A book for the skeptic and the disillusioned.

[Shawn Candelaria]

This book seeks to address a specific audience, those who once identified as Christian but later distanced themselves from Christianity. Do you know of anyone who has left the church, or walked away from God? What might lead a person to make such a choice? As the author puts it, "Why are so many today not only living with silent doubt but actually leaving the "evangelical fold" for something else? Is there something wrong with the message, with the communicator, with the hearer--or with all three?"

[jjperez4]

Intriguing.. I have had many conversations of this very topic.. Looking forward to this book


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[Shawn Candelaria]

I think, at times, there is something wrong with all three. The message is sometimes softened or skewed so that people are not getting an true or full presentation of the gospel and God's Word. Some pastors and preachers may present a false dichotomy between faith and reason/science/knowledge and perpetuate a false notions about the nature of the Christian faith.

Also, as I posited in the group, I think we are all at times guilty of thinking God will come and bail us out in times of crisis and everything will magically get resolved. But the relationship we have with God before the crisis--strong or weak, good or bad--is the same one we have in the midst of the crisis. We may be surprised at how distant he seems just when we need Him most, but we shouldn't be. He is as close as ever. The question is, "How close were we to Him?" He rewards those who trust Him and seek Him diligently. We need to be doing just that, now, in the good times. Then, when trying times come, we will not be worried so much about calling out to Him and hoping He hears us, but we will rest knowing that He is near and we can lean on Him. Sadly, many of us go through life largely indifferent to Jesus yet expect Him to rescue us in crises like we've been best buds all along, even if we have no intention of drawing close to Him afterward. I am not saying that God will not save us, as a father reaching out to His prodigal son. My point is that good, strong, healthy relationships take effort. Whatever the state our character and relationship with God may have been before a crisis will be the state of it in the middle and after the crisis too. If we were rebellious, doing our own thing, caught in sin, indifferent, immature, or if we were surrendered, godly, self-controlled, passionate and mature. If we were aloof, distant, caught up in the things of this world, or if were were loving, close and concerned about the kingdom. Relationships take work. And whatever work (or lack of it) we have put into our relationship with God will show in times of hardship and doubt. Paul makes a similar point in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

What God may very well do in a crisis is renew us, heal us, and restore our hearts. But that is not in lieu of the work we need to put into loving God or growing up in Christ. But what it does is fuel our desire and ability to make that effort and build our character every day.

[jjperez4]

Very true.. The relationship between ourselves and God needs to be solid.. For the amount of time and energy we take to decide what to eat for dinner applies to our relationship with Christ. We get what we put in so to speak. For the unknowing (people who have accepted Christ) it is the ones who knows the love of Jesus "duty" so to speak to all was by example.. I have close friends who pray at dinner with us and the know of God they have read bible verses.. But have not accepted Christ and often ask me,"why I don't go to church?" I feel a little guilty telling them the truth I have yet to find a new "home".. I make sure to stress it's me not the church nor God.. Prayer and devotions are a daily not just when I need something but most people will be surprised when I ask them if they want prayer and that I pray for them.. It's time for me to step up my relationships


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