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From Publishers Weekly:
Being Christian: Exploring Where You, God, and Life Connect
Stephen Arterburn and John Shore. Bethany House, $19.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-7642-0426-5
Arterburn (Every Man’s Battle series) and Shore (I’m OK—You’re Not) have designed a thoroughly comprehensive and refreshingly engaging primer on foundational Christian tenets. Readers from across the spectrum of Christian experience (newbies, veterans and seekers alike) will find this biblical question-and-answer format compellingly practical. Although it is written from an evangelical perspective, other Christians will learn from it, too, and appreciate the authors’ clear approach. The book addresses specific, often thorny questions: how is God simultaneously Father, Son and Spirit? Why does God allow evil to exist? Why must Christians pray for their enemies? How are they to understand “fallen” Christian leaders? What is original sin? And how do confession, repentance and Christ’s atonement and resurrection play into the Christian’s daily faith journey? Arterburn and Shore further enhance their excellent guide with wit, humor and gentle pokes at the church’s foibles. Whether individuals are just wondering about God or serious in their religious pursuit, this book is a valuable resource. (due Sept.)
From Christian Retailing Magazine:
“Being Christian: Exploring Where You, God, and Life Connect, Arterburn’s latest offering, written with co-author John Shore (I’m OK – You’re Not ), pushes the author into new territory. The work is written as a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) book on faith, a veritable primer of theology for the layperson. Being Christian is divided into two main sections, with ‘God Inside’ focusing on issues such as one’s relationship with self and others, and ‘God Outside,’ delving into the Bible and the church. It tackles the questions not only of Christians, but also of agnostics, atheists and adherents of other faiths. The authors also provide sage advice on choosing a church, selecting a Bible translation, praying for one’s enemies and many other topics, even explaining the difference between a ‘fundamentalist’ and an ‘evangelical.’ Especially helpful is their survey of the entire Bible and profiles of important figures from the Old Testament. Arterburn and Shore write in a conversational, humorous voice, but deliver solid content. Being Christian will benefit new believers as well as veterans of the faith.”
From FaithfulReader.com:
BEING CHRISTIAN: Exploring Where You, God, and Life Connect
Stephen Arterburn and John Shore
Bethany House Publishers
Christian Living
ISBN: 9780764204265
• About the Book
• Read an Excerpt
Well-known and equally well-loved evangelical authors Stephen Arterburn and John Shore have compiled an exhaustive list of the most commonly asked questions about being Christian and what that means in a person’s day-to-day life experience. Arterburn and Shore talk with their readers, not down to them. And whether an individual is already on the faith journey or just seeking some information and answers to their life questions, this text is certain to supply needs on both ends of the spectrum. Written in a “one friend to another” casual conversation style, the authors (with some quick wit and humor) good-naturedly poke fun at themselves and at the church at large, endearing them further to their audience.
While this primer will serve to educate a newcomer to Christianity, do not doubt its ability to serve the well-seasoned longtime follower of Christ as well. The book is filled with both the “milk” and the “meat” of the Christian walk. Broken into five chapters, readers will find their answers under these general headings:
* God and You
* God, You, and Others
* Everyone: Sin, the Human Constant
* The Bible
* The Church
Jumping right into the thick of Christianity 101, the authors lead off with the dynamo of a question: “What’s the single most important thing I would have to believe in order to officially qualify as a Christian?” Here the authors provide some excellent foundational information and cite The Nicene Creed as summing up the “basics” of what Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants hold to in faith doctrine. So saying, they explain that this creed is what 99.99999 percent of Christians have always believed and many have committed to memory. In a similar vein, Arterburn and Shore include other confessions such as The Apostles’ Creed, The Heidelberg Catechism and The Westminster Confession of Faith as other summations of faith. Not to be confused with “replacing” scripture by any means.
Once this foundation of commonly held beliefs is laid, this writing team tackles questions regarding the Holy Spirit, the Trinity and what the phrases “saved by grace” and “born again” really mean. Not all the questions and answers supplied fall into the category of contemplation and introspection; rather, readers will get equal measures of practical life instruction from this body of work as well.
In chapter three, “Everyone: Sin, the Human Constant,” the authors open with the discussion of “sin” and “original sin” and how confession is one powerful tool and principle to the Christian believer. Buzz words such as resurrection, atonement, sanctification, forgiveness and grace also find their place for discussion. Readers will learn what the Bible has to say about forgiveness and how to ask for it step by step to find inner and relational healing.
Readers might question how comprehensive a single volume on the vast store of knowledge and history on Christianity can be. Rest assured, Arterburn and Shore have done their homework and created a powerhouse of resources so neatly packaged and practical that even skeptics will be surprised and delighted.
From Trish Berg, on her blog, Books for Mom, had this to say in her review of “Being Christian”:
Have you ever wondered how you know that God loves you- little old you? Why is that?
Have you ever wondered if there is any sin that is beyond forgiveness?
Have you ever wondered if being or becoming a Christian will help you get rid of some of your bad habits?
There are so many unanswered questions as we journey down this path of faith and discovery, and through a new book, Being Christian, by Stephen Arterbnurn and John Shore, you can find many of the answers.
Being Christian is a book that would be a fantastic resource for new believers as well as life long followers of Christ. It is easy to read, and straight forward in its approach to faith in Christ and what that truly means.
One question I always had was about free will. Why do we have free will if through that free will we all sin? Why doesn’t God just take care of us His way?
Well, He is doing that.
“God would have to love us a lot less than He does in order to start over throwing our free will. He’d have to hate us, in fact. It’s an extremely safe bet that if God ever decided to stop people from doing evil, not a person on this planet wouldn’t yearn for the days when the were free to choose…”
…and so it goes.
This book will help you to look at your faith in a new light- and answer so many of the questions we have on our individual faith journeys.
So dig in, read on, and meet God where you are
