Where Are The Chrisitans? The Unrealized Potential Of A Divided Religion, by Eric Shuster

[This book was provided free of charge by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media in exchange for an honest review.]

In many ways, this book is sort of the antidote, or the opposite extreme, to the Ragamuffin Gospel [1], with its focus on the passivity of the believer as a recipient of unmerited grace and pardon from a loving and indulgent heavenly Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. At least one simple fact relates this clear distinction. As a practical guide to helping its reader explore their Christianity (a companion website: http://www.findyourchristianity.com, was not active at the time this book was read), there is a companion workbook for Where Are The Christians that is of interest to readers and that may not be included with the book as purchased in the bookstore. This workbook includes an exercise in Christian profiling to determine the extent of a believer’s beliefs and practices, explores the potential believers have with Christ, examines orthodox Christian beliefs and practices, and looks at the dynamics of family, church, and community on the believer in a matter-of-fact way. This particular workbook appears designed for use within study groups either as part of a formal class or a more informal learning session. Readers who are not enamored with the King James Version of the Bible may find some of the language of the workbook and its verses (included are lots of references to the “Holy Ghost,” and some dubious Trinitarian commentary about it, but not many references to the “Holy Spirit, it should be noted) a bit quaint. On the positive side, the workbook speaks eloquently about personal sacrifice [1] even if it fails to also compare the parable of the talents and minas to explore how God rewards His servants [2] to better prove its point. As a whole, though, the workbook is written in a very simple and straightforward, even perhaps somewhat superficial manner, in ways that explicitly give nods to Protestants, Catholics, and even Mormons (if not Sabbatarian Christians). Likewise, this book urges cooperation between people of different political worldviews and positions on social issues, sin, race, generation, personality, and culture (among other issues), showing itself to desire to build unity through an appeal to common values rather than a specific position, showing an affinity for the language and terminology of people like Maslow and Steven Covey and an open support of the spirit of ecumenism. Whether this approach will earn merit or demerit with the reader for its inclusiveness is up to the reader to decide.

The book itself follows the same lines and content and contains many of the same exercises and graphics as the workbook does, and makes the same points that the workbook does in a longer and more detailed and well-developed fashion. This is a book that was written with a clear agenda–seeking to gain legitimacy for the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints (the book even includes one supposedly authoritative quotation from the Book of Mormon along with many scriptural references), and seeking to build together Christian common action in areas of agreement as well as in service of the larger community even where doctrinal differences prevent the elimination of denominational division. While making a plea for sacrifice (the author discusses this need for Christians to be willing to sacrifice to serve God and others over and over and over again) and tolerance of groups who have unusual beliefs (such as denying the Trinity), the author then comments harshly on those who are critical about Christian churches in their efforts at evangelism. Likewise, while showing a great deal of emphasis on works and service, the book also comments critically on those who believe that a mere profession of faith is sufficient for a real saving relationship with Jesus Christ [1] as well as those who believe that we can be saved by our works. Clearly, the author is trying to walk a fine and careful line of protesting the unchristian behavior of many critics within the broader sphere of Christianity while trying to show love and concern for the well-being of all. It is a tricky balance given its competing motives and agendas.

In the end, while this book provides a lot of impressive data and statistics, as well as a large amount of bible citations to attempt to demonstrate its points (even if it does so in language that is more theological than biblical and that takes significant liberties with biblical interpretations), the value that readers gain from this book will depend greatly on whether they agree with the author’s agenda. Those readers who find compromise with evils such as gay marriage or abortion unacceptable or who dislike the revisionist history of the book (which is its weakest aspect) in looking at the history of Christianity from a point of view that includes an acceptance of open canons (the better to include the apocrypha and Book of Mormon), or the book’s consistent attempt to legitimize Mormons and non-Trinitarian groups as being an acceptable part of mainstream conservative Christianity will not enjoy this book. Those who share some aspects of the author’s agenda will find more to like, while those who believe that Christianity’s intramural struggles are a major factor in our societal weakness and the accusations of hypocrisy that Christians have to face regularly will find this book greatly supports their own views. As usual, caveat lector.

[1] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/book-review-the-ragamuffin-gospel/

[2] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/it-is-a-far-better-thing-that-i-do-than-i-have-ever-done/

[3] https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2011/01/22/a-comparative-analysis-of-the-parable-of-the-talents-and-the-parable-of-the-minas/