Note: This review was originally an Instagram story, so there is a lot more I can say. progressive Christianity has been a very challenging thing to me. My aim of reading this book is for me to learn more on what people are saying on this worldview.
Another Gospel is the story of Alisa Childers' deconstruction and reconstruction of her faith after she was introduced to Progressive Christianity teachings.
Childers offers a defense for historic Christianity, but she also takes the reader along on her journey of faith to doubt to crippling doubt to depression, and finally, to faith once more.
Childers offers her perspective and experience with progressive Christian teachings as well as her research on what Christianity is ultimately about. Is the Bible really inspired by God? Is the Bible even accurate? Is Jesus' death "cosmic child abuse?". Childers tackle these questions and much more.
Childers explores and refutes several prominent progressive Christian doctrines and appeals to the teachings of the Bible, scholars, theologians, historians, apologists, and early Church Fathers.
Why Read This?
The greatest appeal of this book to me is its personal nature. Childers was a lifelong Christian. Saved as a child, grew up in Church, and was even a part of a popular Christian music group, ZOEgirl. Eventually, Childers' faith was challenged. She realized that she didn't understand what she believed or why. This was very personal to me, as I have faced (and sometimes still face) very similar struggles as her. I'm sure many of you do, too. The fact that I am reading someone else's journey makes it feel very personal and relatable.
The book is fairly easy to read. Childers uses simple language and engaging illustrations. Don't let that fool you though, she also talks about difficult topics. Progressive Christianity is VERY different from historic Christianity. It is a challenging thing to consider if you have never seriously rationalized your faith before. It is gaining a lot of traction nowadays. Childers offers her insight (of course, she backs those up with countless hours of research from scholars, Church fathers, and more). She goes through various Progressive doctrines one by one, first explaining how these teachings challenged and affected her, and then offering a biblical refutation of those teachings. If you are interested in learning more about apologetics defending historic Christianity, then this book is a solid place for a beginner.
Chances are, you and I will one day be (or am already) in the same situation as Childers, where faith crumbles and all become darkness and confusion because we are faced with strange teachings, unlike the one we have already known. Childers offers her consolation: "there ARE answers out there!".
Potential Pitfalls
As always, be sure to check out the author's sources before you believe every word. There were small things in this book that I wasn't 100% sold on.
If you are going into this book without first seriously considering the teachings that it refutes first, you may face a pitfall. Don't read this book only because you want to see "Progressive Christianity DESTROYED" (I had to tell myself to get out of that mindset). Whether you’re doubting or not, be sure to approach this book for genuine learning, answer-seeking, and consideration.
You may feel all confident right now, but don't forget, that's what Childers felt for many years before she suffered crippling doubt and confusion. Childers went through a LONG process of doubt, deconstruction, research, and finally, reconstruction. Childers spent countless hours searching for the truth. It was painful, exhausting, and difficult. But she came back stronger in her faith than ever before. The reality is, however, not everyone will come to the same conclusion as her. Some will leave the faith altogether, and some will change it into what they want it to be.
That may very well be the journey you and I will take one day. And we don't have to wait until the doubts start kicking our butts. Instead, we should start learning right now. Go read the scholars, historians, theologians, you name it. Seek truth! Childers has kindly put a list of recommended resources that helped her in the back of the book for our learning purposes.
More from Alisa Childers here.
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