Customer Reviews

Think Like Jesus: Make the Right Decision Every Time

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

 

 

I must say that the statistics and research presented - though sparse - was interesting; however, I left the book with the feeling that I hadn't really learned to "Make the Right Decision Every Time" or "Think Like Jesus". Instead, I felt that I had learned how not to think like Jesus. In other words, the book seemed to teach me more about what would be thinking unlike Jesus than the opposite.

Unlike some negative reviews here, I don't have a problem with calling sin sin and saying that there is evil in the wold (like Jesus did and does - by the way). However, I also believe that there is some truth in that Jesus would certainly have those suffering around the world on his mind and this book seemed to place littl fous on that.

In the end, I don't think it's one of Barna's best, but I'd still recommend reading it once your finished reading the other books that you feel are of more immediate importance.

Here Barna makes the case that Christians, particularly evangelicals, do not live like we should because we do not THINK like we should -- i.e., like Christ. He says that we spend an hour a week in church learning a few verses and then spend the rest of the week letting the world tell us what and how to think.

I believe he is pretty much spot on. Why, then, only three stars? Barna makes a great case for having a Christian worldview, and his concluding material on what it looks like to have one and how to build one in a congregation is great, but the major part of the book is his analysis of the seven great worldview questions, and his treatment of them was not that good. Not bad, but not that good.

The first three and last three chapters are worth the purchase price of the book, but for a better look at worldviews and the Christian worldview, I recommend (as does the author) the work of James Sire and Harry Blamires.

George Barna has put together a book that will get every believer thinking, if they would take the time to read it. Of course, when you read it, you should have your Bible right there beside you.

I had never before thought in terms of a world view and a biblical world view. Makes perfect sense to me! Developing a perspective on what I see and hear while living in the world makes more sense to me when viewed through the lens of the Bible. I do not see at all, as has been suggested, that Mr. Barna is telling readers how to think. He is suggesting tools we can use in our daily walk as we make decisions on every level. The tools he suggests are supported in the Bible, but again, they are only tools and we choose when and how to use them. It takes practice and perseverance.

Christians were originally known as "Followers of the Way." We cannot follow if we cannot see the road signs and these tools provide the sight needed. Again, this is a good read but needs to be read and understood in relationship to the Bible.

I was surprised when reading this title, for it is so much different than Barna's other works. Rather than citing statistics and displaying pie charts of religious demographics, the author describes the importance of a Biblical worldview and the basics of it. For me his words here are refreshing, offering an insight into Barna's own heart and mind.

Barna here is straightforward, easy-to-follow, and extremely relevant. I recommend this book highly to anyone wanting to understand the basics of what it means to have a Biblical worldview. In short, it means to "Think Like Jesus!"

I was so disappointed by this book. Barna spends lots of time pointing out errors in modern Christianity, but very little on what to do about it. I didn't find anything in the book that would help me "think like Jesus" more or make "the right decision everytime." The book seems to be geared more for new Christians rather than those of us who've been believers for awhile. And newer Christians wouldn't get any closer to thinking like Jesus by reading this book, though they might gain some useful knowledge.

I wish I had read some of the reviews before buying it. I'm glad I bought it used.

Barna does a great job with surveying and analyzing what is going on with modern Christianity. I think he should stick to what he knows best.

"A biblical worldview is thinking like Jesus. It is a way of making our faith practical to every situation we face each day. A biblical worldview is a way of dealing with the world such that we act like Jesus twenty-four hours a day because we think like Jesus." ~ pg. 4

If you are expecting this book to be about how Jesus responded to various situation in his life then you may be sorely disappointed. If you are looking for a book about developing a biblical worldview then you may find this book to be especially helpful. The start of the book ploughs through facts and figures, showing the percentages of people who believe in various topics of concern. For example, 100 % of born-again Christians with a biblical world view believe that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing perfect Creator of the universe.

George Barna then explains Deism (God abandoning the world), Naturalism (God does not exist), Nihilism (life is complete emptiness), Existentialism (life is a meaningless reality), Postmodernism (hyper-tolerance is the highest virtue), Pantheism (everyone is god) and Philosophical Syncretism (New Age beliefs). He then shows how these views affect serious moral choices.

To develop your own biblical worldview, George Barna leads the reader through seven main questions:

Does God really exist?
What is the character and nature of God?
How and why was the world created?
What is the nature and purpose of humanity?
What happens after we die?
What spiritual authorities exist?
What is truth?

Overall, this book seems to be more about God the Father than God the Son. If you are expecting stories about Jesus or even the words of Christ then you may be disappointed. While I think the title of this book is a little deceiving I did enjoy reading the message presented and felt it strengthened my belief in God.

If you are looking for a book about thinking like Jesus then I can recommend: 365 WWJD: Daily Answers to What Would Jesus Do?

~The Rebecca Review

I liked this book, and would recommend the first 3 chapters to anyone. It's also an interesting study to use in preaching. The premise is basically "unlike the rest of us, mature Christians actually walk the walk." He then defines maturity along doctrinal lines ("think like Jesus"), as described in other reviews. However, I wasn't completely convinced that he was sampling mostly mature Christians, as I think maturity isn't so easily quantified. But it was certainly an interesting book; it got me thinking and I'd like to see more research done in this direction. I'd recommend it.

Barna does a great job of showing the reader why the Christian church in America doesn't have the influence that it should. Using interesting statistics obtained by surveys/polls, Barna shows us that many are calling themselves Christians but few are living it. In his opinion this is largely the main reason the church isn't making the impacts it once did so many years ago. Great read, I highly recommend it.

This book is excellent for ANY worldview class, philosophy class, or even a Sunday School class! Anyone who wants to broaden their views, reaffirm their faith and beliefs, and - as the title suggests - learn to "Think Like Jesus"! This book will take you from a self-centered point of view to a "God-centered" outlook on life. Even your actions and attitudes toward other people will change, as you begin to look for "the good" in all of mankind!

While this book won't make you turn the pages so fast you'll have to read it in two days you will find the statistics interesting and very useful in dialogue with Christian brothers and sisters.

The Christian Worldview Statistics are eye opening and are cause for great concern within the Christian community. Barna merely exposes the myth that America is a Christian nation, when we are really a pagan nation, worshipping ourselves.

Read this and be enlightened the the truth of modern day Laodicea, that is the United States.