In stating his purpose for writing, Horton writes:
"My argument in this book is not that evangelicalism is becoming theologically liberal but that it is becoming theologically vacuous... [Now,] I do not expect to get everything right. Some of my judgments may turn out to be too sweeping or ill-informed. I hope not, because these issues are too important to be treated casually. Readers will certainly find a lot of good news interspersed between the bad news in this book, but I admit from the outset that on balance it is not a cheerful missive. I’m counting on the indulgence of readers to wait for this book’s more constructive sequel. If this book will have only raised questions that provoke us to deeper analysis of our witness in the world today, it will be sufficient.
"My aim is not to target any particular wing, movement, person, or group. We are all victims as well as accomplices in our captivity. In fact, my sense of urgency is motivated by my impression that 'Christless Christianity' is pervasive, crossing the conservative-liberal spectrum and all denominational lines. In fact, when I wrote up some of the thoughts in this book for an article in a magazine recently, a Catholic editor exclaimed, 'He’s writing about us!'
"Actually, I am writing about 'us' – all of us who profess the name of Christ both as ministers and witnesses. It would be easier if we could identify one particular writer, circle of writers, or movement as an isolated nemesis. However, no tradition is free of this captivity, including my own, and no person, including myself. There is therefore no position of antiseptic purity that I can pretend to occupy, from which I can mop up the rest of the floor. The most that any of us can do is to say with Isaiah, as he beheld a vision of God in his holiness, 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' (Isaiah 6:5)." (pp23, 27).
"Christless Christianity" is well-worth one's time in reading. I look forward to reading other books authored by Horton.

Meh.

I was expecting a bit more. It became a chore to read this, basically one long screed about the fact that the church has changed in America from what it once (supposedly) was to what it (supposedly) is now.

I did not rate it a flat one star. There are some interesting ideas that you can suss out. The confidence of Christ in the believer's life is an important thing. The fact that for Christians Jesus is the center and is essential is good.

But after 270 pages of "what is wrong about the church" I just got tired.

Church is what it is for people because it gives people what they both need and want. A good church will give good things, such as spiritual connection and emotional succor to the appropriate extent.

What I got from this author was a long list of all the ways churches are doing it wrong, all the ways the deep needs of church-goers aren't being met, and the many, many ways that the majesty of God is affronted by the trivializing of his majesty in weak theological expressions.

I get that.

But you have to ask, why would churches respond the way they do to the American people (this book is for the American audience)? Why would the felt needs of people be a priority in American churches?

We are who we are, and a church, to reach us, has to reach us where we are, speak our language, and understand our needs.

I get it that we need a higher class of Christians, more educated, less attracted to spiritual highs and more attracted to spiritual depth. That would be most excellent to have.

What we deal with are the people like us. So speak to us the way we can understand.

I think there is something good to get from the author's insistence on the centrality of Jesus of Nazareth in the Christian religion, a real man and fully divine, as the person to worship and trust, and upon the complete nature of Christ's work in his life, death, and resurrection.

But it came across as hectoring over and over that somehow we Christians need to spend our entire lives focused only on this (which sounds good) but then we would do *nothing else* because anything else is somehow "works." So all the things that Christ did that he asked us to copy are not important; sitting in church and listening to sermons is.

I know I am not summarizing this well. The argument is far deeper. But the argument goes on and on and on to the point where it becomes tedious to hear the same things over and over.

The beauty of the church is that it comprises nations and tongues and tribes from all continents and all times. The view of the church as represented in the book is a good one, and a strong one. But it is not the only one.

If there was a book I wish I'd written, this is the book. Horton's writing drips with the gospel and a passion for the Word of God in the church. He is unflinchingly biblical in his critique of the American church, claiming that no tradition is immune from reverting to "moralistic theraputic deism." While conservatives and liberals alike are in danger of becoming theologically vacuous, he is especially hard on the "seeker-friendly" movement and the "emergent church" movement. There have been two major critiques I've heard of the book. The first is that he is not specific enough with regard to the evangelical leaders he is chastising. While he specifically calls out such leaders as Joel Osteen, Brian McLaren, Joyce Meyer, and others, he doesn't mention a great many names or churches. I believe this is probably because many in evangelicalism simply need a reminder of the gospel to which they were called. He'll shoot the wolves, for sure, but doesn't see a book as the venue for calling out those who merely need a biblical kick in the pants--they'll know who they are. Secondly, many in the non-Reformed or non-Lutheran traditions will take exception with his emphasis on the administration of the sacraments and their nature as means of grace. While I agree with him about baptism and the Lord's supper, some will think he has over-emphasized them unnecessarily. To me, this is an oft-ignored aspect to the purpose of our weekly gatherings, and his points about them must be contended with.

Every American Christian must read this book. It is not only a fantastic overview of where the American church is heading, but it is a fantastic reminder of the gospel in which we need to be continually immersed. This is a gospel which is counter-intuitive, counter-everything our culture and out world values, and we need to be constantly reminded of it so as not to fall back into believing it's about us and what we do for God. I highly anticipate Horton's upcoming book, "The Gospel-Driven Life."

I wanted to read passages of this book aloud from the roof..... It made me want to go on a gospel rampage and turn over tables in the "Christian Living" section of the bookstore. Nothing will motivate you towards goodness and holiness like knowing and loving Jesus because of what he's done (the Gospel).

This is a vitally important book in the same vein as Machen's Christianity and Liberalism. A must read!