Customer Reviews

I'm OK - You're Not: The Message We're Sending Nonbelievers And Why We Should Stop

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

After reading negative reviews, I'm wondering if those reviewers even read the book at all. The author is not saying to not evangelize those who haven't heard the Gospel. His point is that most people in America have already heard it ad nauseum, so shoving it down their throats is unnecessary, ineffective and--most of all--unloving. In addition, he does not say that we shouldn't evangelize those who HAVE heard the Gospel. In fact he gives tips on how to do that at the end of the book. Finally, his suggestions and methods are not a cop-out as some have suggested. They are a call to truly love others as Christ intended.

Now, to my actual review: while his writing style can be hard to get used to initially, the points he makes are very salient and challenging. It has really helped me see how I have hurt people and pushed them away over the years under the guise of evangelizing them. In addition, I feel more free to love others than I ever have in my twenty-five years as a believer.

As you can see from the other reviews, people are very polarized over this book. Some absolutely love it, while others abhor it. It is very polarizing because it tells Christians to love neighbors without being so forceful about it. The author recommends to get to know non-Christians instead of simply telling every non-Christian you know that they need to be Christian.

If you think that evangelizing is the most important thing a Christian can do, then you will dislike this book. If you are uncomfortable evangelizing or think Christians need to be more loving to non-Christians, you will like it. The author does not make many points that are overly persuasive, so you will likely leave the book thinking the same things that you thought before reading it.

Since everyone else just wants to argue over Christian theology, I will stay away from that and focus on the book itself. I thought the author was hard to read because his writing was very choppy. It had no flow. Although he probably would have been very funny in person, I found many of his jokes not all that funny in book form. Personally I did not find the book all that good even though I agree with a lot of the author's general principles

Rumor has it that this book is being targeted for censureship by a few angry Evangelicals (or others?) who want to destroy John Shore's exercise of his rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

GIVE ME A BREAK!

John Shore isn't advocating anything that the Catholic church hasn't been teaching for years!

'Evangelize by BEING a Christian'

'Preach the gospel; if necessary, use words.'

John Shore could have condensed his message into half as many pages, but then we'd have missed out on a lot of the fun. This very readable book offered me, a "Normie", a real glimpse into what Christians regard as so swell about being Christian. The discussion questions a the ends of the chapters are more than though-provoking, and the Ouch sections from other "Normies" couldn't be better to illustrate his point. I doubt this live-and-let-live movement will sweep the planet anytime soon, but maybe a few people will understand each other better. (And isn't that the point?)

If I knew of a church with values like the ones described in this book, I would be there in a heartbeat.

This book is a masterpiece. Those who are writing negative reviews really don't get it (and probably never will). John Shore shows us in this book how to make more of an impact in the lives of our "Normie" friends. The way to do this, he says, is through love. Those that say that "confronting people with the truth" is the most loving thing to do are the ones who damage the name of Christ in our culture. "Normies" don't feel loved when Christians "confront them with truth". Read this book...seriously.

I want to give a standing ovation to John Shore for this book! It is a much needed book for today's Christian community.

Although raised a Catholic, I veered off early on a quest to figure out which religion, if any, made the most sense, based on personal experience and an examination of empirical facts. I settled on something closer to monotheistic Hinduism (and Quantum Physics) than any current form of Christianity that I've encountered. In fact, with the rise of the Christian Right and Corporate Christianity, I've grown to view Christianity in general as a dangerous fascist political movement whose poster children are money-grubbing telehucksters in bad toupees and thousand dollar three piece suits.

How refreshing then to find a book on Christianity which is intelligently written and loaded with gentle humor. A book which takes a slap at the arrogance of contemporary Christianity, yet manages at the same time to convey what is truly beautiful about it.

Over-zealous Christians will learn a lot from the quotes of non-Christians used as examples throughout this book, and all readers will be moved by Shore's subtly inspirational, off-handed descriptions of some of the beliefs and experiences which have been personally rewarding to him.

These passages are some of the best writing on religious themes I've encountered anywhere. This kind of Christian exposition, coupled with the rising tide of ecologically and socially aware Christianity, gives me hope that Christ's church is being reborn as he intended it.

Humorist and Christian writer John Shore presents I'm OK - You're Not: The Message We're Sending Nonbelievers and Why We Should Stop, a frank discussion of a crucial flaw in modern evangelical movements - that they have come to resemble sales calls made during dinnertime, and as such are just as unlikely to achieve results. Emphasizing the concept that letter others experience God's love is far more potent than simply telling them about it, I'm OK - You're Not emphasizes the importance of listening to the Great Commandment above all. The Great Commandment referred to is as spoken by Jesus Christ and recorded in the Bible: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." Penned with gentle charm, Christian humor, love, and understanding, I'm OK - You're Not deserves to be required reading for any Christian considering embarking upon an evangelical mission or career.

Does The Great Commandment trump the Great Commission? John Shore, author and humorist, thinks it does. He asserts that pretty much everyone on the planet, save the most remote, have heard 'The Good News.' They have either accepted it as truth or rejected it, and those of us who've accepted have no business making those who've rejected feel bad about their choice.

The Great Commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. The author asserts that we need to respect 'our neighbor,' like Jesus did, at whatever point they are, in whatever faith they have at this moment in time. He stresses that we need to do it without a subtext of trying to change them, having enough faith in the God who's promised He has things in control, stepping out of the way to allow HIM to do the work.

Along with user-friendly, thought-provoking conversation, and sparking questions helpful for group discussion, there are aptly named 'Ouch' segments at the end of each chapter that consist of uncomfortably candid comments about Christians from non-Christians. I'm OK--You're Not can be a valuable tool in assessing your 'love thy neighbor' quotient. You just have to remember that Christians need to measure behavior not based on what anyone says about us, but what Jesus tells us.

In an effort to lighten the topic, the author inserts comedic dialogue throughout the text.

And, while I appreciate the author's quick wit and deep sense of humor, I think it would be better in person, concert-style. In print this style of comic relief often interrupted my train of thought and made too light of the point he was trying so passionately to communicate.

Armchair Interviews says: Unique blend of humor and Jesus' teachings.

John Shore's book, "I'm Okay, You're Not.." is excellent. He really hits the idea on the head that it isn't "okay" to force others to believe what you believe. He does a fine job explaining why and giving scenarios. It is interesting and a good read.


Oh yea-and I'm "A.A. Miami"-if you read it, you'll know;)