BOOK REVIEW: Exodus

I have enjoyed the blog so far, but I am ready to get into the actual function of the site. I felt rushed through the last two entries to get to the actual work of the site that I would like to be doing, therefore I am taking a break from the introduction stage to tell you about a book that I have just finished.

The book is titled "Exodus: Why Americans Are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity" by Dave Sheflett (www.daveshiflett.com) and published by Sentinel. This is not a book written by an evangelical who is tooting his own horn, but rather a journalist who describes himself as a "itinerant Presbyterian" (pg182). Dave Shiflett interviews different leaders from many different denominations and Christian traditions. He clearly shows the differences between the "progressive" and "traditional" branches of Christianity and the negative results of embracing the "progressive" views.

This is a very insightful book, written by an outsider, especially regarding the state of the American Episcopalian church. Shiflett gets to the heart of the issue of why the old mainline denominations are such a train wreck. I wish he would have taken as close a look at the liberal Presbyterians and Baptists as he did with the liberal Episcopalians which he calls a "religious freak show" (pgxix).

Shiflett interviews Dr. Mohler of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dr. Land of the SBC's Ethic and Religious Liberty Commission. I have studied under Land at SWBTS and am a strong supporter of his work. Shiflett does a good job of presenting their views as well as showing the importance of their work.

The decline of the great American denominations are a testament to embracing the proper AUTHORITY. What is going to be your authority in life? Evangelical Conservative Christianity says that the Bible is going to be our ultimate authority. It is our primary source of truth and truth cannot contradict its teachings.

The Christian doctrines found in the Bible are what changes lives. The church must embrace orthodoxy or it will be decline into a country club of old men who teach cute poems and witty cliches that only affirm the shallow "be nice" teachings of our day.

In His Grace