead, dry religion or pursue the presence of Jesus with radical abandon.
Myself being a current member of what may accurately be defined as an institutional/organized church (I'm almost ashamed to admit this given all the things God has been stirring in my heart up to this point of my life and as that parallels much of my studies in the Word of God and regarding Church history) I will say that, granted, Gene is very brash and blunt about the condition of the modern Church and how it sadly resembles nothing of the early Church founded by the Lord Jesus, but this book is not bitter at all. It is challenging, painful at times, convicting, piercing, and often offensive to the modern, traditional Christian way of thinking, but bitter it is not in the least!
I have read several other titles by Gene and listened to audio tapes by this brother in Christ. I have talked with people who know him personally and I know that bitter he is not. Any Christian who takes the time to read his other books such as "Crucified by Christians," "Prisoner in the Third Cell," and "A Tale of Three Kings," or gets to hear an audio tape of him talking about the Lord Jesus and His body while weeping, will understand this to be true. Anyone who has the chance to hear his testimony will understand that this is just a normal, ordinary guy with an extraordinary love for Jesus and for seeing believers find a fresh and vibrant passion for knowing Him intimately and allowing Christ alone to radically change our lives for His glory.
Because of brother Gene's radical and pointed observations about the modern organized Church, some Christians may take offence to some of his comments... but the book is written with love by a man who is broken and humble and has lived to know what he is talking about. Himself being a former Baptist minister and having suffered many trials and physical infirmities, brother Gene is a pure voice that loves the body of Christ (yes, even those brothers, sisters and ministers in the organized Church) and desires to see a deeper, more meaningful and organic expression of Christian life as demonstrated in the pages of God's precious Word.
This book will be difficult medicine for some to swallow, but I think it is good medicine nonetheless and I think every Christian, especially those of us who are a part of institutional type organized churches, need to hear the words presented in this book and confront them head on. Pastors need to read this book, if they can be brave enough to endure it and honestly contemplate. It will not be easy material to deal with because it is radical and it is so different from the way we commonly think of "church" today.
Whether this title liberates you, makes you think a little, or just makes your blood boil, I think you will agree it is worth every dime spent! Excellent! Highly recommended! But like the back cover of the book states: "Warning: Do not read this book if you enjoy Sunday morning church services!" If you like what you've always had and aren't interested to find out what you've been missing and, really, what the modern church structure and order of worship has robbed you from, don't bother reading this book.
This book was so impacting to me personally, I purchased three copies to share with others. I encourage you to read it. God bless!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Thought provoking, but undisciplined, July 12, 2005
This review is from: How to Meet in Homes (Paperback)
The author has a lot of interesting things to say, although this is not a well-written book. He far from ignorant, but lacks discipline. He asserts much, but doesn't argue it, or even so much as cite a verse, so the reader can check up on him. He repeats a lot, and pounds points into the ground. The whole book has a strident, put-this-in-your-pipe-and-smoke-it tone, which is unnecessary. But again I emphasize, this author has a lot of interesting things to say, and at least he says it without pulling any punches. Most of the author's points can be summarized as follows:
1. Traditional Sunday morning church services (of any stripe) are mind-numingly boring, useless, and without any New Testament justification. They are also positively harmful, rendering the many passive observers.
2. Congregations must be allowed to find their own manner of meeting, without interference by any leadership.
3. (House-) Churches should be planted by itinerant church planters / apostles, who stay for a short time - a few months to no more than a few years, with infrequent visits thereafter. This is the ONLY correct and workable way for an assembly to begin, according to our author. Why? "It is just God's way." (p. 129)
4. The standard evangelical church service derives from John Calvin, who was a murderous mini-dictator.
5. Everyone there should participate in Christian meetings, which should be spontaneous and of infinite variety.
As he says, despite the title, this is in no way a how-to manual, but rather a call for revolution. Better title: Institutional Church Services Suck, and There's Something Better for Christians to Do. Bizarrely, after all the ranting, a few sparse pages of practical adivce are given, and then at the very end of the book, the reader is instructed to order one of the author's audio tapes.
This is a decent book, I think, for people coming from a traditional church background, who are starting to think about the possibility of being in an autonomous house church. It is an easy read. Those looking for something more systematic or practical should look elsewhere.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
