In or out of the world?

 

"This book is all about safety and danger. It's about the sense of safety that Christians have felt while tucked away in a subculture of our own making. It is about how pursuing that safety runs counter to the purposes of Christ in sending us into the world, where we should be in danger." Those words come from John Fischer, an award-winning writer and musician, who has challenged a large element of the church in America to change the way they live. For many, Fischer's words are fightin' words. He's thrown fuel on the fire of the battle that continues to rage in the church on matters of faith and culture.

 

At CPYU, we've been involved in this battle for years. We've taken lots of hits from friendly fire. But our marching orders, which we continually and prayerfully examine and re-examine, come straight from the whole counsel of Scripture—not just some isolated verses here and there.

 

Fischer's following the same marching orders and he's laid them out in this book. In Fearless Faith: Living Beyond The Walls of "Safe" Christianity (Harvest House, 2002, ISBN # 0-7369-0747-5), he reminds contemporary Christians that Jesus never called us to form a Christian subculture to protect ourselves from being offended or challenged by a sinful and fallen world. Instead, Jesus prayed and willed that we fearlessly (after all, He has promised to protect us) engage our culture at every possible level with the hope and promise of the Gospel. Fischer writes, "I would suggest that we as Christians need to learn to embrace the danger of living in a dangerous world and trust not a safe subculture to protect us, but a praying Savior."

 

If you are concerned with the church's lack of effectiveness at reaching the world, or if you find yourself looking for comfort in "the holy huddle," step out on a limb and read this book. It's thoughtful, biblical, timely and incredibly engaging. And for those who are working with youth, make this book required reading for your kids.

 

—Walt Mueller