Scandal of the Evangelical ConscienceThe: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Author : Ronald J. Sider
Edition : Paperback
Price : 12.99
Dimensions : 5.5 x 8.5
Number of Pages : 144
Publication Date : Feb. 05
Status: Available
Description: Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?
Evangelical Christians say they believe in biblical moral standards and the power of God to transform lives-yet recent surveys show that most are not living any differently than the rest of the world. From money to sex to racism to personal self-fulfillment, a scandalous percentage of Christians are violating biblical standards with barely a twinge of conviction.
Ron Sider takes a painfully honest look at this disconnect to reveal the depth of the problem and contrast it with biblical teaching on the transforming power of genuine faith. When we apply these biblical teachings to our lives, we will be more suited to close the gap between who we are and who God calls us to be.
Author Information: Ronald J. Sider is president of Evangelicals for Social Action and professor of theology, holistic ministry, and public policy at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The author of more than twenty books, he resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Endorsements: “Every now and then, somebody needs to step on the toes of the body of Christ. Reading this book may make you wince, but the pain of self-examination is worth it.”–David Neff, editor and vice president, Christianity Today
“The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience summons us to take the gospel seriously. For the good of society-and perhaps even for the sake of our souls-we had better take notice.”–Randall Balmer, author, Growing Pains: Learning to Love My Father’s Faith
“When the behavior of members of a religious movement turns out to be little better, and sometimes worse, than that of its neighbors, leaders and members of that movement should take notice. They should ask some deep questions not only about that behavior but also about the systems that produce or support it. Ron Sider has me asking those kinds of questions, thanks to his clear diagnosis and thoughtful prescription.”–Brian McLaren, pastor, author (anewkindofchristian.com)
“If you’ve ever wondered why today’s evangelicals lack the societal influence their numbers would seem to bestow, Ron Sider offers an answer.”–Duane Litfin, president, Wheaton College
“The conscience of many evangelicals has been programmed more by social patterns than by the Scripture. In this work Ron Sider gives us an impressive critique of this scandal and calls us to a rediscovery of the ethics of Christ.”–Myron S. Augsburger, president emeritus, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities
“Ron Sider’s greatest gift to the church is his willingness to tell us the hard, obvious truth about ourselves. This book is strong medicine-a diagnosis that will take your breath away, but also a prescription that could make the difference between life and death
for biblical faith in America.”–Andy Crouch, former editor, Re:generation Quarterly
Reviews: “We believe this may prove to be the most significant book of 2005. There is something tragically wrong with the kind of Christianity that so dominates American culture. It is beyond embarrassing . . . it is SCANDALOUS. Here is a powerful antidote that needs to be taken in full dose.”–Rob Schläpfer, christiancounterculture.com
“This stinging jeremiad by Sider demands that American Christians start practicing what they preach. Incisive and prophetic.”–Publishers Weekly
“Sider’s Scandal is a short, popular level, and fiery manifesto that does for evangelical social ethics what Mark Noll did for our paltry intellectual life in his book. Clearly, many might find that invasive or extreme, but if Sider is right, we need a powerful antidote for a dreadful sickness.”–Dan Clendenin, The Journey with Jesus Foundation
“This book deserves a place one every Christian’s shelf. While this book is hard-hitting, it is not without hope. The book is short and can be read in little time. It’s content, however, deserves our utmost attention and requires that people of faith not only go to their knees for the Christian communities of North America, but also rise up and begin to live and promote a faith that is active.”–Mennonite Brethren Herald
“The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience certainly shocks it readers by exposing depravity in evangelical circles, but, more importantly, it delivers a message of real hope by presenting a faithfully biblical view of salvation and the church and by issuing a forthright call to repentance and holiness of heart and life. Sider’s writing is easily accessible to any thinking Christian, yet he raises important theological questions. This book merits careful study, prayer, and reflection, in the expectation that God will bring much-need renewal to the evangelical church.”–Brethren in Christ, History & Life
“A strongly biblical, unflinching, thoughtful assessment of the attitudes and practices of self-identified evangelicals relative to American culture at large.”–Christianity Today Book Awards 2006
