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They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations

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Everyone who takes the Christian faith seriously should read this book and be prepared to do some sober reflection. Whether a pastor, youth worker, elder, deacon, lay leader, or church member - those who take Dan Kimball's book to heart may very well need to make some significant changes in their approach to outreach and evangelism.

In They Like Jesus But Not The Church, Dan Kimball first points out the convicting and humbling truth that the longer one is a Christian, the less likely one is to have significant friendships with those who are not Christian. Instead, most Christians today find their lives consumed with church-related activities - and those whose primary jobs are ministry-related are often the worst offenders. How can anyone know what the needs of the unchurched are unless they are involved in trusting relationships with them?

The church in America has become nearly irrelevant to most 20- and 30-somethings. Yet those who follow Jesus rarely venture outside our cozy Christian comfort zones to learn why. Unless individual Christians are actively engaged in open and trusting relationships with non-Christians (without a conversion agenda), the life-changing gospel message won't effectively be spread merely by changing our worship service structure, format, or atmosphere. Furthermore, most Christians tend to compound the problem by generally taking one of two approaches to evangelism: either we see every non-Christian as a potential target, and if we spend any time with them at all the goal is to "seal the deal;" or we isolate our faith from our everyday lives and generally avoid faith- or church-related conversations with anyone other than our church friends.

One of the biggest strengths of this book are the voices of many people (most in their 20s and 30s) with whom Dan Kimball has spent hours in conversation. He has developed trusting relationships and most importantly has really listened to where they're coming from when they talk about Jesus, the church, and Christians. Dan's goal was not to convert them, but to hear them. And likely, in doing so, he began to remove some of the stereotypes about Christians and the church that they might have held.

It is surprising and refreshing to learn of the positive and often even accurate views many people outside the church have about Jesus. In general, they deeply respect him and his teachings. But they see the church as very un-Christlike, and the church must not ignore their perceptions and feelings. Whether or not their ideas about the church being homophobic, male-dominated, judgmental and negative, or having a political agenda are true of all churches or any single church, the reality is that these perceptions are a significant barrier to trust in the church and acceptance of Christianity.

Dan does not compromise his orthodox beliefs as he interacts and engages with the people and the issues, and neither does he advocate that any church or individual compromise. But he is willing to ask difficult questions - questions that any serious Christian should consider. At the end of each chapter are excellent discussion questions which challenge and provoke thought about specific issues, about the reader's own attitudes and perceptions, and about ways the reader might take action.

This book has deeply challenged me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about our great commission to make disciples out of all nations. They Like Jesus But Not The Church is a reminder to me that God is indeed working in the world, and that I am called to be in relationship with people at all points in their journey of faith, doing what I can to help point the way to Jesus, yet trusting that each person is ultimately in God's hands.

If you love Jesus and love the church, I strongly encourage you to read this book with a humble heart and an open mind. First let me say that the author, Dan Kimball does not pull any punches on sin or soft sell in this book. I believe this is the heart cry of God in our polarized generation to rebuild bridges to those that have lost respect for the church. I urge you to view this book as a mirror as you read it. Like a mirror it will show you yourself as you read it.

Those interviewed in this book are both intelligent and varied in the walks of life that they represent. They range from:
* A coffee house barista
* A lead singer in a rockabilly band
* An advertising director for newspaper
* A molecular biologist
Their honest open thoughts about how they and the world outside the biosphere of Christendom views us is both heart breaking and helpful. I am glad that there are those out there who still like Jesus even though they have difficulty identifying with and relating to the church.

After reading this book I was both humbled and convicted at my own shortcomings. I was also reminded by this book, that we sometimes avoid giving people intelligent answers to their tough questions. We need to admit that we aren't perfect and don't have all of the answers, but are willing to make an honest effort to find them and humbly apologize when we are wrong.

This is just this book's effect on me personally. There is so much more to this book than I am sharing here. It reminds me of a recent movie titled "The Island". It was reminiscent of the first Matrix movie. It was
about this underground commune of clones that didn't know that they were clones. They were told that the outside world was contaminated, so they couldn't go outdoors. Their life was marked by sameness and not questioning the status quo. Their one dream was to one day when the lottery that everyone was automatically entered in and go to the island, a paradise free from contamination. I am sure I don't have to explain the parallels to what some view the church as from the outside and from those within. There was one clone among a growing few that questioned everything in his world mercilessly bringing the accepted norm to task. He eventually was the one that found the real truth and freed the other clones from the underground controlled bubble that they lived in. I see the author of this book as that lone clone questioning his environment in a world of clones where most are too content or too afraid of bucking the norm to ask sincere questions.

I hope this long winded review has whet your appetite to read this book from cover to cover. We can counteract the negative images of Christians by allowing people to get to know real Christians in their real world. We can do this by building real relationships with them without any ulterior motives other than love and a desire for their well being in this life and beyond.

The author Dan Kimball is optimistic about the church, her innate goodness, and her ability to repair the breach between herself and the rest of the world. This book is like a friend who notices you walking around in public with your shirt on backwards or inside out and tells you, so that you can change it.

The title of my review probably got some of you to read what I'm going to say here, but hear me out. First of all, yes, I read the whole book, and I appreciate many of the things Kimball had to say. He made me think, and I believe the Evangelical Christian church can learn from the emerging church movement. I especially appreciate the zeal that the astute Kimball has to reach the lost. He has a great ministry in the coffee houses of his area as he builds relationships while sharing the Christian faith. As time passes, things change, and we Christians need to be willing to not remain status quo, to "be all things to all people" and culturally not drive people away from the gospel based on an unbiblical stubbornness. This is exactly what scholar D.A. Carson says in his book on the emerging church, titled "Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church." (I highly recommend it.)

"They Like Jesus" is helpful in showing Christians that we need to be aware of the culture around us and make sure we're not offending just for the sake of arrogance. We must understand that there are many people who will never set foot into a church building; unless we go out to them, how else can they ever understand and know the gospel? Kimball does a good job here and has given the pastor/reader some things to consider. I appreciate his fresh perspective.

Where he does become judgmental, however, is painting straw man figures of those who don't do evangelism the way he apparently deems proper. (Note: We must remember that, in good Postmodern thinking, "perception" is everything, as Kimball's entire book is built on the perception of the emerging generation whom he meets in the coffee houses. Thus, what I am about to relate is my perception, whether I am accurate or not to the real intent/meaning of the author. Fair enough.) The reader is thus left with a caricature that, while maybe true in some or--for the sake of argument--even many cases, is nothing more than a mere generalization. The idea conveyed is, unless you do it Kimball's way, it isn't the right way. And this is where I think this book falls short.

For instance, on page 99, he writes: "This unflattering perception of the church and Christians comes from seeing Christians protesting on the streets with large signs telling people they are going to hell." Later, on page 167, he writes, "There seem to be plenty of Christians who will hand out a tract or hold a street sign saying 'Jesus is the only way,' but not many who build friendships and trust with people about what that means." Then, on page 238, he writes that those who are approached on the street "will only get an impersonal tract that focuses on hell or see a street evangelist who many times ends up making things worse."

From these images, Kimball makes it appear that any type of signage used in witnessing is "protesting." Street evangelism is apparently discouraged, regardless of what method is chosen. Just because these methods may not be to Kimball's liking does not mean they are "protesting." (I think of "Hell no, we won't go" and other silly protest slogans when this word is used.) Yet, in the right place and time, I have seen many instances when street evangelism and signs work, whether with "Million-Dollar Bills" or messages on placards that are produced in creative love. In fact, Kimball--whether he intends to or not--gives the appearance that the only correct method to do evangelism is through the building of "relationships." Of course, building relationships ("friendship evangelism," we called it in the 1970s) is obviously going to bear the most fruit. Nothing can beat time invested into people's lives. But it's only one type of evangelism. Can't/shouldn't we take the Great Commission to the streets and approach strangers as well? Isn't there a way to build relationships in the context of a three-hour airline flight or stopping someone sitting in the park and bringing up spiritual issues? Of course, I am a firm believer that any sharing must be done in gentleness and respect, but what I took from Kimball is that these methods apparently don't work with today's generation. Is this the message he intended to convey? I'm not sure, but that's the meaning I took in my reading.

Another bothersome thing for me is found on page 102. Kimball tells the story of how he was offended at a new believer's Bible that he wanted to give away because it included commentary notes he considered judgmental. He tells the story of trying to tear out pages from this Bible that he felt was offensive until he realized he was going to have to tear out too many pages. What did he consider offensive? Well, the initial page he wanted to tear out had a note saying that Christians shouldn't have sex before marriage, in reference to 1 Cor. 6-7. But the new convert he wanted to give the Bible to was living with his girlfriend. So, in order not to offend him, Kimball finally decided to not tear out pages and instead get another Bible to give away. He didn't want the new believer to become offended at the note. I was puzzled by his consternation. Just what exactly does 1 Cor 6-7 intend to say to the audience? Was the note in the Bible incorrect?

He explained that a new convert might think the commentary notes should be considered scripture, But would someone really be so naive to think that? If so, wouldn't it have been easy enough to have quickly explained to the new convert that the Bible had notes in it but not to consider these "scripture"? I'm not sure I understood the full reason for his apprehension to these notes, and it made me wonder what things he might hide from those to whom he was speaking at the coffeehouse. Would he hide some truth of Christianity merely to convert them? Of course, I'm not saying the Christian needed to immediately open up to 1 Cor. 6 right after the moment of conversion and say, "Now, be a good Christian and don't live with your girlfriend any longer!" That would obviously be silly and not very wise.

But isn't the idea of sex before marriage going to become an issue somewhere along the line? And I really doubt that the new believer would have gone home that night and immediately opened up to 1 Cor. 6. What were the odds? So, I just think that the very idea of ripping out pages from a study Bible was troublesome to me. And, while I understood that he is against sin, his chapter on homosexuality made me wonder what he would say to someone who approached him in the coffeehouse and asked about this issue. Would he tell them this is wrong (something he says he does believe)? Or would he steer around the issue so as not to offend? I'm not sure hiding the truth is something commissioned in scripture either. We must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Hiding the truth might be considered wise but not innocent. Honestly, I'm not sure how he might handle himself in this situation.

Finally, Kimball seems to hold a negative stereotype of Calvinists. For instance, on page 240, he writes, "If the arrow of someone's gospel presentation doesn't hit the target, then the person is dismissed as nonelect." This wasn't the only place where he bashed on Calvinism, whether overtly or not, but I think he has made another unfair stereotype, this time with those who stress the sovereignty of God and whom he made to appear as generally arrogant people. Just as Kimball wants to protect the image of Christianity, I think he needs to be careful to carelessly dissing his brothers in Christ merely because he disagrees with him. We can disagree in love and save the potshots.

In conclusion, I really wish my Christian brother would have stuck with presenting his methodology without being so judgmental. Jesus himself had something to say when the disciples were up-in-arms about others who were casting out demons. If they're not against us, they're for us, he said. Before I leave this review, I want to reiterate that there are good things to take away from this book, and I think discerning pastors ought to consider reading it, whether or not they agree with the emerging church. Yes, I do have reservations, but I need to get down to the coffeehouse...it's time for a tea.

Who in the church wouldn't be attracted by such a title?

This is significant sharing of probing into the emerging generation's perception of Christ and His Bride. Kimball achieves his goal well of not only sharing the results of his probe into this perception, but more vital his implorement for the pastors to get out of their office and hear this perception themselves through developing relationships.

This perception is driven by media molding of Christ and His church into something as Kimball states is not what most of us in the church truly are, but what the media projects and what a small minority of Christians project. So, we the majority do well to listen to this, heed his admonition to begin developing our own EG relationships so that we might deliver another Christ and His Bride for them to consider.

As Kimball rejoices so do I in the attitude these EGers have, an intellectual curiosity towards Jesus. I tested this out with an EGer in my congregation, and she concurred with what Kimball reveals. How long have most of us Christian pastors longed for people like these who want to explore with us "IN DEPTH" the Holy Scriptures! For this alone, the book is valuable and so we thank God for Kimball's efforts.

He exhibits a fine Christian attitude in wanting to reach the lost, but not at the expense of truth. Kimball practices admirably the faith by not making missions vs. doctrine an "either/or" proposition by a "both/and!"

To be expected since the author and I are not of the same theological confession, we have theological differences. Primarily, my concern flows from his statements of the popular distinction between "major and minor" doctrines. This is the often touted: "Unity in all major doctrines of the Bible; diversity in those doctrines which are minor, and charity in everything." Although this seems very reasonable and worthy from a purely intellectual, rational, commonsense level, I find no Scriptural support for it. For example, most would place the Sacraments in the "minor" doctrine category. To those of us who believe the precious gospel is in the Sacrmanets, this is untenable. John 17 clearly presents our Lord's thinking on what unity He and the Father have on doctrine. Does anyone think the Father and Jesus divide their doctrine into such major and minor categories?

This points out an area that likely would need much exploration with EG dialogue as with anyone, what is the role of intelligence and reason when it runs square into Scripture? Are God's thoughts and ways of doing things to square with ours? Isaiah 55 is vital here.

The church is grateful to the author for his work and his gracious challenge to the rest of us to follow his lead. I'll be off to the coffehouses and etc. myself to begin talking. Read this if you haven't yet.

I am just one small voice but I am hoping that this review will be helpful to people who are seeking to find the true heart of the Gospel. It is unfortunate that many people will approach this book with many presuppositions about Dan Kimball and the whole emergent movement. I believe Dan is simply giving us a picture of Christ's philosophy of ministry from a Biblical perspective. This book was very helpful for me because often times I view ministry as a structured program instead of just loving people. There have been many times I have come across arrogantly and judgmental while sharing my faith. Coming from a conservative background I would say that in his book Dan communicates sound Biblical doctrine while at the same time addressing some very important problems with the Christian sub-culture. If you consider yourself conservative please take the time to read Dan's book without any presuppositions. From his writing I can see that Dan genuinely cares about people and is trying to give everyone an accurate picture of God from a Biblical perspective. Thank you Dan for taking the time to write this book.

I have been saved for over 10 years now and even work as the secretary at my church. I've been on this quest the last year or so of trying to seperate God and religion which are two totally different things. Working in church and seeing "christians" daily, I understood the quote in this book by Gandhi that says "I like your Christ, I do not like your christians, your christians are so unlike your Christ" I have found it to be my experience that church-goers can be some of the meanest nastiest people you want to be around. The sad part is, there is a world out there that sees it. He brings out the fact that outside the "bible belt" most people between the ages of 18 & 30 haven't been raised in church. The only view they have of christians and church is what they see on tv, which you can agree is not so nice. You have the bazillionaire televangelist, the god hates fags sign holders, the politicians and preachers who's platform is morality, yet they are caught with prostitutes and drugs, the very thing they wagged their finger at. No wonder they don't want to become one of us. I don't want to be like that either! It's interesting to hear some of the stories in the book. It's made me take a long hard look at myself and my influence. My life may be the only bible someone ever reads. I sent out emails to everyone in my address book asking them to give me their opinions on Jesus.......and church.......the replies have been staggering. It's amazing how we church-folk will right off and condemn non-church goers, when if we do what he suggests in this book and ask them what they think....we might be shocked to find out that they know alot more about God than we give them credit for! One of my favorite preachers has said often, "wanna know why people don't go to church? - Because they've been." The church as a whole needs a wake-up call, and this is one tool to do it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

This book opened my eyes to seeing how the emerging generation views the church. Being raised in the church seems to be a definite handicap when thinking of how to reach those outside its walls. Church people think differently than unchurched people. Add to that the fact that the emergent generation views Christians with suspicion and you have a group that is fast becoming irrelevant to the culture. Worse yet, that is the group holding the secret to the kingdom of heaven.

At times, Kimball can get you discouraged because of the huge disconnect between the church and the world. But at other times, Kimball gets you excited because you just learned something that will help you connect better than ever. Doing that may be hard work for some. It requires laying aside almost all of the old, outdated methodology. That may be the hardest part for those inside the current church leadership. But after reading this book, it becomes obvious that it must be done in order to reach those outside the church.

Kimball's book is a "must read" book for anyone desiring to connect with people raised outside the church. In the immediate future, that is going to be almost everyone.

When I pulled this book new out of the box, I flashed it to my pastor and his eyes lit up, I could tell that the title alone made this book something that he knew we all should be reading. And it is. I personally can not wait until the companion book and material comes out next year, so more churches can equip themselves to minister to an age group that has long since pushed itself away from mainstream religion. I am glad to see a lot of positive reviewers here, it seems the lengthier book reviewers on the web have got really hung up on the fact that Dan tells his readers to be welcoming and loving of the homosexual community. For some reason critics think the author is telling us all to "give in" to our biblical standards and that could not be further from the truth. Like so many of the points Kimball makes - he stresses repeatedly that we should be faithful to scripture, and not just to the printed words, but the intended meaning behind them. Sure homosexuality is a sin, but the church is a place for sinners and it is where we should all feel safe and welcome. If your church pushes sinners away....then it must be pretty small.

i can't begin to explain what kind of doors this book has opened in me over the last month. having listened to dan speak at a conference the week this book came out, i was immediately intrigued by what he was saying. i felt that he had the ka'hoonas to say what i've felt for some time: our christian sub-culture is murdering our image to the rest of the world. the person and example of jesus is relevant to all with air in their lungs. gay, straight, tattooed, or any combination therein - jesus is a significant man. the world understands that already. what they don't understand is a dogmatic structure that hardly represents the person they're trying to follow.

that dichotomy is what's being addressed in this book. i would say that dan's heedfulness in addressing sensitive issues may be misinterpreted as 'apologetic.' he treads controversial issues with bold yet mindful ease always making a (perhaps) skeptical reader aware of his writing's intent. to inform, encourage, and be a catalyst for change.

if you're wondering whether or not you should buy this book, pause and think for a moment about the demographic of your congregation. think about who's there. then, think about who isn't.

Anyone who is serious about sharing their faith with others in this generation and culture needs to read Dan Kimball's They Like Jesus But Not the Church. Not so that we can package a church that they will like, but so we will, like good missionaries, understand the culture and the spiritual climate in which we minister.

The book convicted me on the very second page when I realized that I had become so busy "doing ministry" that I had lost almost all contact with those outside the church. My prayer now is "get me back into the game."

Dan's tone is full of grace and understanding, but his words are straightforward and prophetic. Based on several years of interviews with folks outside the church, They Like Jesus But Not the Church highlights the reasons that emerging generations respect Jesus but are totally turned off by his bride. Many of the reasons are misperceptions; many are not. Some of the reasons that really jumped out to me included the following:

"The church is an organized religion with a political agenda."
"The church is judgmental and negative. It is known for what it is against more than for what it is for."
"The church is homophobic."

Dan is whole-heartedly committed to the truth of Scripture , and he shows us how we can uphold the authority of Scripture while stripping off some of the extraneous trappings we have picked up along the way. I love Dan's humility and transparency. He is fair and gracious to both sides of the conversation, and he offers hope to those in the church and those outside the church.

This is one of the best books I have read, and I believe all pastors need to read it. We need to understand the culture in which we minister. We need to understand the people we are trying to reach. We need to get outside the walls of our church office and get to know the people in our communities. And we need to think Biblically and critically about how we do church.