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Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down
Drawing insights from his study of the book of Acts, Buchanan challenges churches to 'turn the world upside-down'---to be both good news and bad news, an aroma and a stench -- a disruptive force to whoever or whatever opposes the Kingdom of God, and a healing and liberating power to those who seek it.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2012
21 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Mark Buchanan
50 books202 followersMark Buchanan lives in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife, Cheryl. They have three adult children, Adam, Sarah, and Nicola. He was a longtime pastor, an author of many books, and now serves as a professor at Ambrose University College in Calgary.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 28, 2014
The first book I read from Mark Buchanan was entitled "Your God Is Too Safe." That book blew me away and was one of my top books that I read in 2013. When I found out he had penned a similar book about the church, I had to get it. I was not disappointed in the least.
Buchanan sets the stage in his introduction by stating, "When did we start making it our priority to be safe instead of dangerous, nice instead of holy, cautious instead of bold, self-absorbed instead of counting everything loss in order to be found in Christ?"
Quite a few of the chapters really resonated with me and even challenged my traditional thinking when it comes to church. And he did all of this by bringing in very specific Biblical philosophies and stories applied in ways that are right in the Scripture which I have read hundreds of times but have never seen.
A few of my favorite chapters...
*Going To Mordor
*In-Between Places
*When Clean and Unclean Touch
*Healing in Our Wings
*Break Walls & Build Them
*Even the Sparrows
Every church leader/worker/teacher ought to read this book! Personally, every Christian would benefit from the rich truths found throughout!
Buchanan sets the stage in his introduction by stating, "When did we start making it our priority to be safe instead of dangerous, nice instead of holy, cautious instead of bold, self-absorbed instead of counting everything loss in order to be found in Christ?"
Quite a few of the chapters really resonated with me and even challenged my traditional thinking when it comes to church. And he did all of this by bringing in very specific Biblical philosophies and stories applied in ways that are right in the Scripture which I have read hundreds of times but have never seen.
A few of my favorite chapters...
*Going To Mordor
*In-Between Places
*When Clean and Unclean Touch
*Healing in Our Wings
*Break Walls & Build Them
*Even the Sparrows
Every church leader/worker/teacher ought to read this book! Personally, every Christian would benefit from the rich truths found throughout!
January 24, 2013
I came into possession of this book as a church I infrequently attend decided to do a series of sermons based on its content. I assumed that this book would attempt to overturn some of the concepts which I see as crippling to the contemporary church: the "frozen chosen," Christians who condemn others while condoning "popular" sins, people who "believe but don't act," or simply seem to be swindled by the success of America, twisting Christianity to fit "the American dream," something which I believe Jesus would take serious issue with. This book attempts to tackle these issues, but struggles to find a voice, and ultimately fails. Don't get me wrong, there are a few moving passages, a few calls to action, but the message of the book is muddled and often unclear. There are much better books on this topic, "Radical" by Platt, and "Crazy Love," by Chan to name two. Do yourself a favor, pass on this book, and read one of those instead.
July 24, 2024
Singing Heaven’s Love Song
Anyone who knows me knows how I shy away from legalistic religion and believe that most of what the body of Christ needs to do is be practical in a world that needs Him. This doesn’t mean I believe that we should run away from moral reasoning but that we should be more caring about the people around us and how to touch their lives in the way Christ would, with love. This is one of the reasons why at any point in my adult life, I’ve been part of one development organisation or the other, serving my community in any way that I could.
If you know me personally, you’ll know that I’m generally a giver. This is why this book has been both an affirmation and a compass for me in my walk of faith. It could not have come at a better point in my life. It has made me question some of the traditions we have in our churches and our “Christian” lives and honestly, the whole book is a sermon on love the way God intended it to be, unconditional. I think of 1 Corinthians 13 when I think of God’s love — a love that is patient and kind. A love that is above all and in all, God.
Mark refers to this as being the true walk of Christ and the true mandate of the church. Jesus speaks of this when he fulfils the law through his golden commandment to love one another (Matt. 22:37–39, John 13:34–35). If only the church of today was more like the model church of Christ, the church in the book of Acts. This, as Mark puts across, is a clear benchmark of the church today. Love, unity, hospitality et al.
The past 6 weeks have been certainly transformational as I have studied God’s Word through the words Pastor Mark Buchanan shares. It’s made me question who Christ is in my life and how I am to truly live as He did. Countless times while reading this book, I’ve had to check the notes and refer back to the Bible itself, the source of the voice of God. This has made me study to show myself an approved workman of God (2 Tim. 2:15) and it has also revealed passages of scripture that I had otherwise brushed aside or some that I had never read at all (and probably wouldn’t if I’d not found a reference to them).
This, by no means, implies that I’m now a ‘perfect’ follower of Christ and have become the man that God intends me to be. I still fall short of the glory of God as we all do (Rom. 3:23) but I continue to work out my salvation (Phil. 2:14).
“This book is about…your church, in your community, discerning and acting in the authority God has given you to reduce to rubble — not with weapons of this world but with God’s quirky agenda and home-tooled methods, however those get revealed — all the walls that keep the kingdom out…”
– Mark Buchanan
Anyone who knows me knows how I shy away from legalistic religion and believe that most of what the body of Christ needs to do is be practical in a world that needs Him. This doesn’t mean I believe that we should run away from moral reasoning but that we should be more caring about the people around us and how to touch their lives in the way Christ would, with love. This is one of the reasons why at any point in my adult life, I’ve been part of one development organisation or the other, serving my community in any way that I could.
If you know me personally, you’ll know that I’m generally a giver. This is why this book has been both an affirmation and a compass for me in my walk of faith. It could not have come at a better point in my life. It has made me question some of the traditions we have in our churches and our “Christian” lives and honestly, the whole book is a sermon on love the way God intended it to be, unconditional. I think of 1 Corinthians 13 when I think of God’s love — a love that is patient and kind. A love that is above all and in all, God.
Mark refers to this as being the true walk of Christ and the true mandate of the church. Jesus speaks of this when he fulfils the law through his golden commandment to love one another (Matt. 22:37–39, John 13:34–35). If only the church of today was more like the model church of Christ, the church in the book of Acts. This, as Mark puts across, is a clear benchmark of the church today. Love, unity, hospitality et al.
The past 6 weeks have been certainly transformational as I have studied God’s Word through the words Pastor Mark Buchanan shares. It’s made me question who Christ is in my life and how I am to truly live as He did. Countless times while reading this book, I’ve had to check the notes and refer back to the Bible itself, the source of the voice of God. This has made me study to show myself an approved workman of God (2 Tim. 2:15) and it has also revealed passages of scripture that I had otherwise brushed aside or some that I had never read at all (and probably wouldn’t if I’d not found a reference to them).
This, by no means, implies that I’m now a ‘perfect’ follower of Christ and have become the man that God intends me to be. I still fall short of the glory of God as we all do (Rom. 3:23) but I continue to work out my salvation (Phil. 2:14).
April 1, 2018
Admittedly, this was a book that was assigned when I worked at a church for the staff and pastors to read. I had started reading it and discussing it with the group, but when I resigned I hadn't picked it up in a while. It's only very recently that I finally finished (after having worked on it for nearly 10 months). This book is a great read for any church that finds itself in comfortable, middle-to-upperclass suburbia. It's a book about breaking down walls and barriers and also engaging with the community and hurting individuals. It's a call to step outside what is familiar and to go and embrace a lifestyle that Jesus counts as radical. The very end also has a nice shift as it talks about making our churches safe places for those on the margin asking the question: is the church too safe or not safe enough? A great, easy, and fast-paced read. Great to read on your own or to discuss with other pastors and ministry leaders.
May 15, 2017
Very challenging book. I first read "Your God is too Safe" over a decade ago, & have sought out Mark's writing and teaching ever since. Excellent use of Scripture stories and teachings to challenge the church higher - to truly be what Jesus calls it to be instead of whatever it is now. Following the teachings and principles of the book will be hard for individuals and churches to do. It will require much intentional living and thinking and endurance. Yet everything is presented in a "you can do this" kind of teaching. Most importantly, all of this resets us back to Jesus - we can do none of these things without Jesus at the helm and without being branches grafted into the Vine that is Jesus. We will be using this book for our next men's Bible study, as it will challenge us beyond talk and principles to action together.
October 10, 2023
Powerful, insightful and challenging.
Knowing that I want the church to be a safe place for broken people, I wasn’t quite sure where this was going to go.
Mark shows us that not being safe for ourselves makes us safe for others.
A favourite quote:
“ "Our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Anger actually makes us too safe. It's a posture we strike to avoid the more costly, risky, messy way of dealing with strangers and enemies, which is to love them. The Sons of Thunder learned this; they learned that it takes more courage to love your enemy than to attack him.”
Knowing that I want the church to be a safe place for broken people, I wasn’t quite sure where this was going to go.
Mark shows us that not being safe for ourselves makes us safe for others.
A favourite quote:
“ "Our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Anger actually makes us too safe. It's a posture we strike to avoid the more costly, risky, messy way of dealing with strangers and enemies, which is to love them. The Sons of Thunder learned this; they learned that it takes more courage to love your enemy than to attack him.”
March 13, 2018
As in "Your God Is Too Safe", Mark Buchanan really challenges the church to be a place where all are welcome, not just those we desire to be there. Unlike "Your God Is Too Safe", I didn't find this one to be quite as compelling. Don't get me wrong, it's still an excellent read and one that I gave four stars. There were some instances I thought he could have pressed in a little bit harder, and overall I found it easier to put this book down than the previous one I read, but it's still a very good book that's worth the read. Maybe it was just hard to follow up the other one.
June 29, 2025
A bit poetic in style, for those that like that, but also challenging for those that are in a Chruch that need some revigorating. It's not only about the church, it's also about you and how you, together with the community, can take bolder risks in mission and love for others. A totally fine book, especially with that in mind, but less so if you just happen to pick this book up and not really vibing with the message for the time being.
February 23, 2025
‘Your Book Is Too Long’. No seriously, I appreciate what this book is attempting, but there’s just too much filler and it doesn’t seem to make any coherent points. Less stories, examples, and anecdotes and get to the point please. There are few books I don’t finish but unfortunately this is one of them.
May 31, 2017
Mark Buchanan has a very unique style of writing that grabs your attention. In this book he challenges us to leave our comfortable pews and live our faith in what is often a messy world.
September 19, 2012
How Mark Buchanan has written six books before Your Church Is too Safe (2012, Zondervan) and I have not read any of them is a mystery to me. Buchanan is a Pastor (New Life Community Baptist Church, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada) first—and that fact shines through. These are not the words of an academic in an ivory tower; they are the heart-cry of a shepherd of God’s flock.
Buchanan has one purpose for this book: He wants the church to reflect the Kingdom. He simply wants Christians to be Christians. That is all. Allow me to share a passage from the very beginning of the book. I apologize in advance for the length of the quote.
Some of you may be thinking this is just another book about how if we would just be more loving (meaning accepting of wrong or sin) the church would be a place that is “safe” for unbelievers—and weak, immature believers—to feel comfortable. You could not be further from the truth. Buchanan is not afraid to point out wrong actions, attitudes, and behaviors. But Christians of every theological stripe ought to be able to agree that all we are in Christ, indeed our very existence and salvation, is due first and foremost to God’s extravagant love for us. If you have any questions about this, I refer you to John 3:16.
So Buchanan wants the church to look more like the Kingdom. Who doesn’t! Be warned: if you are looking for a how-to book, you will likely be disappointed. There are no “5 Steps to Loving the World” or “8 Keys to Being More Like Jesus”. That is because reflecting the Kingdom, discipleship, is not a simple, clean, step-by-step process. It is ministry, and like a good friend of mine says, “Ministry is messy.”
What Buchanan does offer is a number of biblical principles and a collection of stories from his own experience in the church he has the privilege to pastor. It is enough. Your Church Is too Safe is an incredibly encouraging look at the journey of the church becoming more like the bride of Christ she already is.
If that were all I had to say about this book, it would be enough; but I want to add one more thing. It is a very well-written book. Mark Buchanan is a really good writer. His prose is so vivid and picturesque. The book was a joy to read.
This is a book I would unreservedly recommend for any pastor or church leader. Additionally, most any church member would benefit from it.
Buchanan has one purpose for this book: He wants the church to reflect the Kingdom. He simply wants Christians to be Christians. That is all. Allow me to share a passage from the very beginning of the book. I apologize in advance for the length of the quote.
Should the church be relevant to the world?
We’ve spilled a lot of ink over that question. We’ve exchanged many words, both exhotatory and accusatory, trying to resolve it. It vexes us sorely. There are those who decry the church’s stodginess, its veneration of old wineskins, its adherence to outmoded cultural forms. They seek a church that nimbly adapts to the world’s music and dress and causes. And there are those who lament the church’s trendiness, its fetish for new wineskins, its pursuit of faddish cultural novelties. They seek a church gloriously indifferent to the world’s latest fashions.
We tote out Jesus’ warning to be in the world but not of it, but then have endless and exhausting debates about what constitutes which. We have those who think the kingdom’s come because we’ve preserved ancient songs and starchy vestments and Latin-strewn liturgies, and we have those who think it’s come because we smoke Cuban cigars and drink Belgian beer and treat Starbucks as sacred space. If I wear torn jeans and a ratty T-shirt to church, am I of the world or in it? If our church worships to hip-hop music, which preposition are we falling under, in or of? If our liturgy hasn’t changed since 1633 or 1952, or 1979, is that because we refuse to be of this world, or because we’re failing to be in it?
And now I will resolve the matter for all time.
It doesn’t matter. The kingdom is not about any of this. The kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking or music styles or how up-to-date or out-of-date we are.
The kingdom of God is a republic of love. Not the sentimental or sensual thing the world calls love but the 1 Corinthians 13 kind; fierce, wild, huge, feisty, pure. The unbounded extravagance at the heart of the heart of God. This love is the song God sings over us, and calls us to sing loudly. What makes the church both a mystery and a magnet to the world is when we love in this way, God’s way.
Some of you may be thinking this is just another book about how if we would just be more loving (meaning accepting of wrong or sin) the church would be a place that is “safe” for unbelievers—and weak, immature believers—to feel comfortable. You could not be further from the truth. Buchanan is not afraid to point out wrong actions, attitudes, and behaviors. But Christians of every theological stripe ought to be able to agree that all we are in Christ, indeed our very existence and salvation, is due first and foremost to God’s extravagant love for us. If you have any questions about this, I refer you to John 3:16.
So Buchanan wants the church to look more like the Kingdom. Who doesn’t! Be warned: if you are looking for a how-to book, you will likely be disappointed. There are no “5 Steps to Loving the World” or “8 Keys to Being More Like Jesus”. That is because reflecting the Kingdom, discipleship, is not a simple, clean, step-by-step process. It is ministry, and like a good friend of mine says, “Ministry is messy.”
What Buchanan does offer is a number of biblical principles and a collection of stories from his own experience in the church he has the privilege to pastor. It is enough. Your Church Is too Safe is an incredibly encouraging look at the journey of the church becoming more like the bride of Christ she already is.
If that were all I had to say about this book, it would be enough; but I want to add one more thing. It is a very well-written book. Mark Buchanan is a really good writer. His prose is so vivid and picturesque. The book was a joy to read.
This is a book I would unreservedly recommend for any pastor or church leader. Additionally, most any church member would benefit from it.
March 14, 2018
Wow, what a great book!
This is Buchanan's seventh, but only the second I've read (the other was "The Rest of God," about Sabbath).
Buchanan, a long-time pastor on Vancouver Island, not only has a fine way with words; his words have a fine way of expressing the gospel. While vividly telling stories from life and the Bible, while challenging the church to really be what we're called to be, Buchanan's words are steeped in grace, grounded in the gospel.
Anything that we're challenged and commanded to do - is based on what God has done, and who He has made us to be. If any call from Jesus seems too outrageous to practice in our lives, we need only look to Jesus, and see what He's done for us and others.
As Buchanan stands alongside other Christians as a fellow pilgrim, struggling to minister in this world, Buchanan repeatedly takes us back to the gracious God, Who has big plans for this world, and a big heart. Buchanan speaks from both Scripture and experience to cast a vision for the church that can raise your hopes, and excite your imaginations.
This is Buchanan's seventh, but only the second I've read (the other was "The Rest of God," about Sabbath).
Buchanan, a long-time pastor on Vancouver Island, not only has a fine way with words; his words have a fine way of expressing the gospel. While vividly telling stories from life and the Bible, while challenging the church to really be what we're called to be, Buchanan's words are steeped in grace, grounded in the gospel.
Anything that we're challenged and commanded to do - is based on what God has done, and who He has made us to be. If any call from Jesus seems too outrageous to practice in our lives, we need only look to Jesus, and see what He's done for us and others.
As Buchanan stands alongside other Christians as a fellow pilgrim, struggling to minister in this world, Buchanan repeatedly takes us back to the gracious God, Who has big plans for this world, and a big heart. Buchanan speaks from both Scripture and experience to cast a vision for the church that can raise your hopes, and excite your imaginations.
December 27, 2012
"Why Following Christ Turns The World Upside Down"
"Your Church is Too Safe is a biblical reflection and roadmap to making the earthly church more like the heavenly Kingdom it is called to represent. Part celebration and part manifesto, this pull-no-punches book by veteran pastor Mark Buchanan is a plea for churches to return to their roots: to be both good news and bad news, an aroma and a stench ... a disruptive force to whoever or whatever opposes the Kingdom of God." (From the Zondervan Publishing Company Website)
About the Author: Mark Buchanan is a pastor, award-winning author, and father of three who lives with his wife, Cheryl, on the West Coast of Canada. Educated at the University of British Columbia and Regent College, his work has been published in numerous periodicals, including Christianity Today, Books and Culture, Leadership Journal, and Discipleship Magazine. He is the author of six books: Your God Is Too Safe, Things Unseen, The Holy Wild, The Rest of God, Hidden in Plain Sight, and Spiritual Rhythm.
My Thoughts About the Book: Citing the Scripture verse in Acts 17:6, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also," pastor and author Mark Buchanan shares with us as the reader of his book how to have God-centered churches where we as followers of Christ are turning our worlds upside down for Christ.
With Scripture as his guide, Pastor Buchanan takes us to where we should go as followers of Christ so that we can be world changers for the glory of God and good of man. He feels "there's an enormous gap between the life Jesus offered and the life we're living." And he's right. There is. It's obvious by what is happening and what is not happening in our country, our society and our churches today. The church in America is neither powerful in the preaching of its message and the living out of that message or persecuted for being Christ followers as the early Christians were...and many Christians in other parts of the world are today. It costs something to be a Christian and Pastor Buchanan in his book drives that point home as well he should in light of our current situation in the church in America and in our country.
Pastor Buchanan is basically calling the church of Christ to "WAKE UP" and live as Christ lived, speak as Christ spoke - the Word of God, and love as Christ loved. He writes about the need for unity in the body of Christ in America and about that fact he is correct. It is by our love for one another and our unity that we show the world we are Christ followers. It is the dis-unity in the corporate body of Christ in America that gives unbelievers a reason to think negatively of us and our churches.
In Chapter 12, "When Clean and Unclean Touch" he shares 5 important convictions that have been developed at his church and should be the convictions of all true "Christian" churches in our world. And the convictions are truly convicting, or at least they should be, driving us to our knees to Christ and returning to our first love, who is Christ, and to serving what he loves so much that he died for it; his body or the church...in other words, one another.
When you get a copy of Your Church is Too Safe to read and set down to begin your journey through the book make sure you have your Bible handy as Pastor Buchanan cites numerous Scripture verses in his book. You are going to want to not only just read them but also meditate on them as you read the book so that perhaps it could be said of us as Christians living in America that "These people who have turned the world upside down have come here also." And wouldn't that be a wonderful thing to be said of us and the Church in America today?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Zondervan Publishing Company for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
"Your Church is Too Safe is a biblical reflection and roadmap to making the earthly church more like the heavenly Kingdom it is called to represent. Part celebration and part manifesto, this pull-no-punches book by veteran pastor Mark Buchanan is a plea for churches to return to their roots: to be both good news and bad news, an aroma and a stench ... a disruptive force to whoever or whatever opposes the Kingdom of God." (From the Zondervan Publishing Company Website)
About the Author: Mark Buchanan is a pastor, award-winning author, and father of three who lives with his wife, Cheryl, on the West Coast of Canada. Educated at the University of British Columbia and Regent College, his work has been published in numerous periodicals, including Christianity Today, Books and Culture, Leadership Journal, and Discipleship Magazine. He is the author of six books: Your God Is Too Safe, Things Unseen, The Holy Wild, The Rest of God, Hidden in Plain Sight, and Spiritual Rhythm.
My Thoughts About the Book: Citing the Scripture verse in Acts 17:6, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also," pastor and author Mark Buchanan shares with us as the reader of his book how to have God-centered churches where we as followers of Christ are turning our worlds upside down for Christ.
With Scripture as his guide, Pastor Buchanan takes us to where we should go as followers of Christ so that we can be world changers for the glory of God and good of man. He feels "there's an enormous gap between the life Jesus offered and the life we're living." And he's right. There is. It's obvious by what is happening and what is not happening in our country, our society and our churches today. The church in America is neither powerful in the preaching of its message and the living out of that message or persecuted for being Christ followers as the early Christians were...and many Christians in other parts of the world are today. It costs something to be a Christian and Pastor Buchanan in his book drives that point home as well he should in light of our current situation in the church in America and in our country.
Pastor Buchanan is basically calling the church of Christ to "WAKE UP" and live as Christ lived, speak as Christ spoke - the Word of God, and love as Christ loved. He writes about the need for unity in the body of Christ in America and about that fact he is correct. It is by our love for one another and our unity that we show the world we are Christ followers. It is the dis-unity in the corporate body of Christ in America that gives unbelievers a reason to think negatively of us and our churches.
In Chapter 12, "When Clean and Unclean Touch" he shares 5 important convictions that have been developed at his church and should be the convictions of all true "Christian" churches in our world. And the convictions are truly convicting, or at least they should be, driving us to our knees to Christ and returning to our first love, who is Christ, and to serving what he loves so much that he died for it; his body or the church...in other words, one another.
When you get a copy of Your Church is Too Safe to read and set down to begin your journey through the book make sure you have your Bible handy as Pastor Buchanan cites numerous Scripture verses in his book. You are going to want to not only just read them but also meditate on them as you read the book so that perhaps it could be said of us as Christians living in America that "These people who have turned the world upside down have come here also." And wouldn't that be a wonderful thing to be said of us and the Church in America today?
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book at no cost from the Zondervan Publishing Company for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
February 13, 2016
Buchanan starts off with a question. "When did we start making it our priority to be safe instead of dangerous, nice instead of holy, cautious instead of bold, self-absorbed instead of counting everything loss to be found in Christ?"
I learned much from this book. In this work Buchanan addresses topics of self-absorption, prayer, the Triune relationship, extravagant love, naming and overcoming evil, intimacy with God, disciples verses believers, Biblical hospitality, in-between places and vision.
And he sets up "a modest but subversive proposal" when he says: "I suggest your church put a moratorium on vision-casting for the foreseeable future. Instead, I suggest that you recover the vision that has already been fulfilled, that you are God's people, chosen and blessed and dearly loved. And then rally your church around simply being the church - devote yourselves to teaching, fellowship, sacraments, worship and stewardship. Do that, and I promise God will give you more vision than you can chase in a lifetime."
Overall, I liked the book. The content was engaging and thought provoking. As Buchanan talked about risks that his church has taken I wrestled with questions about what my church might have done in the same situation. --- 5 stars for content.
Normally, I like Buchanan's poetic approach to writing, but I must admit that this book rambled more than I liked. I wondered repeatedly at his target audience. Was the book written for the average church member, the church leaders, the whole church community? I honestly couldn't tell you. The points were well thought through, but lacked cohesiveness so I felt a bit as if I was wafting here and there in the reading. I, personally, would have liked to have sees a tighter, more connected theme so that, somewhere, the point of the book was summed up succinctly. I walked away from the book with a number of micro-themes that I connected with, but with no real ability to sum up the overall point the author wanted to make. --- 3 stars for overall takeaway.
Overall rating - 4 stars.
I received a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I learned much from this book. In this work Buchanan addresses topics of self-absorption, prayer, the Triune relationship, extravagant love, naming and overcoming evil, intimacy with God, disciples verses believers, Biblical hospitality, in-between places and vision.
And he sets up "a modest but subversive proposal" when he says: "I suggest your church put a moratorium on vision-casting for the foreseeable future. Instead, I suggest that you recover the vision that has already been fulfilled, that you are God's people, chosen and blessed and dearly loved. And then rally your church around simply being the church - devote yourselves to teaching, fellowship, sacraments, worship and stewardship. Do that, and I promise God will give you more vision than you can chase in a lifetime."
Overall, I liked the book. The content was engaging and thought provoking. As Buchanan talked about risks that his church has taken I wrestled with questions about what my church might have done in the same situation. --- 5 stars for content.
Normally, I like Buchanan's poetic approach to writing, but I must admit that this book rambled more than I liked. I wondered repeatedly at his target audience. Was the book written for the average church member, the church leaders, the whole church community? I honestly couldn't tell you. The points were well thought through, but lacked cohesiveness so I felt a bit as if I was wafting here and there in the reading. I, personally, would have liked to have sees a tighter, more connected theme so that, somewhere, the point of the book was summed up succinctly. I walked away from the book with a number of micro-themes that I connected with, but with no real ability to sum up the overall point the author wanted to make. --- 3 stars for overall takeaway.
Overall rating - 4 stars.
I received a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 23, 2012
Your Church is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside Down, by Canadian author Mark Buchanan is a call to churches everywhere to return to their roots - I think. I read this on a Kindle and it was so badly formatted that at times I found it very hard to follow. Pages and pages of blank space were followed by sentences that started in the middle. So my first word of advice - DO NOT BUY THIS ON A KINDLE!!!
Now, on to my review...
I love Mark Buchanan's writing and have been a fan for a long time. He is always straight forward, never shies away from controversy and pretty much hits the nail on the head for most topics. That said, Your Church is Too Safe is a call for churches everywhere to wake up and become what they used to be...a force for the Kingdom of God!
Buchanan reminds us that we are not to be safely cocooned in our own little worlds, shut in by church walls on Sunday morning, but to be making a difference in the world around us. This of course is nothing new. Many books and authors have been bemoaning this fact for years. The church is no longer a force for change in the world. People who don't know Christ have stopped seeking Him out. They don't get excited about Jesus. They don't say, "Hey! That church talks about Jesus and I hear He even shows up on Sunday mornings! I'm going there! Let's all go!" Instead, people avoid church and "church people" like the plague. We are not a pleasing aroma anymore to the outside world and Mark Buchanan, through personal anecdotes and humour, shows us how we can become churches that are like Jesus and Jesus was a disruptive force! He spoke his mind, he taught with authority and his love for the world was evident. He is how we should be.
As I stated at the beginning, I read this on a Kindle and so my review is based on that experience. Buchanan's message is clear - stop being safe and turn the world upside down for the Kingdom of God! I think it will be an encouragement to you.
Now, on to my review...
I love Mark Buchanan's writing and have been a fan for a long time. He is always straight forward, never shies away from controversy and pretty much hits the nail on the head for most topics. That said, Your Church is Too Safe is a call for churches everywhere to wake up and become what they used to be...a force for the Kingdom of God!
Buchanan reminds us that we are not to be safely cocooned in our own little worlds, shut in by church walls on Sunday morning, but to be making a difference in the world around us. This of course is nothing new. Many books and authors have been bemoaning this fact for years. The church is no longer a force for change in the world. People who don't know Christ have stopped seeking Him out. They don't get excited about Jesus. They don't say, "Hey! That church talks about Jesus and I hear He even shows up on Sunday mornings! I'm going there! Let's all go!" Instead, people avoid church and "church people" like the plague. We are not a pleasing aroma anymore to the outside world and Mark Buchanan, through personal anecdotes and humour, shows us how we can become churches that are like Jesus and Jesus was a disruptive force! He spoke his mind, he taught with authority and his love for the world was evident. He is how we should be.
As I stated at the beginning, I read this on a Kindle and so my review is based on that experience. Buchanan's message is clear - stop being safe and turn the world upside down for the Kingdom of God! I think it will be an encouragement to you.
June 13, 2015
Mark Buchanan is one of my favourite authors, however I initially struggled to connect with Your Church is too Safe until chapter eight. On reflection this was probably because I read a lot of books about churches and up until this point Buchanan was setting a scene I know well. However from this point on the book came alive for me and I found it fresh and engaging. Buchanan shared some changes they made at his own church as well as insights from Biblical texts.
Buchanan's fictitious description of a person who grows up to have a religious spirit was incredibly helpful in chapter thirteen. As was his advice to "eat whatever" in chapter eight. In chapter nine he pinpoints our reluctance to engage in the world and in chapter ten he asks why was it necessary for the paralytic's friends to wreck the roof? The disturbing answer is that all the healthy people were blocking their way and unwilling to move. This, of course, relates to us today. Do we block the way for others to come to Jesus by our selfish attitudes? Buchanan has other challenges to do with unity amongst Christians, our acceptance of those whose moral standards are different to ours and our willingness to be channels of God's healing.
There were times when I sensed Buchanan's frustration and anger with the church for failing so badly in many areas yet his finishes the book on a note of hope and encouragement for the church to become all that God intends.
A very worthwhile and challenging read.
Buchanan's fictitious description of a person who grows up to have a religious spirit was incredibly helpful in chapter thirteen. As was his advice to "eat whatever" in chapter eight. In chapter nine he pinpoints our reluctance to engage in the world and in chapter ten he asks why was it necessary for the paralytic's friends to wreck the roof? The disturbing answer is that all the healthy people were blocking their way and unwilling to move. This, of course, relates to us today. Do we block the way for others to come to Jesus by our selfish attitudes? Buchanan has other challenges to do with unity amongst Christians, our acceptance of those whose moral standards are different to ours and our willingness to be channels of God's healing.
There were times when I sensed Buchanan's frustration and anger with the church for failing so badly in many areas yet his finishes the book on a note of hope and encouragement for the church to become all that God intends.
A very worthwhile and challenging read.
March 27, 2012
Mark Buchanan is fast becoming one of my favorite Christian authors. His book, Spiritual Rhythm, was spiritual and pastoral prose of the highest order. Buchanan is clearly a gifted writer--honest, God-soaked and reveling in life, even in the dirt and filth of humanity. But, Mark Buchanan knows a secret and he's letting everyone know it--the local Church is God's plan for redeeming this dirty world. This is the burden of his latest book, Your Church Is Too Safe. He urges us to come out of "Christian ghettos" and to assault the powers of darkness. Buchanan is brutally honest about his struggles, his church's struggles, and the weakness of so many churches. However, these pages shine with stories of love, forgiveness, and transformation ... vignettes of a marvelous drama unfolding in Pastor Mark's church. Other churches are getting it as well, and are beginning to live dangerously. Read this book at at your own risk! If you let the Biblical and practical wisdom of this book penetrate your defenses, you might find your life (and hopefully your church) turned upside down ... which means it will actually be right-side up.
April 20, 2012
Your church is too safe, by Mark Buchanan, Zondervan Publishers, 2012, 240 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0310331230, $18.99
“When did we [as a church]…make it a priority to be safe instead of dangerous…nice instead of holy… cautious instead of bold…self-absorbed…” instead of loving and Christ centered? Asks Pastor Mark Buchanan in the introduction to Your Church is too Safe.
If the love in your church doesn’t draw the world to your church, “it’s irrelevant,” he says. Because “…love is the music of heaven…and we are intended to be a replica of the Father’s voice thinly echoed in our own,” writes Pastor Buchanan.
He questions if that is the tone in many of today’s churches where church pews seem filled with believers who seek their own comfort instead of providing comfort to others. What about dying to self and living for Christ?
If the real “…story of the gospel is love…the main theme of the Gospel is relationship.” That …Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/82anxkr
“When did we [as a church]…make it a priority to be safe instead of dangerous…nice instead of holy… cautious instead of bold…self-absorbed…” instead of loving and Christ centered? Asks Pastor Mark Buchanan in the introduction to Your Church is too Safe.
If the love in your church doesn’t draw the world to your church, “it’s irrelevant,” he says. Because “…love is the music of heaven…and we are intended to be a replica of the Father’s voice thinly echoed in our own,” writes Pastor Buchanan.
He questions if that is the tone in many of today’s churches where church pews seem filled with believers who seek their own comfort instead of providing comfort to others. What about dying to self and living for Christ?
If the real “…story of the gospel is love…the main theme of the Gospel is relationship.” That …Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/82anxkr
May 28, 2012
A very well written, couldn't put it down book on the church and what it could be. I loved this book! As a pastor who reads a lot of books on the subject I'd say this is one of the best in the last few years!!
February 17, 2016
Buchanan seldom disappoints. As is the case with each of his books, the ideas he presents are more crafted than written, causing the reader to look at what he's saying rather than just listen to it. His discussion on "In-between" places is most valuable here.
August 21, 2013
Another excellent book and well worth reading to try and get a better perspective on how the Church can be more relevant to the world. Not perfect by any means but very very challenging.
January 6, 2014
Some chapters were a miss but overall a great cry for the church to both become a safe place of welcome and not so safe for those who are members.
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