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Impossible Christianity: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time
How to live the Christian life when doing so feels overwhelming. Explains from a biblical perspective how Christians can both please God and enjoy life.
4 pages, Audiobook
Published September 10, 2023
93 people are currently reading
3235 people want to read
About the author
Kevin DeYoung
114 books1,253 followersKevin DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, right across the street from Michigan State University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 354 reviews
July 31, 2023
4.5. Classic DeYoung—offering uncommon (even unpopular) biblical nuance to a complex topic. A needed word for our anxious, hyperactive, guilt-ridden age.
August 25, 2023
I read this book In 6 days because it was so encouraging to me - someone who has an overactive conscience and lives more on the “guilty” side of things.
To be frank, this book was like an opposite take on the book “Radical” by David Platt. Don’t get me wrong, that is one of my favorite books but it doesn’t highlight the faithful, ordinary life of a Christian and certain people (with certain personalities and tendencies like myself) need to hear more stuff like this book by Kevin DeYoung. He talks about how some of us feel like Christianity is impossible and that’s because we have created a type of religion that is “unsuitable for finite creatures” (108). He says “God may ask me to change my priorities. He does not ask me to change the world. The virtue lists of the New Testament are instructive in this regard. When the Bible wants to tell us what Christians are like, it gives us character traits, not a to-do-list” (107). He also talks about how the good Samaritan’s duty was to care for the one man on the road and not every hurting person in the whole world (111). There is something to be said about the life of an ordinary, obedient believer - God is pleased with them if they are being obedient to Him. He said “One of the greatest disservices we have done the church is to let people think that getting married, having children, staying married, taking those children to church, teaching those children about faith, buying shoes, and training those children to be kind and courageous Christian adults is something other than radical discipleship. If we too are ‘exiles’ (1 Peter 1:1), then Jeremiah’s counsel to the Jews in Babylon is good advice for us as well: settle down, raise a family, and seek the welfare of your temporary home (Jer. 29:4-7)” (119). Boom! Anyway, that was long, but very grateful for a book like this that sheds light on what it looks like to walk faithfully day to day with Christ.
To be frank, this book was like an opposite take on the book “Radical” by David Platt. Don’t get me wrong, that is one of my favorite books but it doesn’t highlight the faithful, ordinary life of a Christian and certain people (with certain personalities and tendencies like myself) need to hear more stuff like this book by Kevin DeYoung. He talks about how some of us feel like Christianity is impossible and that’s because we have created a type of religion that is “unsuitable for finite creatures” (108). He says “God may ask me to change my priorities. He does not ask me to change the world. The virtue lists of the New Testament are instructive in this regard. When the Bible wants to tell us what Christians are like, it gives us character traits, not a to-do-list” (107). He also talks about how the good Samaritan’s duty was to care for the one man on the road and not every hurting person in the whole world (111). There is something to be said about the life of an ordinary, obedient believer - God is pleased with them if they are being obedient to Him. He said “One of the greatest disservices we have done the church is to let people think that getting married, having children, staying married, taking those children to church, teaching those children about faith, buying shoes, and training those children to be kind and courageous Christian adults is something other than radical discipleship. If we too are ‘exiles’ (1 Peter 1:1), then Jeremiah’s counsel to the Jews in Babylon is good advice for us as well: settle down, raise a family, and seek the welfare of your temporary home (Jer. 29:4-7)” (119). Boom! Anyway, that was long, but very grateful for a book like this that sheds light on what it looks like to walk faithfully day to day with Christ.
August 15, 2023
I think Kevin DeYoung is quickly becoming my go to author, he speaks with such clarity and biblical wisdom. This book is no different. A very approachable book with lots of great content! Highly recommended for both ministers and church goers. Very well done
October 16, 2023
First book I’ve read by DeYoung and really enjoyed it. Enjoy the way that he writes and his personality comes out in his writing. Refreshing to read especially as it’s easy to fall into a performance-based mindset as a Christian. The Lord cares about our hearts the other 23 hours of the day besides the one hour that we may spend with him in a “quiet time”.
“Being a Christian is not easy. It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). But let us not think that pleasing God is the tribulation, or that Christ means to lay an iron yoke upon our necks, or that the Spirit is only and always grieved by us. Remember, Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him (Heb. 12:2).”
God is pleased with us and we in Him.
“Being a Christian is not easy. It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). But let us not think that pleasing God is the tribulation, or that Christ means to lay an iron yoke upon our necks, or that the Spirit is only and always grieved by us. Remember, Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before him (Heb. 12:2).”
God is pleased with us and we in Him.
January 23, 2024
KDY at his best, on one of his favorite topics - sanctification.
“We’ve concocted a Christianity unsuitable for finite creatures.”
“Don’t train yourself to have a guilty conscience. If you are guilty, deal with it, and know the joy of forgiveness in Christ. If you aren’t guilty, don’t wallow in feelings of failure, as if that makes you a better Christian.”
“The Sermon on the Mount is not an impossible standard, because pleasing Jesus is not impossible.”
“God may ask me to change my priorities. He does not ask me to change the world.”
“We’ve concocted a Christianity unsuitable for finite creatures.”
“Don’t train yourself to have a guilty conscience. If you are guilty, deal with it, and know the joy of forgiveness in Christ. If you aren’t guilty, don’t wallow in feelings of failure, as if that makes you a better Christian.”
“The Sermon on the Mount is not an impossible standard, because pleasing Jesus is not impossible.”
“God may ask me to change my priorities. He does not ask me to change the world.”
June 25, 2024
This book crushed me. No doubt, the audience DeYoung was writing to was someone like me. Running on low-to-middle grades of guilt for not praying more, evangelizing more, and not giving every spare second of my time to spiritual things.
If you deal with feelings of guilt and disappointment/frustration in your walk with Christ because you never feel like you have a sufficient amount of quiet time, you never share the gospel enough, and you never give to the poor enough or do enough good works as you know you should…this book is for you.
One by one, DeYoung gives pastoral encouragement from the Word that addresses each of these. I personally benefitted the most from his topic on how our righteous acts done in faith, though are not spotless and perfect, but are GOOD and PLEASING to God. What a wonderful, wonderful truth.
God is not a miser. Nor does he just tolerate us until we get to heaven. A Father’s love takes delight in his children. He is pleased by our prayers, our acts of love, and gifts of charity for others. I so loved this little book and will be dwelling on it for weeks and months to come. Thank you Kevin DeYoung and thank you Father in heaven, giver of all good gifts.
If you deal with feelings of guilt and disappointment/frustration in your walk with Christ because you never feel like you have a sufficient amount of quiet time, you never share the gospel enough, and you never give to the poor enough or do enough good works as you know you should…this book is for you.
One by one, DeYoung gives pastoral encouragement from the Word that addresses each of these. I personally benefitted the most from his topic on how our righteous acts done in faith, though are not spotless and perfect, but are GOOD and PLEASING to God. What a wonderful, wonderful truth.
God is not a miser. Nor does he just tolerate us until we get to heaven. A Father’s love takes delight in his children. He is pleased by our prayers, our acts of love, and gifts of charity for others. I so loved this little book and will be dwelling on it for weeks and months to come. Thank you Kevin DeYoung and thank you Father in heaven, giver of all good gifts.
February 25, 2025
It really felt like this book was written directly to me 😭 Idk if it’s the fact that I started my adult life doing inner city school work and have gradually shifted to more time changing diapers, or if it’s a personality thing, but I have fought a lot of guilt and grappled with this “I’m never enough” concept hard in my Christian walk recently. I think there is a place for reads that encourage “radicalism” (I think there’s still something good in my fear of becoming “lukewarm”) but for me right now, I know I will be returning to this book time and time again. This is the message I needed to hear.
December 6, 2025
“But reveling in God's grace does not mean we should revel in being spiritual failures. He does not mean for us to feel bad all the time. He does not mean for us to be lackluster disciples. He does not mean for us to be constantly overwhelmed. He does not mean for us to feel guilty all the time. God does not mean for Christianity to be impossible.”
This short book was extremely helpful and a breath of fresh air as I’ve personally wrestled with some of the feelings and sentiments that the author carefully pushed back against with Scripture. I particularly appreciated his emphasis that we can truly please God with our lives, since it can feel impossible at times. This was a fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to anyone who has wrestled with feeling like you can never do enough in your Christian walk.
“The point is worth making again: Christians are not only counted righteous on account of Christ's righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21); we can—as the fruit, not the ground, of that imputed righteousness—live holy lives pleasing to God.”
This short book was extremely helpful and a breath of fresh air as I’ve personally wrestled with some of the feelings and sentiments that the author carefully pushed back against with Scripture. I particularly appreciated his emphasis that we can truly please God with our lives, since it can feel impossible at times. This was a fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to anyone who has wrestled with feeling like you can never do enough in your Christian walk.
“The point is worth making again: Christians are not only counted righteous on account of Christ's righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21); we can—as the fruit, not the ground, of that imputed righteousness—live holy lives pleasing to God.”
August 30, 2023
Y’all—I devoured this book IN TWO DAYS! It was just that good.
This is a really important book. I’m not sure when we started to believe that pleasing God and living the Christian life was nearly (if not completely) impossible, but I identified with a lot of the struggles that Kevin DeYoung discussed in Impossible Christianity.
If there’s one word that I can use to describe how I felt when I closed this book after finishing, it’d be liberated. 🙌🏾 DeYoung does an incredible job of discussing popular misconceptions regarding impossible Christian standards and setting the record straight.
My favorite chapter was the one where he discussed “quiet time” and evangelism. I needed so many of the gems that he dropped about both topics!
If you’ve felt weighed down by all the “demands” of the Christian life, I urge you to grab a copy of this book. Even if you aren’t carrying this weight, I imagine some of the folks in your church are—it’d be a great resource to read with them or become equipped for discussing with them. HIGHLY recommend!!!
I received a copy of this book for free from Crossway in exchange for this honest review.
This is a really important book. I’m not sure when we started to believe that pleasing God and living the Christian life was nearly (if not completely) impossible, but I identified with a lot of the struggles that Kevin DeYoung discussed in Impossible Christianity.
If there’s one word that I can use to describe how I felt when I closed this book after finishing, it’d be liberated. 🙌🏾 DeYoung does an incredible job of discussing popular misconceptions regarding impossible Christian standards and setting the record straight.
My favorite chapter was the one where he discussed “quiet time” and evangelism. I needed so many of the gems that he dropped about both topics!
If you’ve felt weighed down by all the “demands” of the Christian life, I urge you to grab a copy of this book. Even if you aren’t carrying this weight, I imagine some of the folks in your church are—it’d be a great resource to read with them or become equipped for discussing with them. HIGHLY recommend!!!
I received a copy of this book for free from Crossway in exchange for this honest review.
April 16, 2024
Wow. Wow! Every once in a while you read a book that helps you enjoy God for who He actually is just a little bit more--and grasping that "little bit more," with the joy and the release and the sense of God's goodness it brings, almost makes you feel as if you've been saved all over again. This ranks as one of those books for me. I feel like I'm seeing not just my daily walk, but also the whole world, with new eyes.
I almost skipped this one because I have never once thought to myself that Christianity was "impossible." But the biggest takeaway I got from this book is that PLEASING GOD is not impossible. He's not only pleased with me in the abstract ("I am pleased that this person is now a part of my larger project of world changing"), but pleased with me personally as His daughter. I'm not always disappointing Him. He's not always looking at my imperfect obedience and only seeing all the ways I could do better. Rather, He looks at my imperfect obedience and is PLEASED with it because, though imperfect, it is obedience and it is sincere. It is driven by my love for Him. And whatever is imperfect about it is covered and redeemed by Christ's blood.
It's like DeYoung has been watching my mental hamster wheel for years. I pour myself a cup of coffee to have an early quiet time and feel a quiet tug of guilt that it's probably not ethically sourced. I thank God for the blessings He's given me all while wondering if my camel is going to be able to squeeze through the eye of its needle. If I do anything the Bible says is good, I remind myself that, per Isaiah, it's only filthy rags, and I try not to feel proud of it, which (for me) leads to feeling guilty for my good works too. I tend to read the Sermon on the Mount as an unattainable standard. DeYoung addresses ALL of these specifically in Impossible Christianity.
DeYoung argues that we have conflated our true theology (that it is impossible for us to earn salvation through our works) with a false, anti-NT idea that our works can never please God, even after we are adopted as His children. And he rightly shows how demoralizing and unmotivating this posture is--that it leads not just to disheartened, anxious Christians but also to antinomianism: "Since it's impossible, why even try?"
For example, he has a short half a chapter on evangelism, which I have never failed to feel guilty about since I was a teen. After that short half chapter, I didn't feel guilty anymore, AND I couldn't wait to go share Jesus with my neighbors.
And DeYoung does it all THROUGH rich, pithy exegesis. Nearly every point is relentlessly straight from Scripture, so I can gladly say "Amen!" God Himself once again corrects my hard thoughts of God.
The fruit has been immediate and obvious. I enjoy God more, which is to say I enjoy my whole life more. I've thrown off shackles I've thought for years that I needed to be wearing.
I almost skipped this one because I have never once thought to myself that Christianity was "impossible." But the biggest takeaway I got from this book is that PLEASING GOD is not impossible. He's not only pleased with me in the abstract ("I am pleased that this person is now a part of my larger project of world changing"), but pleased with me personally as His daughter. I'm not always disappointing Him. He's not always looking at my imperfect obedience and only seeing all the ways I could do better. Rather, He looks at my imperfect obedience and is PLEASED with it because, though imperfect, it is obedience and it is sincere. It is driven by my love for Him. And whatever is imperfect about it is covered and redeemed by Christ's blood.
It's like DeYoung has been watching my mental hamster wheel for years. I pour myself a cup of coffee to have an early quiet time and feel a quiet tug of guilt that it's probably not ethically sourced. I thank God for the blessings He's given me all while wondering if my camel is going to be able to squeeze through the eye of its needle. If I do anything the Bible says is good, I remind myself that, per Isaiah, it's only filthy rags, and I try not to feel proud of it, which (for me) leads to feeling guilty for my good works too. I tend to read the Sermon on the Mount as an unattainable standard. DeYoung addresses ALL of these specifically in Impossible Christianity.
DeYoung argues that we have conflated our true theology (that it is impossible for us to earn salvation through our works) with a false, anti-NT idea that our works can never please God, even after we are adopted as His children. And he rightly shows how demoralizing and unmotivating this posture is--that it leads not just to disheartened, anxious Christians but also to antinomianism: "Since it's impossible, why even try?"
For example, he has a short half a chapter on evangelism, which I have never failed to feel guilty about since I was a teen. After that short half chapter, I didn't feel guilty anymore, AND I couldn't wait to go share Jesus with my neighbors.
And DeYoung does it all THROUGH rich, pithy exegesis. Nearly every point is relentlessly straight from Scripture, so I can gladly say "Amen!" God Himself once again corrects my hard thoughts of God.
The fruit has been immediate and obvious. I enjoy God more, which is to say I enjoy my whole life more. I've thrown off shackles I've thought for years that I needed to be wearing.
September 4, 2023
This is an important message for those who may feel discouraged that trying to do everything that a Christian is supposed to do seems overwhelming. That perfection is the goal but also an impossible standard, so since they cannot measure up, they become guilt-ridden or just give up trying.
DeYoung reminds us that it is indeed possible to please God, that Jesus said his yoke is easy, and that we are called to live lives of quiet faithfulness—not to exert every effort to change the world.
Here are a couple quotes:
“But isn't the Sermon on the Mount an impossible standard? Who among us never worries, never lusts, never gets angry, never lies, is never a hypocrite, and always loves his enemies, always follows the Golden Rule, and always serves God alone? Here it's good to recall the distinction between true obedience and perfect obedience. There is a way to insist on genuine obedience as a way of life without doubling down on never sinning and always doing what is right.”
[p 95]
“This is ordinary life, and it is also extraordinary at the same time. One of the great disservices we have done the church is to let people think that getting married, having children, staying married, taking those children to church, teaching those children about the faith, buying shoes, and training those children to be kind and courageous Christian adults is something other than radical discipleship. If we too are "exiles" (1 Pet. 1:1), then Jeremiah's counsel to the Jews in Babylon is good advice for us as well: settle down, raise a family, and seek the welfare of your temporary home (Jer. 29:4-7). When we follow Jesus by loving others, discipling our children (whether biological or spiritual), getting involved in a good church, and sharing with others our faith and our resources—when we do all that, we are most definitely doing something.”
[p 119]
DeYoung reminds us that it is indeed possible to please God, that Jesus said his yoke is easy, and that we are called to live lives of quiet faithfulness—not to exert every effort to change the world.
Here are a couple quotes:
“But isn't the Sermon on the Mount an impossible standard? Who among us never worries, never lusts, never gets angry, never lies, is never a hypocrite, and always loves his enemies, always follows the Golden Rule, and always serves God alone? Here it's good to recall the distinction between true obedience and perfect obedience. There is a way to insist on genuine obedience as a way of life without doubling down on never sinning and always doing what is right.”
[p 95]
“This is ordinary life, and it is also extraordinary at the same time. One of the great disservices we have done the church is to let people think that getting married, having children, staying married, taking those children to church, teaching those children about the faith, buying shoes, and training those children to be kind and courageous Christian adults is something other than radical discipleship. If we too are "exiles" (1 Pet. 1:1), then Jeremiah's counsel to the Jews in Babylon is good advice for us as well: settle down, raise a family, and seek the welfare of your temporary home (Jer. 29:4-7). When we follow Jesus by loving others, discipling our children (whether biological or spiritual), getting involved in a good church, and sharing with others our faith and our resources—when we do all that, we are most definitely doing something.”
[p 119]
October 25, 2023
There appears to be a growing confusion these days about historic Christianity. A few questions help bring this uncertainty to light:
Does following Jesus mean we have to change the world?
Do we have to be experts on every subject?
Are we destined to feel miserable on most days?
Do we need to accept spiritual failure?
These are the kinds of questions that Kevin DeYoung addresses in his recent book, Impossible Christianity.
Dr. DeYoung addresses a critical aspect of the Christian life at the outset: “Ordinary Christians and ordinary churches can be faithful, fruitful, and pleasing to God. In short, Christianity doesn’t have to be impossible.” The central task of the book is to make the case for this assertion.
The author successfully defends his thesis in eight short chapters. These chapters are simple enough for new Christians to understand but “pack a punch” for seasoned believers as well. DeYoung is quick to dismantle the legalistic tendencies we all possess. He likewise affirms the graciousness of the gospel and the joy that should be a part of our Christian lives.
Impossible Christianity is an encouraging book that should be enthusiastically devoured by Christians. It is a helpful antidote to the false notions of spirituality that have crept into the church.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Does following Jesus mean we have to change the world?
Do we have to be experts on every subject?
Are we destined to feel miserable on most days?
Do we need to accept spiritual failure?
These are the kinds of questions that Kevin DeYoung addresses in his recent book, Impossible Christianity.
Dr. DeYoung addresses a critical aspect of the Christian life at the outset: “Ordinary Christians and ordinary churches can be faithful, fruitful, and pleasing to God. In short, Christianity doesn’t have to be impossible.” The central task of the book is to make the case for this assertion.
The author successfully defends his thesis in eight short chapters. These chapters are simple enough for new Christians to understand but “pack a punch” for seasoned believers as well. DeYoung is quick to dismantle the legalistic tendencies we all possess. He likewise affirms the graciousness of the gospel and the joy that should be a part of our Christian lives.
Impossible Christianity is an encouraging book that should be enthusiastically devoured by Christians. It is a helpful antidote to the false notions of spirituality that have crept into the church.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
January 17, 2025
4.7 Stars - 2024 Top Reads
This is classic DeYoung, succinct yet theological profound and pastorally helpfuly. "Impossible Christianity" is about how much of modern Christianity has made following Jesus harder than it actually needs to be. The reality is that many of us treat the Christian life like it's impossible, and that we'll never measure up, and that God is perennially disappointed with us. But DeYoung joyfully reminds us of the ways that God does delight in us and that many of His commandments are doable rather than impossible. Throughout the book DeYoung dispels many myths by reminding us of Biblical truths, including the reality that God does not demand us to live outlandish radical lives to impress God, but that He is pleased with everyday faithfulness. This is an excellent book for every struggling Christian to read and it was a wonderful refreshment for me. I highly recommend this book.
This is classic DeYoung, succinct yet theological profound and pastorally helpfuly. "Impossible Christianity" is about how much of modern Christianity has made following Jesus harder than it actually needs to be. The reality is that many of us treat the Christian life like it's impossible, and that we'll never measure up, and that God is perennially disappointed with us. But DeYoung joyfully reminds us of the ways that God does delight in us and that many of His commandments are doable rather than impossible. Throughout the book DeYoung dispels many myths by reminding us of Biblical truths, including the reality that God does not demand us to live outlandish radical lives to impress God, but that He is pleased with everyday faithfulness. This is an excellent book for every struggling Christian to read and it was a wonderful refreshment for me. I highly recommend this book.
January 9, 2026
Sober-minded encouragement from page one to the end. If we all ingested the ideas in this book, we'd be a lot better off.
February 4, 2024
If ‘The Hole in our Holiness’ taught us that we truly can (and should) pursue a holy life before the Lord, Impossible Christianity teaches us that God can truly be pleased with our efforts. The message of these two books are really two sides of the same coin. In this book in particular, DeYoung offers some suggestions for how to avoid “spiritual failurism” and embrace a life of limits. A comfort for weary souls.
April 14, 2024
A must read for believers in general, but especially for those who struggle to believe God can be pleased with them.
February 9, 2024
This book offers a refreshing perspective on Christian discipleship, debunking common misconceptions and presenting a more balanced approach to following Jesus. DeYoung challenges the prevailing notion that Christians must change the world, be experts in everything, accept constant spiritual failure, and endure perpetual misery. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations, embracing grace over performance, finding joy in faith, and pursuing authenticity in failure.
What sets this book apart is its blend of biblical depth, practical application, and accessible language. DeYoung effectively communicates complex theological concepts clearly and understandably, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds. He grounds his arguments in Scripture, providing readers with a solid theological foundation for their faith journey.
This book is an informative guide for Christians seeking a more balanced and grace-filled approach to discipleship. With its insightful analysis and practical wisdom, this book challenges readers to embrace authenticity, find joy in faith, and live out their Christian calling in today's world.
What sets this book apart is its blend of biblical depth, practical application, and accessible language. DeYoung effectively communicates complex theological concepts clearly and understandably, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds. He grounds his arguments in Scripture, providing readers with a solid theological foundation for their faith journey.
This book is an informative guide for Christians seeking a more balanced and grace-filled approach to discipleship. With its insightful analysis and practical wisdom, this book challenges readers to embrace authenticity, find joy in faith, and live out their Christian calling in today's world.
May 20, 2024
Kevin DeYoung's Impossible Christianity is a gift of grace to anyone following Jesus and feeling exhausted, discouraged, and overall "miserable."
This is a timely pastoral response to the speed and culture that seems to define American Evangelicalism.
This book is for the Christian who feels like they are never doing enough. For the Christian who thinks that at best they'll find themselves in Heaven meeting the eyes of a disappointed Father. This is for the Christian who is burnt out, angsty, and restless - asking "Is this as good as it gets?"
Honestly, I'd be quick to prescribe this book to a lot of different people going through a lot of different things. It's a short read with deep wisdom for the elect exiles.
This is a timely pastoral response to the speed and culture that seems to define American Evangelicalism.
This book is for the Christian who feels like they are never doing enough. For the Christian who thinks that at best they'll find themselves in Heaven meeting the eyes of a disappointed Father. This is for the Christian who is burnt out, angsty, and restless - asking "Is this as good as it gets?"
Honestly, I'd be quick to prescribe this book to a lot of different people going through a lot of different things. It's a short read with deep wisdom for the elect exiles.
August 13, 2024
This book was so encouraging! I’m a big fan. In a lot of Christian circles, the fruit of radical and passionate evangelism is held on a higher standard than other fruits. Without bashing this outlook, DeYoung outlines the importance of a faithful Christian life and using the opportunities God gives us to do His will. I loved his point about how just because we can be doing more, it doesn’t mean we aren’t doing well and God isn’t pleased with it. It was also a good length and didn’t go on forever about the same thing, which I appreciated lol
August 12, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. I appreciated how he reminded us about our relationship with God as Father and that He can be pleased with us. Yes, He is the judge but He also cares so deeply for us and loves us. I also loved how he approached social media and this quote - “There is no virtue in the embrace of the globalized worry.” There simply isn’t enough time to care about every issue and we can fix so little globally, but we can focus on those in our community who we can serve.
August 28, 2024
I almost always love what DeYoung writes, but this book is a great encouragement for the regular, everyday Christian. His message is basically that you don’t have to change the world to please God - you can please God by being faithful where you are and you don’t have to feel guilty for the problems of the world that you can’t change.
July 27, 2023
This really is an excellent book. I’d recommend it to everyone.
September 26, 2024
“This book is about how the line ‘how God loves us even though we are spiritual failures’, however well-intentioned is unbiblical, inaccurate, and unhelpful.”
“God does not mean for Christianity to be impossible.”
This little book is a great read!
Especially for those who feel like the subtitle suggests: guilty about how little they’re changing the world, how little they know, how much they mess up, how much money they have, and think they’re doing a terrible job at being a Christian.
It reminded me a lot of Jared Wilson’s book The Imperfect Disciple which is also very good.
I love Kevin DeYoung’s books because they are always easy to read, easy to understand, and really seem to ‘get’ where the average Christian is at in their walk with the Lord. There is nothing radical about this book that pushes you into further guilt; it’s about showing how Christianity is possible. We can get to heaven and hear the words ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
He says about this book: “This book isn’t about getting to heaven. This book is about whether on our way to heaven we are doomed to a life of guilt, impossible standards, and failure.”
It’s not that following Christ is easy, but when we are so wrapped in guilt and the impossibility of the tasks before us, we’re more likely to sit and wallow rather than rise up. We will “do less for Christ” not more.
Even though I’m pretty aware of the popularity of assigning guilt to people in almost everything these days, I think I hadn’t really reflected on the guilt I was burdening myself with in my spiritual life.
To me, it was just part of being a Christian (and of not being prideful) to live in the place where ‘I never pray enough. I never evangelize enough. I never give enough. It’s just never enough. I could always do more, and that’s just part of being a sinner and a Christian.’
DeYoung pulls out all kinds of Scripture to show us that though we won’t be perfectly good or perfectly obedient, we can be TRULY good and obedient. That God can be pleased with us right here and now on Earth, even before we attain our glorified, perfect selves.
What an encouragement!
And a good reminder not to make little of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
“We’ve convinced ourselves that true piety means the acceptance of spiritual failure, but we can all think of parents or pastors, or friends or family members, or missionaries or grandmothers who lived like good and faithful servants. They were champions for Christ, not punching bags for God’s disappointment.”
We’ve seen it in others, we, too, can be faithful servants of the Lord. And it doesn’t require perfection.
This book is not to excuse us from ever trying; it’s not fatalistic.
“There are some who should doubt, but not those who desire holiness, hate their sin, and flee to Christ.”
He quotes some from Hebrews which was fitting considering I just finished a Jen Wilkin’s study on Hebrews where we looked at the Hall of Faith (Chap 11) that lists all the people in the Old Testament that were counted as faithful. Both Wilkin and DeYoung pointed out what a mixed bag of ‘faithful servants’ there are.
“We have liars, cheats, doubters, braggarts, prostitutes, murderers, and adulterers.”
“And yet Scripture presents each one as commendable, not because their sins should be glossed over, but because, by faith in the promises of God, they did mighty deeds.”
We don’t have to wonder if our failures disqualify us from living faithful lives.
Hebrews 13:16 says “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Romans 12:1 says “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
We can present our offering of worship and a faithful life of obedience to God and it is acceptable and pleasing to him today.
DeYoung reminds us that God didn’t set us up for failure. He didn’t give us all of Scripture to show how we will always be sinning failures who are hopeless to please him. Christianity is not impossible.
Of course, we can’t do anything without the Holy Spirit. But we DO have him, and so we CAN please the Lord just like Abel did with his offering, just like Noah and Abraham and David and Moses.
He also reminds us that we can do something, but we can’t do EVERYTHING. God has given us very real limits. We are not failing at being Christians when we haven’t corrected all the unjust systems, adopted all the orphans, or given money to all the hurricane victims. We have physical boundaries, financial boundaries, time boundaries, emotional boundaries. We are indeed called to serve those around us, our neighbors on the side of the road; but we are not necessarily called to serve all the neighbors on the side of every road.
“God may ask me to change my priorities. He does not ask me to change the world.”
I really liked the last chapter of the book called ‘A Quiet Life.’
“One of the great disservices we have done the church is to let people think that getting married, having children, staying married, taking those children to church, teaching those children about the faith, buying shoes, and training those children to be kind and courageous Christian adults is something other than radical discipleship. If we too are ‘exiles’ (1 Pt 1:1), then Jeremiah’s counsel to the Jews in Babylon is good advice for us as well: settle down, raise a family, and seek the welfare of your temporary home. (Jer 29:4-7)”
Raising a family is not nothing. It is a big something.
In 1 Tim 2:1-2 Paul urges them to pray “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
There are going to be some people out there with David Platt’s ‘Radical’ evangelism and Bob Goff’s radical resources to do some major work for the kingdom. That is not wrong. But we don’t have to feel guilty if it’s not us.
God calls us to be faithful with what we have, where we are. To be faithful with little that we would be faithful with much.
A quiet life may seem small and simple, but if it’s a faithful quiet life of integrity, we can be commended like those in the hall of faith. ‘Small’ things are big in the hands of a big God.
As a stay-at-home mom, I’m battling the sentiment that I’ve ‘settled’ (in a negative way) and that I’ve given up my dreams and that I should be doing more, working more, or what have you; that my life isn’t big enough or loud enough. But those sentiments are not from the mouth of God. (I wrote more about that HERE.)
He may call me to something more than this, but this is more than enough for him.
Recommendation
This is definitely a book I would recommend. It’s short and could probably be read in one or two sittings. It’s accessible, relatable, and important.
It is a book meant to fuel and lift up your faithful living. It will reorient your perspective on the things that burden you with guilt. The Christian life is not a life meant to be spent in guilt. Jesus died for that.
Christianity is not impossible. Let Kevin DeYoung tell ya about it!
P.S. The cover image is a maze that is impossible to solve. Don't ask me how I know.
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“God does not mean for Christianity to be impossible.”
This little book is a great read!
Especially for those who feel like the subtitle suggests: guilty about how little they’re changing the world, how little they know, how much they mess up, how much money they have, and think they’re doing a terrible job at being a Christian.
It reminded me a lot of Jared Wilson’s book The Imperfect Disciple which is also very good.
I love Kevin DeYoung’s books because they are always easy to read, easy to understand, and really seem to ‘get’ where the average Christian is at in their walk with the Lord. There is nothing radical about this book that pushes you into further guilt; it’s about showing how Christianity is possible. We can get to heaven and hear the words ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
He says about this book: “This book isn’t about getting to heaven. This book is about whether on our way to heaven we are doomed to a life of guilt, impossible standards, and failure.”
It’s not that following Christ is easy, but when we are so wrapped in guilt and the impossibility of the tasks before us, we’re more likely to sit and wallow rather than rise up. We will “do less for Christ” not more.
Even though I’m pretty aware of the popularity of assigning guilt to people in almost everything these days, I think I hadn’t really reflected on the guilt I was burdening myself with in my spiritual life.
To me, it was just part of being a Christian (and of not being prideful) to live in the place where ‘I never pray enough. I never evangelize enough. I never give enough. It’s just never enough. I could always do more, and that’s just part of being a sinner and a Christian.’
DeYoung pulls out all kinds of Scripture to show us that though we won’t be perfectly good or perfectly obedient, we can be TRULY good and obedient. That God can be pleased with us right here and now on Earth, even before we attain our glorified, perfect selves.
What an encouragement!
And a good reminder not to make little of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
“We’ve convinced ourselves that true piety means the acceptance of spiritual failure, but we can all think of parents or pastors, or friends or family members, or missionaries or grandmothers who lived like good and faithful servants. They were champions for Christ, not punching bags for God’s disappointment.”
We’ve seen it in others, we, too, can be faithful servants of the Lord. And it doesn’t require perfection.
This book is not to excuse us from ever trying; it’s not fatalistic.
“There are some who should doubt, but not those who desire holiness, hate their sin, and flee to Christ.”
He quotes some from Hebrews which was fitting considering I just finished a Jen Wilkin’s study on Hebrews where we looked at the Hall of Faith (Chap 11) that lists all the people in the Old Testament that were counted as faithful. Both Wilkin and DeYoung pointed out what a mixed bag of ‘faithful servants’ there are.
“We have liars, cheats, doubters, braggarts, prostitutes, murderers, and adulterers.”
“And yet Scripture presents each one as commendable, not because their sins should be glossed over, but because, by faith in the promises of God, they did mighty deeds.”
We don’t have to wonder if our failures disqualify us from living faithful lives.
Hebrews 13:16 says “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Romans 12:1 says “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
We can present our offering of worship and a faithful life of obedience to God and it is acceptable and pleasing to him today.
DeYoung reminds us that God didn’t set us up for failure. He didn’t give us all of Scripture to show how we will always be sinning failures who are hopeless to please him. Christianity is not impossible.
Of course, we can’t do anything without the Holy Spirit. But we DO have him, and so we CAN please the Lord just like Abel did with his offering, just like Noah and Abraham and David and Moses.
He also reminds us that we can do something, but we can’t do EVERYTHING. God has given us very real limits. We are not failing at being Christians when we haven’t corrected all the unjust systems, adopted all the orphans, or given money to all the hurricane victims. We have physical boundaries, financial boundaries, time boundaries, emotional boundaries. We are indeed called to serve those around us, our neighbors on the side of the road; but we are not necessarily called to serve all the neighbors on the side of every road.
“God may ask me to change my priorities. He does not ask me to change the world.”
I really liked the last chapter of the book called ‘A Quiet Life.’
“One of the great disservices we have done the church is to let people think that getting married, having children, staying married, taking those children to church, teaching those children about the faith, buying shoes, and training those children to be kind and courageous Christian adults is something other than radical discipleship. If we too are ‘exiles’ (1 Pt 1:1), then Jeremiah’s counsel to the Jews in Babylon is good advice for us as well: settle down, raise a family, and seek the welfare of your temporary home. (Jer 29:4-7)”
Raising a family is not nothing. It is a big something.
In 1 Tim 2:1-2 Paul urges them to pray “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
There are going to be some people out there with David Platt’s ‘Radical’ evangelism and Bob Goff’s radical resources to do some major work for the kingdom. That is not wrong. But we don’t have to feel guilty if it’s not us.
God calls us to be faithful with what we have, where we are. To be faithful with little that we would be faithful with much.
A quiet life may seem small and simple, but if it’s a faithful quiet life of integrity, we can be commended like those in the hall of faith. ‘Small’ things are big in the hands of a big God.
As a stay-at-home mom, I’m battling the sentiment that I’ve ‘settled’ (in a negative way) and that I’ve given up my dreams and that I should be doing more, working more, or what have you; that my life isn’t big enough or loud enough. But those sentiments are not from the mouth of God. (I wrote more about that HERE.)
He may call me to something more than this, but this is more than enough for him.
Recommendation
This is definitely a book I would recommend. It’s short and could probably be read in one or two sittings. It’s accessible, relatable, and important.
It is a book meant to fuel and lift up your faithful living. It will reorient your perspective on the things that burden you with guilt. The Christian life is not a life meant to be spent in guilt. Jesus died for that.
Christianity is not impossible. Let Kevin DeYoung tell ya about it!
P.S. The cover image is a maze that is impossible to solve. Don't ask me how I know.
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
May 30, 2024
4.5/5
Reads sort of like a sequel to The Hole in Our Holiness, but for a narrower target audience. The beginning and ending sections were like balm for the soul.
Plus, we appreciate an author who can compare the Christian life to the movie Babe instead of Braveheart.
Thanks to Urdaneta for giving me this book (which I will now be lending to everybody). I’m well aware I’m starting to sound like a broken record when it comes to anything written by DeYoung, but you should all do yourselves a favor and read this book.
Reads sort of like a sequel to The Hole in Our Holiness, but for a narrower target audience. The beginning and ending sections were like balm for the soul.
Plus, we appreciate an author who can compare the Christian life to the movie Babe instead of Braveheart.
Thanks to Urdaneta for giving me this book (which I will now be lending to everybody). I’m well aware I’m starting to sound like a broken record when it comes to anything written by DeYoung, but you should all do yourselves a favor and read this book.
January 16, 2024
Succinctly and powerfully articulates what everyday, authentic Christian living looks like. A wonderful reminder of how gracious and merciful God is. Would love to put a copy of this in the hands of every church member!
August 2, 2024
So this is Julia’s pope.
Short and to the point, DeYoung exposes the laziness of the spiritual pity party that is masked under feigned piety and shows that us regenerate are actually capable of fulfilling our duty (though imperfectly) as the kingdom of priests bc of the greater high priest. A much needed slap in the face of lazy pick-me girl Christianity under the delusion that misery is piety.
This reminded me that I CAN follow God (though imperfectly—yes yes we know that already) and please him, and it’s not prideful to acknowledge that.
Short and to the point, DeYoung exposes the laziness of the spiritual pity party that is masked under feigned piety and shows that us regenerate are actually capable of fulfilling our duty (though imperfectly) as the kingdom of priests bc of the greater high priest. A much needed slap in the face of lazy pick-me girl Christianity under the delusion that misery is piety.
This reminded me that I CAN follow God (though imperfectly—yes yes we know that already) and please him, and it’s not prideful to acknowledge that.
February 16, 2025
Maybe a 4.5 because the chapters didn’t always feel the most congruous but that aside, wow, this book was good for my soul. As someone who tends to be a little too introspective and constantly question “am I making the morally right/most optimal decision or is this not what God wants for me?”, this was a breath of fresh air. A good reminder that our God is not a miserly task master who turns up his nose at our efforts but loves to see His children serve him and (because of Christ) is genuinely and truly pleased with us (even if we don’t end world hunger or find the cure to cancer)
September 10, 2025
A book that has jumped into my "recommend for all Christians" category. If you read the full title (the poor audio book reader had to do so each time, haha) and feel like ANY of it resonates...this is worth your time.
DeYoung expounds on many of the claims we would all nod our heads to as Christians, but don't tend to live like it. "Many of us tend to equate being miserable with being godly." Especially interesting is the section on the Sermon on the Mount, where DeYoung posits a much more grace-filled and loving reality than I am used to reading from that portion of Scripture. He is clear and builds every observation on Scriptural grounds while remaining pastoral in tone. I needed this book.
DeYoung expounds on many of the claims we would all nod our heads to as Christians, but don't tend to live like it. "Many of us tend to equate being miserable with being godly." Especially interesting is the section on the Sermon on the Mount, where DeYoung posits a much more grace-filled and loving reality than I am used to reading from that portion of Scripture. He is clear and builds every observation on Scriptural grounds while remaining pastoral in tone. I needed this book.
February 3, 2025
Like a deep breath, this was an encouraging book.
I listened to this at work, so I was mildly distracted from it at times. I will need to reread this as a physical copy as I think there is more to get out of it!
I listened to this at work, so I was mildly distracted from it at times. I will need to reread this as a physical copy as I think there is more to get out of it!
September 5, 2023
Very good. Worthy of a book review!
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