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The Grace Effect: How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption of Unbelief [Paperback]

Larry Alex Taunton
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (135 customer reviews)

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Book Description

November 15, 2011

Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.

What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it. 

Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired Ukranian orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace. 

Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace.  We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.

And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.”  Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day.

Endorsements:

"In The Grace Effect -- Larry Taunton's deeply moving and personal story of how his family adopted a Ukranian girl -- we behold the staggering contrast between a culture suffused with Christian faith and one that has utterly rejected it.  Atheists must assiduously avoid exposure to stories like this one.  If you've ever been unsure of how much good Christianity does in the world, read this book." —Eric Metaxas, New York Times Best-selling author of Bonhoeffer:  Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

"This highly readable book is a collection of powerful insights into the long-term consequences of spiritual indifference and, above all, a remarkable example of how to conquer it." — Dr. Olivera Petrovich, research psychologist, University of Oxford

"What would a world without Christianity look like? We don't have to guess because such a world does exist: it exists in the current and former Communist bloc. Through the inspiring story of a little girl born in Eastern Europe and now living in America, Larry Taunton draws a sharp contrast between the life-giving influence of Christianity and the worn out theories of atheism and radical secularism.  The effect―The Grace Effect―is nothing less than powerful and moving." ―Dinesh D'Souza, former White House policy analyst, fellow of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University, and current president of Kings College  


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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Larry Alex Taunton is Founder and Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the public defense of the Christian faith. Fixed Point has captured the attention of BBC, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News Network, The Christian Post, and many others. Mr. Taunton has personally engaged some of the most vociferous opponents of Christianity, including Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Peter Singer.  


Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 15, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1595554408
  • ISBN-13: 978-1595554406
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (135 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Larry Alex Taunton is founder and Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation, an initiative dedicated to defending and promoting Christianity in the public square. In that role, he has engaged some of the most vociferous critics of the Christian faith.

In addition to producing several Fixed Point films, Larry, along with his team, launched LookUp316.org in February 2011, a project that put the hopeful message of John 3:16 before a Super Bowl audience. He has been a frequent guest on a variety of television and radio shows, and has been quoted by the New York Times, USA Today, the Daily Mail, Atlantic, and Vanity Fair, among many other newspapers and magazines. When not writing, teaching, or producing, Larry travels widely, speaking on issues of faith and culture. He and his wife, Lauri, have four children and live in Birmingham, Alabama.

Customer Reviews

I just finished reading this book yesterday. Jennifer C. Mcilwain  |  49 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book and could not put it down. "The Grace Effect" was certainly NOT what I was expecting. I picked the book up because I knew a bit about the author and his work at Fixed Point. I expected an interesting, though maybe somewhat dry evaluation of the impact of God's common grace on a society. I thought I would sit down for a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon and read through a few sections and put it back on my bookshelf. What found instead was a fascinating blend of history, the theology of true christian grace (as opposed to Religion) and the reality of a little girls life (and her hope) in the face of an ungraceful society.

I read completely through the entire book - essentially in one sitting - even reading long sections of it to my wife and daughters. It is a book well worth your money and time.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Before I begin, I'm forced to confess that I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson publishing in exchange for my brilliant review. I don't have to give it a good review, just brilliant. Hopefully, no one from Thomas Nelson verifies my brilliance, or my free book supply will go suddenly dry.

The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton is the story of one families journey to adopt a little girl from Ukrania. While this may not sound terribly appealing at first, you must realize the underlying theme, that is to reveal the effects of the near eradication of Christianity on one society. Yes, it is also a former communist country, but Taunton makes the case that while communism (or socialism, he makes no distinction between the two as the liberal class to in our generation) is the primary catalyst for the downfall of a society, it is the absence of Christian faith that makes it nearly impossible for that society to recover, even after two decades of freedom from communist rule.

The story focuses on Sasha, the ten year old girl whom the family is trying to rescue from Orphanage #17. If the name of the orphanage inspires thoughts of POW camps, you're probably not far from the mark. In Ukrania, as in any other country without a moral base, the societies weakest members are those who suffer the most. Abandoned by her mother at birth, Sasha is carted around to three different orphanages, where the children receive only the bare minimum of necessities required for survival. Apparently "necessities" don't include things like a swingset, shower, toilet paper, or toilets for that matter.

As if the conditions at the orphanage weren't bad enough, it is the corrupt political system that will have you hurling the book across the room (I got the electronic version, so I was forced to maintain control). One would think that a nation with a massive orphan problem would make adoption as easy as buying a loaf of bread (maybe that's a bad example in Ukrania). However, just the opposite is true. The Ukranian government is so corrupt that they actually include bribes (or "gifts") into the total fee amount at every stage of the process. And once a "gift" is made, it is no guarantee that the process will be moved along.

For six weeks, the Taunton family is forced to go from one government office to another, where officials often delayed something as simple as signing a piece of paper in front of them simply because they could wield the power. Mind you, a ten year old girl faces a life of hopelessness, where 60% of the "graduating" girls from the orphanage end up being prostitutes. Those are the lucky ones. In this godless society, officials prey on the compassion of Americans wanting to adopt and give these children a happy, loving home. Sasha simply becomes another pawn in their system to line their own pockets. This is what happens in a society without Christianity.

Even Taunton's atheist friends whom he often debates (some very famous) often admit that Christianity has provide a moral base from which even they have inherited a system of values. The author goes on to warn that, once Christianity is absent, a society may still reap the lingering effects of faith, but even those fumes will evaporate with the passage of time.

For any Conservative looking for a new argument against the evils of socialism (because, apparently, the death of hundreds of millions in the 20th century isn't enough), this is a fantastic book. It is an even better case for ensuring that Americans always have the right to worship their faith, undeterred by the government. There are those who say Christians in America are protected under the 1st amendment. I would argue that the Constitution has been violated and twisted in so many ways that this offers little comfort. Today we see a very aggressive campaign by atheists and politicians alike to ridicule and minimize Christianity as much as possible. Are children are taught right through college that they are fools for believing in "fairy tales." Perhaps the government will not make the practice of Christianity illegal, but the eradication is certainly underway. Enter any college campus and listen to who Charles Spurgeon referred to as "educated idiots" practically shaming our children for following the beliefs of their parents.

I read this book because I've come to the conclusion recently that liberal ideology is not the biggest threat to our nation. It is the loss of our Christian faith. John Adams and others made it clear that we cannot hope to maintain a republic without the moral values instilled by our Christian heritage. And we have seen, beginning the the French Revolution right on through to the Soviet Union, that a socialist system of government cannot exist as long as their are people who believe in a higher authority than their government.

We have traveled far down the road toward a godless society, my friends. Pray we can change our course while we still have the freedom to do so.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Exodus 22:22-24 (CEB) Don't treat any widow or orphan badly. If you do treat them badly and they cry out to me, you can be sure that I'll hear their cry. I'll be furious, and I'll kill you with the sword. Then your wives will be widows, and your children will be orphans.

This verse is from the Hebrew law code. God warned his people not to treat the foreigner unfairly, each one had a responsibility to protect those that could not protect themselves. God reminded his people, "You were once slaves.... you once lived in darkness." Which raises the question, who are the strangers in our own world? Who are the immigrants? Who are the refugees? How can we as a nation continue to be sensitive to those who struggle?

Larry Alex Taunton is the founder and executive director of the Fixed Point Foundation which is an organization that seeks new and innovative ways to defend and proclaim the Gospel and to prepare Christians to do the same.

The Grace Effect is a powerful narrative that really tells two stories at the same time. The first is the heartwarming story of an American family that tries to adopt a 10 year old Ukrainian girl named Sasha. Throughout the book the author repeatedly brings you into both humerus and frustrating stories about the adoptive process as well as comparing side by side the differences between American and Soviet countries.

The book is also about the New brand of Atheism and how it is growing in America. And so the premise of the book becomes brilliant as Taunton shows you what a country without Christ looks like in the Ukranian story, all the while showing the "possible road ahead" for America.

Taunton's voice is both direct and humerus, an easy read no matter what your style. The book is filled with pictures as well as many inspirational quotes from literature and television. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Enjoy this book, both as a adoptive father and as a Christ follower. An amazing look at the Grace Effect.
Published 1 day ago by Matthew Habuda
5.0 out of 5 stars Grace to read.
I just liked this book. It was an interesting blend of Christian apologetics and the true tale of a families struggle to adopt a child from Ukraine. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Donald R Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Hope
This book documents the transforming power of Christianity in individual lives and even its profound positive effect upon nations and their citizens.
Published 1 month ago by Bruce McFarland
5.0 out of 5 stars Grace- The ability to be loved unconditionaly
The Grace Effect helps one to see that without it life has so little meaning.We all benefit from sharring in the Grace of God and follow his principals. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Emery St. Cyr
5.0 out of 5 stars God's grace is something we do not deserve but is amazing.
It is only by our obedience that God can use us to change a life like this little girls. Praise God
Published 3 months ago by Corey Bolton
5.0 out of 5 stars "Christian" society has benefits
There is no arguing with the fact that the Judeo-Christian ethic helped shape the United States Constitution and the government of the United States. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Claudia Burrows
5.0 out of 5 stars Experience the Power of Grace
In The Grace Effect, apologist Larry Taunton effective weaves together a Christian apologetic with the story of his family's adoption of their daughter, Sasha, from the Ukraine. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ben Birdsong
2.0 out of 5 stars the grace effect
This is the true story of the adoption of a Ukranian orphan little girl by an American (the author) and his famiy who are of christian beliefs. Read more
Published 4 months ago by myrtille
4.0 out of 5 stars The Blessings of a nation under God
A thoughtful insight to how a culture without God leads to indifference towards the needy and a desire for self-gain. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Robert T Adams
5.0 out of 5 stars Educating, Honest and Inspirational
Last year when I was in Birmingham a lady had asked me if I had ever heard of Larry Taunton. My answer was no so she proceeded to tell me that he has an adopted Ukrainian child and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Krutov
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