The Slumber of Christianity: Awakening a Passion for Heaven on Earth (Hardcover)

by Ted Dekker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In his debut nonfiction work following a plethora of successful novels (White; Three), Dekker exhorts Christians to wake up and find genuine happiness in cultivating a deep desire for heaven. Although he argues that Christians should enjoy the pleasures of earth as a "foretaste" of heaven, he cautions that these pleasures should not be mistaken for the real thing. Relying heavily on C.S. Lewis and the Apostle Paul, he makes a case for hope as the "engine of life." Satan, he says, has redirected our obsession away from God and heaven by filling our minds with earthly things. With the relentless zeal of an evangelist, Dekker illustrates many of his points with excerpts from his novels and from scripture, but his thought flow is sometimes problematic. He offers three practical ideas for setting one's mind on heaven-meditations, readings and corporate exercises-but fails to satisfactorily flesh them out. Although Dekker clearly has a sincere passion for his topic, Mark Buchanan's "Things Unseen" and Arthur Roberts's "Exploring Heaven" are better choices to excite desire for the afterlife.
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Product Description

As believers, our walk with God is motivated by hope-not the bland, vague notion most people have, but the expectation of an exotic, pleasurable inheritance that guides us and fires our passion...or, at least, should.

Ted Dekker has written an expose on the death of pleasure within the Church. Because many of us have set aside hope and the inspired imagination that drives it, Dekker says we have been lulled into a slumber of boredom, even despondency. Our faith wanes, the joy at having been liberated fades, and we feel powerless. The Slumber of Christianity explores what robs us of happiness and how we can rediscover it and live lives that rekindle hope. The pursuit of pleasure is a gift to all humans-a function of the Creator himself, who is bent upon our happiness.

It's time for Christians to reclaim our inheritance of pleasure. The Slumber of Christianity will inflame hearts toward full-fledged, mind-expanding encounters with hope, through the imagination.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078521223X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785212232
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,937 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Stars...All About Attitude, October 26, 2006

By	Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

A great title. An eye-popping cover. A renowned writer. I picked up "The Slumber of Christianity" secure in the knowledge that Dekker can communicate spiritual ideas, but wondering if these ideas would be meaty enough to warrant 200 pages. The answer is yes--and no.

Since the beginning of his meteoric fiction career, Dekker has shown an amazing capacity for couching biblical truths in page-turning stories. He tells parables in a modern form, driving home truths that speak to the heart while entertaining his readers. Dekker's writing voice is suited for non-fiction, unpretentious and direct. I particularly enjoyed the sections where he shared glimpses of his past, snippets that provide a foundation for understanding his purpose as a writer.

The question he poses right up front is relevant, emergent, post-modern--and all those other catch phrases. It speaks to the struggle most Christians face daily: Why am I not satisfied, though I have Christ living in me? In a sentence, the answer Dekker offers is that we have lost sight of our hope in a heavenly future. He makes thought-provoking points about the enjoyment of pleasure on earth as a spiritual foretaste of heaven. He underlines the ways we have wandered from the hope of glory. In a few places, he distracted me with simplistic logical jumps, expecting me to follow without question. I could never disagree with his arrival point, though. He wants to say something, and he wants to get us there quickly.

On a conceptual level, I loved the book. I think Dekker does a superb job of communicating clearly, without turning the book into a theological exercise. He wants this to be practical, applicable. Which is where he lost me just a tad. I would've liked to see more real-life examples of how to apply this hope to the rent that comes due the same day the car blows a head gasket. We are spiritual and physical beings. Dekker makes a good point that our emotions and physical side are part of God's good creation, not results of the Fall. Yet we must negotiate this world, with its turmoils all around. In a sense, he says, it's all about an attitude.

Ultimately, "The Slumber of Christianity" shakes us. It speaks to our heads and hearts, demanding that we break away from hopelessness and fix our eyes ahead, that we move through life with vision and hope. These are valid and vital concerns. Applying these to everyday life requires an active relationship with the Author of that Hope. There are no easy answers, no quick fixes here, but in a world full of spiritual sleeping pills this is a strident call to rise from our slumber with focused purpose.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an awakening . . ., June 24, 2005

By	Zoe (The Circle) - See all my reviews

Ted Dekker has been reading my journal. And now he's written a book about it.

Well, maybe not . . . but The Slumber of Christianity spoke to my soul in a way that really makes me wonder. Here is a book that cuts straight to the heart of the biggest issues I've ever wrestled with and the questions that for so long I was afraid to ask myself.

Are you passionate about Jesus Christ? Dekker asks. Are you obsessed with heaven? Are you longing to die and be united forever with the Lover of your soul? If not, perhaps there is something wrong. Perhaps we've closed our eyes and fallen asleep to what really matters, choosing to content ourself with trinkets when a priceless treasure is available to us. Perhaps Christianity itself has fallen into a slumber.

The Slumber of Christianity is a wake-up call to the Church. Using the biblical authors and his own life as reference points, Dekker builds a case for hope not on this life that is passing away, but on the life to come.

This is a book that will open your eyes, rouse you from slumber, and - if you let it - make you thirst for God in a way that maybe you never dreamed was possible.

It's time to wake up.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passionate and Personal!!!, July 5, 2005

By	Gregory Nyman (Winchendon, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Unlike the send-off review which stated that Mark Buchanan's book or Roberts book was better, I really take exception to that. Ted Dekker has written a marvelous book, and the introduction by Randy Alcorn is terrific. Dekker's insight is from the heart and not musings or vignettes from other people. He has fleshed out this book through his fiction and his life, and he is totally believable, and his message is undeniably relevant. He states we need to keep our focus on the love of Christ and His vision in our souls about Heaven and what awaits us. All you need to do is read "The Martyr's Song" trilogy to feel his passion, and you can feel it.

I'd give this book a dozen stars if I could, it is that powerful. Thank you, Ted Dekker, for your vision and inspiration. May you continue to provoke us to good works!!!