Customer Reviews

If God Were Real: A Journey into a Faith That Matters

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WOW! What a Journey - and it's just beginning. The Challenge -- to really live like I believe God IS REAL...I can't begin to condense this must-read into a few sentences, and feel hard-pressed to choose just one of the many underlined statements/passages, so I won't! I'll choose three which is still a struggle!!! But here are a few that stepped on my toes:

Most Christians are either so sheltered within the religious shell of their churches that they don't really know any non-Christians, or they are actively working to oppose them. Or both.

Maybe the key to being a part of a movement of God is deciding that I really want to be a part of it!

The greatest love ever demonstrated was lived out not in feelings of sweet, heart-fluttering romance but in screaming, tortured agony.

The chapter on families -- If God Were Real...Our Family Life Would Shock the World -- well, here's another quote ---- "Children who live our family life on a mission with the real God will not easily trade that in for anything this world has to offer."

All of this from just the first half of the book --- WELL, WELL worth the read!!

Along with two other books I have read recently, this is one I wish I could just have a case full and hand them out!

Dr. Avant provides a compelling view of the current status of the American church and calls us all to action. With what Christianity has become today, we're better off severing ourselves from it and simply call ourselves "Christ followers." Because, sadly, if we were to actually do what God calls us to do, if we were to act like God were actually real, many churches in this country would want nothing to do with us. Reader beware, reading this book may grow in you a desire to live dangerously and to escape the safe bubble we've all put ourselves in. A great buy and a great read.

Over three weeks after reading Dr. Avant's latest book I find myself still dealing with the impact made in my life. The challenge he presents to those who do not believe is really quite simple. Consider. Just consider. If his 'what if' question is found to be lacking, the only loss is a bit of time spent reading a book. But then maybe this book will open some eyes to the possibility that God does exist and that He is very real. For those of us who profess to already believe, the challenge to truly live that belief in day to day life is very straightforward. The true life examples given of those who claim to be Christians - and live like it - is balanced equally by examples of how far from the mark many of us have fallen. The book is summed up, in my opinion, exceptionally well, when Dr. Avant offers a model prayer for those of us who consider ourselves true believers. "God, change everything about me that you need to change. ...Do in me - and in your people - whatever it takes to bring you honor and glory....Even if it means I never like another song I sing or sermon I hear...if instead, we can reach people who aren't yet here...." If believers truly grasped this concept there would no longer be a need to apologize to those around us for being such poor Christ followers.

The title of this book is misleading. My initial question was: does this book argue for or against the reality of God? I was quite surprised to find that the book has nothing to do with the existence of God. Instead, it discusses how Christians should act if they truly believe that God is real.

The same ambiguous phraseology crops up in the chapter titles. As I came to the beginning of each chapter, I read its title and before proceeding to read the chapter, I tried to guess what the chapter was about. I was right only once. In fact, most of the titles left me clueless.

With that said, I found this book to be very well written, engaging, and challenging. Avant's excitement and passion come through clearly in his writing. Avant is honest and direct. He says what he thinks. Christians always need to be challenged. We need to re-evaluate ourselves constantly. Avant succeeded in helping me to re-examine and re-focus my life and my convictions. That says a lot about a book in this genre. Not many succeed.

So, if you are willing to hear open and honest constructive criticism, read this book. If you are too set in your ways to ever consider the possibility that you might need to improve, don't bother because it will probably only make you mad.

Either way, if you do read this book, be sure to ignore the titles and jump right into Avant's excellent writing.

I am lucky enough to have Bro. Avant as preacher at First West. I now consider him a friend and brother in Christ. I quit going to church when I was about 16 years old. I am about to turn 39. My wife asked me numerous times if I would like to go with her and our kids to a service. Finally I did. The last words out of John's mouth that day changed my life forever. He said, " Let's go be Church!" Wished someone would have told me that when I was younger. Even though there were a couple thousand people in there as he said that, I felt like he was saying it directly to me. Well, I got this book one day after work and began reading. He says what the majority of people know to be true but refuse to say. It hurts when the very finger you have pointed at others turns around and points back at you. We all know we are guilty of this. I know I am.

While sitting in the Detroit Airport between flights, I was reading If God Were Real. I started a new chapter and he mentioned someone whom I knew. As I read further he mentioned my cousin Kathy who had died of cancer after a long hard battle. Unless you have gone through struggles like she did, you could never know her strength. She wrote her own eulogy that was read at her funeral. John quoted her eulogy in that chapter. She was the perfect example of someone who lived like God was real. She had so many troubles and so much pain, but was HAPPY because she knew GOD REALLY loved her more than anything in this world.

John has helped me personally to open my eyes and ears to what God has been saying all along. This book to me is a battle cry to Walk the Walk not just Talk the Talk.

Let's go be Church!

Wow, what an amazing and challenging book! Everyone should read this book if you are really challenged to discover the realities of living for Christ. Even if you are just wondering if God is real, read this book.

John Avant dares to ask a question that most Christians are afraid to ask: What if you actually believed that God was real?

Most Christians would throw their hands up in disgust at this question and would adamantly declare that they do believe He's real, that's why they're Christians.

The problem is, they (or we), might say that we believe God is real but most of the time, our lives tell a different story.

Very different.

This book is written both for those who are, or claim to be, Christians and those who are not. It is for those who believe in God and those who absolutely don't.

One of my favorite lines from the whole book is: Please don't miss the real God just because some people who use his name are idiots.

That may be somewhat controversial but, seriously, I hang my head in shame at some of the actions of some people who claim to be followers of Christ.

This book will challenge you:

1. To look again at whether or not God is really real. Not whether Christianity is right or wrong but whether or not God is really there.
2. If you believe that God IS real, to look at yourself, your life, your actions, your words, your prayers, your attitudes and your beliefs and see if they truly reflect what you believe about him.

I absolutely recommend this book to everyone whether they believe in God or not. The writer fairly effectively strips away man-made religion and human practices and presents an effective argument for a radical change in both the way that Christians behave and what non-Christians believe.

If God Were Real exposes what is wrong with the "institution" of Christianity today. It challenges the reader to live like God is real, and by doing so others will be drawn to Christ. Dr. Avant has always been one of my favorite authors and speakers, and this book did not disappoint. It made me do some serious reflection about how I live my own life. As a side note, the title is a good conversation starter if you are reading the book in a public place.

If God Were Real by John Avant, PhD
If God were real, what difference would it make? The author's premise is that it should make a difference in Christians from the cultural norm. Christians would live, breathe and act differently if they truly believed that God is real.

The inquiring title grabs the attention of both believers and skeptics, but each for different reasons. The titles of the chapters are along a similar theme of "If God were Real...", then this would happen. Some are predictable such as missionaries would lose their jobs or illusions of ordinary life would be shattered. Each chapter is an encouragement that Christians should enjoy an extraordinary life with purpose and gratitude. The most practical chapter addresses the problem of evil and that this Fallen world is exactly what we would expect if the Bible is true. The last chapter in the book is evangelistic which is surprising as it is unlikely that nonbelievers would continue reading after the first few pages

The questions posed throughout the book are thought provoking: Does it matter if God is real? Does it make any difference in our life? Is your life worth telling stories about? Why is the gospel not transforming lives? Christians live the illusion that their life is boring rather than a life that exceeds expectations in boldness and joy and service to others. Christians must see that a faith is more than a religion or an institution. The author concludes that Christians do not take God seriously because they have not been transformed by knowing the gospel. The author quotes a powerful statement by Tozer, "A Christian is a holy rebel let loose in the world, with access to the throne of God, so that Satan never knows from which direction the danger will come."

The book is an expanded version of a sermon series and includes testimonials and personal vignettes. As a result, it is entertaining and can be read at a single setting.
The real strength of the book are the questions that the author poses for introspection and assessment on a personal level. Similar in purpose is the classic book by William Wilberforce, Real Christianity, although updated, may be tedious for the modern reader. Dave Kinneman in unChristian cited similar failures of biblical Chrisitianity but at the level of the church. Dr Avant in If God Were Real addresses individuals to encourage them to live their lives to make a difference. This is not a how-to book but one to ponder and revisit periodically.
Originally posted at christianreviewofbooks.com

Well written challenge to Christians to set their sights on living what they profess to believe. Also a challenge to Atheists to consider the reasons for their unbelief. And then a big place of agreement that both should have a difficult time believing in the God often presented by modern Christianity. It is time to return to a sincere relationship with God and live out our lives with real purpose for both now and the long future.