In Name Only: Tackling the Problem of Nominal Christianity

by Eddie Gibbs

Book by Gibbs, Eddie

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Eddie Gibbs (DMin, Fuller Theological Seminary) is director of the Institute for the Study of Emerging Churches at the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts and a senior professor in the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is the author of numerous books, including Emerging Churches and the critically acclaimed ChurchNext (winner of a Christianity Today book award), and is cohost of the popular Church Then and Now Web site.

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though first published in 1994, this book could've been written in 2019. I wonder what the reception of this book was back then as it paints a dire picture of the future of the church if it doesn't address the root causes of nominalism. Twenty-five years later, we are seeing those warnings come true and it's troubling to read and know that we reaping the rewards of our own complacency. Yet, it is not too late as the book also notes. There are opportunities to engage nominal Christians and ignite a true passion in them for their faith. Christian education and community returns to center stage in the fight for engagement. I wish a bit more time was spent on practical techniques and advice for moving forward. It's left to the last chapter and is lighter than the rest of the book. Still, it was the worth the time invested to better understand the heart of the cultural challenges we now must overcome within ministry.