Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down [Hardcover]

Mark Buchanan (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 6, 2012

'These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.' -- Acts 17:6 That was the startled cry, circa 50 AD, from a hastily assembled mob in Thessalonica. Paul and Silas had been arrested for preaching the gospel. They were viewed as revolutionaries, dangerous men who were upsetting the status quo and inciting riots. But they were just two ordinary men, walking in the power of God, sharing a simple message of his love and grace. It's been a while since we've seen the likes of this. If you ever find church boring or you believe something is missing from our churches today, you aren't alone. Mark Buchanan believes there is a visible gap between the life Jesus offered to us and the life we're living, between the church Jesus envisioned and the church we see today. When Jesus announced that the Kingdom was at hand, this can't be what he meant. Instead of counting everything loss to be found in Christ, we've made it our priority to be safe instead of dangerous, nice instead of holy. Author and pastor Mark Buchanan believes that we need to recover a simple idea: that God meant his church to be both good news and bad news, an aroma and a stench -- a disruptive force to whoever or whatever opposes the Kingdom of God and a healing, liberating power to those who seek it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Buchanan is a pastor, award-winning author, and father of three who lives with his wife, Cheryl, on the West Coast of Canada. Educated at the University of British Columbia and Regent College, his work has been published in numerous periodicals, including Christianity Today, Books and Culture, Leadership Journal, and Discipleship Magazine. He is the author of six books: Your God Is Too Safe, Things Unseen, The Holy Wild, The Rest of God, Hidden in Plain Sight, and Spiritual Rhythm. SPANISH BIO: Mark Buchanan es un pastor, escritor y editor que vive en la costa oeste de Canada con su esposa Cheryl y sus tres hijos. Estudio en la Universidad de Columbia Britanica y en la Universidad Regent, y ha publicado sus ideas en diversos periodicos y revistas, incluyendo la revista Christianity Today y Books and Culture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310331234
• ISBN-13: 978-0310331230
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 0.9 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I began my career as a writer at age 12 - the year a remarkably creative grade 5 teacher awakened in me the possibilities of language and story. I eventually took a degree in writing, but that was simply to refine and hone what I felt compelled to do anyways, whether well or poorly, paid or unpaid, appluaded or scorned.

I ended up, enroute to being a published author, a pastor. My seven books (the 7th is due out February 2012) have so far all come out of that world - though watch in early 2013 for a novel. (For the record, I'm not the Mark Buchanan who writes science books).

I enjoy hearing from readers, even when they take issue with something I've written. It lets me know that, at least, the line hasn't gone dead at that end.

Thanks for being one of those readers, even if only in this instance.

Mark Buchanan

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good advice March 30, 2012

By Terry LC

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

In this book we learn why having holes in the roof of the church building and graffiti on the walls is a good thing. The author makes valid points in arguing that the church of the living God has become complacent and needs to break out of the little shell many of its members are living in.

I found the book a bit wordy at times, but otherwise well-written. The author uses scripture and examples from his own experiences to bring out the points he is making. He does this well. His writing is not bloated with "religious" nonsense, but only filled with constructive instruction.

He does not compromise God's Word, but stands firm on its truth. For instance, when two married women (that is, married to each other) decide to attend the church he ministers to, he finds himself in a quandary as to what to do because he believes homosexuality is a sin, but he also believes there is no better place for a sinner to be than in the church learning God's Word. It is an interesting situation.

I liked the book. It gives worthwhile instruction. It is enjoyable to read and learn from. And most importantly, it is based on the Word of God.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read for Church Leaders and Laity Alike March 28, 2012

By Charissa

Format:Hardcover

I could not wait to read this book when I first heard about it. I go to a very "unsafe" church, you see, and I was going to be the excited "amen" yelling choir to whom Buchanan was going to preach in this book. The farther I got into the book, the more I realized that even my crunchy little inner city, multiethnic, socially driven church is too safe.

It's not that Buchanan sets out to say all churches are dull and lazy and he's certainly not saying we should all be out on the streets passing out Bible tracts (in fact he spends some time suggesting that tracts are not really a very great evangelism technique.) Rather, today's western church has lost its momentum. Where has the contagious spirit of celebration gone?

The back cover says "With surprising insights from Scripture. . ." Maybe it's just because I'm in seminary or because my parents expected me to actually read my Bible as a kid, but I didn't find any of the insights surprising. The insights that are shared in this book should not be surprising for Christians, but that could be the real point here. We've tucked away the parts of the Book that challenge us and deal with the stuff that makes us feel all warm and cuddly. The problem is that the last time I checked, we do not serve a warm and cuddly God. Part of growth is being willing to step out of your comfort zone and do something new.

Before you bristle up and back off because that sounds super awful, Buchanan is also not suggesting that we all start hanging out in biker bars in order to reach out to the "lost." He spends a good amount of time talking about "in-between" places. Those are the places where normal relationships are built and people are drawn to a life that looks different.

For any church that feels it's lost steam or doesn't want to lose steam, this is a great book. And this is not just a read for the pastor, elders or other leaders. This is a book for Sunday school or small groups. This is a challenge to all the congregation. Your Church is too Safe is not just a book about leading your church into a dynamic, contagious, Christ centered, but is about being a "dangerous" person in the context of your church. Church leaders can get great things from this book, but so can the laity as well.

One of my big beefs about much Christian writing today is that Jesus gets watered down or lost in the shuffle. Jesus is not a motivational speaker. Jesus is not a nice bonus in what is otherwise a rule book. Jesus is what it is all about. Buchanan does not lose sight of that in his writing. Always Christ is at the center of the church. This shines through on every page and I am deeply appreciative of that.

I have found a new author for my list of favorites. I'm pretty picky, too. This book is powerful, engaging, theologically sound and challenging. Should you pick up a copy? Yes. Can you borrow mine? No. It's on the "no lending" shelf because I don't want to take the chance of it not coming back.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars My Critique of This Book February 11, 2013

By Rhonda Kay

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My husband has written an intensive review on this book at [...] and I want to give my opinion on it here on Amazon. Mark Buchanan has produced a very edifying book on what the Christian church was intended to be, what it is today, and what needs to be done to to bring it back to its roots.

I recommend Your Church Is Too Safe to anyone who feels like something is missing in their church life and how they have been structured to follow Jesus. The popular format allows easy reading but provides in depth focus on the serious issues that it addresses.

I would highly recommend this book to any Christian who is serious in following Jesus.