Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?

by Eugene Cho

"It can be fashionable to talk about the poor but not as fashionable to talk to the poor. It may be popular to talk about justice and still not know any victims of injustice. But we will never make poverty history until we make poverty personal. Eugene Cho shatters all our hipster coffee-shop talk of justice and dares you to dive into the trenches and do something real with your life."Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and friend of Eugene Cho "A gutsy and gritty exposé on the motives of a generation in love with the idea of saving the world, Overrated by Eugene Cho is a necessary exercise for all who desire to truly be a part of the change God wants to bring to humanity. This book is real, personal, necessary, and a must-read, so we can all continue on the path toward justice for all."Louie Giglio, Passion City Church/Passion Conferences "When you're done talking about the gospel and are ready for your walking to be the Start here. I needed this book."Ann Voskamp, author of the New York Times bestseller One Thousand Gifts Many people today talk about justice, but are they living justly? They want to change the world, but are they being changed themselves? Eugene Cho has a "I like to talk about changing the world but I don't really like to do what it takes." If this is true of the man who founded the One Day's Wages global antipoverty movement, then what must it take to act on one's ideals? Cho does not doubt the sincerity of those who want to change the world. But he fears that today's wealth of resources and opportunities could be creating "the most overrated generation in history. We have access to so much but end up doing so little." He came to see that he, too, was overrated. As Christians, Cho writes, "our calling is not simply to change the world but to be changed ourselves." In Overrated, Cho shows that it is possible to move from talk to action.Eugene Cho is the founder of One Day's Wages, a movement working to alleviate extreme global poverty. He is the founder and senior pastor of Quest Church, an urban, multicultural and multigenerational church in Seattle, Washington, where he lives with his family. Cho has been covered in various media including NPR, New York Times, and Seattle Times.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Social Justice, Religion

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Todd Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eugene Cho should never write another book. Doing so would jeopardize his ministry and most likely his family. If Eugene were to write another book, he would have to expose more of his inner struggles which would leave him vulnerable to personal attacks. Sharing anymore of his family’s difficulties would air too much of their fragileness possibly to the point of breaking. After reading Overratted by Eugene Cho, it is no doubt that another book will be written because that is exactly what Satan would NOT want to happen. Let me explain.
Overrated gets right to the core of what is squashing the gospel message in the form of outreach: me. For sure I want to tell of the good ways to help others but they need hands on love and it would be hard to take a selfie while getting down in the trenches with the least of these. As Eugene puts it: “Ideas, dreams, and visions don’t change the world. Rather, it’s people – like you and me, who faithfully, prayerfully, and tenaciously live out these ideas, dreams, and visions – who change the world.” This generation – my generation – loves the idea of changing the world. However, it is usually IF we get to receive the credit. Eugene writes from his own raw place of vulnerability: “I didn’t want to leave my comfort for the sake of my commitments.”
By sharing his life story, Eugene Cho exposes his emotional and spiritual rollercoaster of being so committed to pursuing justice that he and his family end up homeless. Now don’t think that Eugene is an irresponsible showman trying to gain press. His life is one that exhibits the practical application of the key scripture for this book:
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8
Overrated will force you to ask yourself the same questions that the Holy Spirit asked Eugene: “Where is your treasure? Who is your treasure?” Answering these questions for yourself will be the hard but necessary task involved with reading and applying the truths of this book to your own life. Many of Eugene’s internal voices sound like my own: the annoyance of someone in the express checkout line with too many items, the desire to have an easy life in Christ instead of the hard call of justice that is required, and the self-criticism of whether I am doing what I am asking others to do. This book should be read by all churches in light of their mission work. This book should be required for all missionaries. This book should be read by all pastors of every denomination. Although, by doing so would cause some people to get upset because the challenge of Overrated is to look at how and why we are doing what we are doing. And change does not come easy for the comfortable.
Maybe that is why I don’t think Eugene Cho should write another book. I see too many of my own short comings and shallow thoughts written in the harshness of the black and white text. I know Satan doesn’t want Eugene Cho to write another book because Overrated will cause many people to physically pursue justice for Jesus Christ. And that kind of generational movement would do far more good than video challenges, can food drives, or mission trips to faraway places that cost a few house notes to get there. This is not an easy to book to read. These are not easy teaching to accept. But isn’t that what starts great movements throughout history? This generation can be the one who changes the world for Jesus Christ if we are to take the message in Overrated and live it out in our lives. It is time to stop being overrated. Put down your cellphone, pick up this book, and allow Eugene Cho to guide you down the hard path that leads to a new self in Jesus Christ for the saving of the world.

[Lori Fast · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems like the “hip” thing to do these days is to talk about, post about, tweet about, Instagram about “justice” issues. Anything from feeding the poor to drilling water wells to taking the ALS “ice bucket challenge” and posting it on social media. It appears that we are a generation of people who love the idea of changing the world. However, as the book “Overrated” points out, research indicates that people who demonstrate support for causes and organizations on social media, such as Facebook, actually do less in real life. They are less likely to donate their money or volunteer their time (p. 31). The challenge presented in Euguene Cho’s book “Overrated” comes through asking the question: are we more in love with the idea of changing the world than actually changing the world?

This book was written by the author almost as a confessional of sorts. By weaving his own personal story throughout the book, Eugene Cho gives credibility to the questions and challenges he poses to his readers. He begins by telling the story of the beginning of his own non-profit organization “One Day’s Wages” and the sacrifices his own family made in order to make their dream of changing lives a reality.

In “Overrated,” Cho makes it a priority to answer the question “Why?” Why do we do justice? He points out that in particular, followers of Jesus love justice…until there’s a cost. He points out the foundational truth laid out in the Bible that God has a heart for justice, and that justice is His plan of redemption for a broken world (p. 37).

One chapter of this book struck me in particular. The title of Chapter 7 is “Having More Depth Than 140 Characters: Be an Expert.” In this age of social media and 6-second video clips, it’s a challenge to go deep. In this section of the book, Cho avoids coming across as “preachy” because of his emphasis on the fact that this is truly a confession for him and something he needs to hear as much as anyone. If we are truly passionate about a cause, we need to seek to go deep, to know history, respect, and context for that issue.

“Overrated” wraps up by exploring “The Best Part of Wanting to Change the World.” Cho reminds those of us who are Christians that “worship isn’t just ingestion of good news- worship and discipleship begins when we respond to the revelation of God. When we choose to live out our faith (p. 222).” He also encourages us to “fascinate” people toward the gospel and to be a part of reimagining a better story by living out what we believe.

I found this book to be both challenging and encouraging. Doing justice is not an easy proposition. It requires hard work, an abundance of faith, commitment, and much tenacity. Yet doing justice is not an option for those who believe in Jesus…it’s a requirement. Throughout this book I was constantly asking myself the question “how do I measure up?” And yet I never felt as though this book was all about doing. It is about being a follower of Christ, and a result of that faith manifests itself in being invested in justice issues. What do you care about? How would you like to see the world changed for the better? Get out there and go deeper, find out about that issue, don’t ask others to do what you’re not willing to do yourself.

“Overrated” gives me hope that together, we can make a difference and change the world!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 Review
I challenged myself in 2024 to re-read the books that impacted me most in my 20s.
I attended a private, Christian college for my undergrad that was obsessed with social justice. I remember speaker after speaker telling my class that it was our generation that would end poverty, slavery, homelessness, etc. I remember the thrill of hanging posters for Kony 2012 because were going to takedown an African warlord from our little corner Tennessee by, um, hanging posters, I guess.
And then the school brought in Eugene Cho to speak. His message was basically what it is in this book: by all means, eradicate poverty, slavery, homelessness, etc. But don't confuse a Facebook filter with actually making a difference.
I don't know what the temptation for Gen Zers or Gen Alpha is. I'm sure they're being told that they're the best generation, that they will save the world. And I hope they will! But I also hope there are speakers as convicting and honest as Eugene Cho speaking into their lives about being wise with how they do it and careful not to make themselves the center of their work.

2016 Review
Bam! This book was convicting. Are we more in love with the idea changing the world more than the reality?
Eugene Cho is very open and vulnerable about his struggles in this area. He calls out his own motivation first and foremost. Yet in doing so, he calls out me. He calls out Millennials. He calls out all of us who genuinely want to make a difference...but often by being the spotlight of that difference.
What I particularly appreciated about this book is how firm Eugene Cho is. He doesn't mince words and he calls things out that need to be called out. He is firm and realistic, but it is evident that he does so because he wants to help. This is his passion.
This is more than another trendy, non-denominational book about being counter-cultural, loving, and maybe a little hipster. This is a serious challenge. This is a true look at what making a difference really means. We seek justice, and that is good. But are we truly doing it in a way that helps?
I highly, highly recommend.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if we are more committed to the idea of justice than we are to actually living justly? Are we overrated? Do we talk a good game but fail to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Pastor and activist Eugene Cho has written a book–a confession of sorts–which chronicles his struggle to live a life of world changing. In Overrated he challenges us to not just change the world, but allow ourselves to be changed in the process. This is a book written to encourage us in our pursuit of justice, and to encourage us to count the costs (17-8).

BookCover-3D Cho tells us how he came to care about issues of justice and his first steps into trying to live out his calling to care for those on the margins. He founded One Day’s Wages, an organization which seeks to alleviate extreme poverty by challenging people to give a day’s wages to the cause. Cho did not ask anyone to give up anything he wasn’t willing to give. When One Day’s Wages was founded, he gave up an entire year’s salary for the cause of justice. Some may find Cho’s emphasis on justice misplaced but he argues that living justly is an integral part of the life of discipleship. Justice may not describe discipleship in its entirety but it is impossible to conceive of the Kingdom of God without hoping and striving for the justice of all.

Most of Overrated describes Cho’s journey to deeper places and his challenge to us to tenaciously pursue a disciplined life. He discusses the challenge of living simply and prophetically within an upwardly-mobile culture of consumers (chapter three) and describes the challenges he faced in living out his calling when there is no formula or easy fixes (chapter four). When he first got the vision of planting a multi-ethnic church in Seattle it took longer than expected and he struggled to find other work to make ends meet. Cho warns seminarians, “Be careful, your degree in seminary will soon make you useless to society” (86). Cho knows. He was turned down by Taco Bell when he needed a job. For Cho pursuing his calling meant daily faithfulness and awaiting God’s timing and provision.

But Cho urges tenacity in our pursuit of justice (chapter 5) and a self examination which asks “why am I doing this?” (chapter 6). He also exhorts us to life-long learning where we have more depth than our soundbites suggest. In a social media world, we need more depth than 140 characters allows (chapter 7) We need expertise and we need to live out the sort of lives we are calling others to (chapter 8). One area of self examination that Cho suggests, is to audit our efforts at justice (chapter nine). Are we doing justice, justly? When we send shoes to the two-third’s world are we alleviating the problem of global inequity or are we assuaging our consciences and failing to combat the bigger systemic problems?

What Cho has discovered is that behind our call to change the world, we are also called to change ourselves. God is at work in the world and we are commissioned to work for his purposes (the restoration of all things) but there is soul work to be done in ourselves. By sharing pieces of his own journey Cho challenges us to examine our own lives and learn from his steps (and missteps). I appreciate Cho’s humility, grace and humor as he presses into some serious issues. We all know people who cast more shadow than light. I for one, have been (still am) one of those people. I am grateful for Cho’s challenge to do the hard internal work while remaining committed to real-life-justice. There is no either/or approach. There is no ‘heart religion’ or ‘social justice.’ Real justice flows through those who have counted the cost, examined themselves and have continually sought to love their world well. Changing the world is possible, but we need to change ourselves first.

Of course justice is a journey and we are all at different places. Cho wisely puts his chapter on doing justice, justly late in the book. Steve Corbitt wrote When Helping Hurts and Bob Lupton wrote Toxic Charity to help us think through how we give to the poor and marginalized. Unfortunately it is possible to use either of these books as an excuse for inaction (if helping can hurt, I better not give until I know more, etc). By placing this concern within a narrative of a lived-out commitment to justice, Cho shows how the concern to give intelligently and strategically is a stage of growth along the way. For some of us, we may need to give badly and generously before we give generously and well. Some of us need to hear the biblical imperative for caring for those on the margins (which Cho explores in chapter two) before we can answer the ‘how we give’ question.

I first became aware of Cho’s work through his blog. Some mutual friends shared his posts on Facebook and I discovered a passionate advocate for racial and economic justice. I have been challenged and spurred on by Cho for several years now and am excited to see his first book come to print. I highly recommend it for world changers and couch surfers alike. Wherever you are on your journey, this will spur you on to greater justice. Five stars: ★★★★★

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several months ago I heard Eugene Cho speak at Engedi Church, in Holland, MI. Eugene is a pastor in Seattle, WA and the founder of One Day's Wages, a movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty. Since hearing Eugene speak, I've been following him because he is a man of wisdom, wit and humility.

I recently finished reading his first book, Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?, a book that every Christ follower needs to read. In Overrated, Eugene shares his upbringing/story that has created a passion for alleviating poverty, confesses some of the mistakes he's made along the way, and challenges us with steps we need to take when pursuing our own justice efforts.

Overrated has challenged me and inspired me to change how I look at and pursue justice. It has convinced me that Jesus came to bring good news to the poor, to set the oppressed free, and to heal the blind, the sick and the lame. If I truly follow Him, then I must care for the people that He cares about. I've already started using Overrated as a manual to discern how God wants me to show His love to the people that He clearly loves.

I'll say it again. Every Christ follower needs to read this book!

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book absolutely intrigued me. The thought that we are more in love with the idea of changing the world than actually changing it is, in my opinion, a true one. Many of the people I hear talking about the evils of poverty do literally nothing besides give the occasional homeless person they encounter some change. Meanwhile they also talk about their wonderful home on the golf course and how they aren't pretentious like their neighbors, they just wanted a nice house. They then proceed to criticize every Republican they meet as "selfish". Okaaayyy. They never realize their own hypocrisy.

So, great subject. But rather than address the subject of his book Pastor Cho actually addresses global poverty. He gives token points like understanding the importance of research (dig deep), praying and most importantly, acting. Yet he never really addresses the problem of the narcissism which allows people to think that feeling bad about an issue equates with doing something about it. To quote Blackish, from the episode Good-ish Times, "Nobody ever asked for a second helping of hopes and dreams."

Here is one statement I truly loved: Ideas, in and of themselves, don’t change the world. Rather, people who faithfully and tenaciously implement their ideas change the world. Women, men, and children who have the courage to pursue their convictions change the world. That’s you and me. It’s those who respond. For those who are Christians, worship isn’t just ingestion of good news— worship and discipleship begins when we respond to the revelation of God.


Too true. Worship is not attending church. Worship is doing God's will. However, that is addressed in under two pages. We, as a church, in my opinion need to hear a lot more about this subject.

I also thought he made an excellent point when he said, "Let’s fascinate, not force, people toward the gospel. Don’t just tell us what you’re against. Demonstrate what you’re about." For many, faith is either about regulating morality (force) or passive discussions. Hence the sadly appropriate label of hypocrite frequently thrown at Christians. We may talk about the gospel but our conversations are often all we have to offer. When asked what we do it often looks very similar to what our neighbor does - a few pieces of charity here and there, loving behavior towards those we know and little concern for justice, righteousness and generosity in our own lives.

So impressed with a lot of the lessons I learned but two minor quibbles kept it from being a five. Quibble one, as mentioned before, he doesn't talk much about the actual subject of the book. Quibble two, and this is not only this author: Jesus, the epistles and the OT spoke often (dare I say near incessantly?) upon the importance of giving. But justice, the word used here, was actually used to address a different subject. Not poverty but the inequality of how the law is meted out to those who most need it. Fairness is how we would term it today. And there is still a great deal of unfairness before the law. A white man is not treated the same as a minority in almost every aspect of it. A poor man's bankruptcy looks far different than a rich man's. Since the Lord has been so outspoken on the issue of what we term charity/generosity/giving I don't think it quite fair to appropriate this word for that same use. We should seek to AlSO (not instead of but also) change the injustice of the world because that is an issue God cares about as well.

Quibbles aside, this definitely qualifies as a good read.

[Patience · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book overall, but to be honest, it felt a little like a rough draft. Cho has an engaging, if inelegant, writing style, and I appreciated his honesty and authenticity as he called out a very real problem in the Christian community - we are in love with the idea of changing the world, but are unwilling to be changed or sacrifice our own comfort. Unfortunately, Cho has a tendency to sacrifice argumentation for style, allowing his points to get lost along the way from time to time. If I could give half stars, I would give this book three and a half. It was a good read, but did not quite earn four stars.

[Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eugene Cho has written probably one of the most important books for passionate, Jesus-loving, justice-desiring millennials to read today. If anyone has a desire or a dream to change the world, this is a must-read. It forces us to honestly examine our motivations before we engage in the work of seeking justice, and challenges us to think deeply about whether we have a greater desire to help the poor or to exalt ourselves. I think if we're honest, many (if not most) of us like the idea of changing the world more than we like doing the hard work of actually changing the world. He asks us to examine ourselves, then offers very practical guidance for becoming people who can really change the world for Christ. He provides examples of people he's encountered who embody many of the issues he's trying to address, and even confesses to embodying many of these issues himself from time to time.

What makes this an easy read is his raw honesty about his struggles that really disarms the reader and invites us into a period of self-examination. I really appreciate this. One of my only issues with the book is that I'm not a huge fan of writing style, as he seems to try TO hard to come across as conversational. This is often rather distracting. I also wouldn't recommend this book to someone who wants to better understand the concept of biblical justice. He attempts to summarize this concept in one chapter, and ultimately falls short of providing a helpful theological framework. But as for everything else, this is a convicting and necessary read, and I'd highly recommend it.

[Kaytee Cobb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this had/made some really great points, but it dragged quite a bit for me. And I think that's because it felt rather unfocused? I'd like it more if it were a bit more distilled into action points and what really matters instead of a lot of "Look what I did" and lists of "how you are hurting by helping", which are GOOD, definitely, but don't help me to really assess the ways I/we are giving/hurting/helping/empowering/disempowering cultures around the world with our methods and madness. Instead, it made me feel more frozen into the "well, clearly nothing is the right move unless we can give up a whole year's salary to help others?" camp, which is obviously not what he's going for.

[Fennimoore · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFed at 27%. This may be good for those whose personality is dominant and just loves attention, especially who are supposedly donate in the eyes of the public, ie, posting their good deeds in the social media.

I, for one, believes otherwise. In Matthew 6:1, the Word of God says “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
‭‭
I do not feel the need of telling others how much I have given to the need. His idea of social justice is skewed slightly. God is just, but it doesn’t mean that He pursued justice to make himself feel important.

Anyhow, I stopped reading because I just find that this book is not for me. Perhaps others would find it useful.

[Joanna Alonzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenge Your Dreams

In the same way Peter admonished the early church to be of a sober mind, Cho encourages this generation to step back and ask the hard questions to put their dreams to the test. In a time of instant everything, Cho's message is relevant and necessary to challenge a generation toward meaningful pursuits, toward doing the hard things, toward tenacity and purposefulness. There's often a price to pay for our dreams to come true. Are we willing to count the cost and pour ourselves into it to make it happen?

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not as good as I wanted it to be. I had picked up my copy when my local Christian book store was going out of business, because I liked the title and the front cover. I know we are not to judge a book by its cover but I do. Anyway, I felt that although Cho had great passion, it did not translate into the book. I felt it was unorganized and never quite getting to the point he wanted. I know that there are many others who have enjoyed this book but it wasn't for me.

[Zeca Buarque · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real and personal take on social justice. It’s encouraging and vulnerable.

I encourage anyone who wants to understand the why behind the why of social justice to read it.

[John Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for class. Some helpful ideas.

[Jonathan Mast · Rating 3 out of 5]

The primary idea could be summarized like this:

"Often our desire to change the world is driven by pride. We are much less effective until we want to change the world for the same reasons God wants."

While convicting and honest, Overrated could be reduced to a tenth of its size by cutting out the fluff. Though it's quite an easy read, it isn't a scholarly treatment of the topic.

In short, a good book, but not entirely what I was looking for...

[Emily Barry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the sake of transparency, I would like to note that I was part of a group of people who received a free, advanced copy of Overrated and was asked to give honest feedback about the book. However, I do not receive any compensation from the reading of this review, preorders, book sales, etc. I am a college student who is studying International Development and Spanish and passionate about missions and culture, so I am always looking for new books relating to these topics.

Our generation loves the idea of justice. We consider it hip, cool, a nice thing to do, or a great opportunity for a post on social media. But then again, we also think the same about indie music, obscure coffeehouses, hipster glasses and oversized sweaters. What happens when social justice is no longer a fad? How will we respond when "doing good" falls out of style the same way last season's color did?

In Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Instead of Actually Changing It? Eugene Cho boldly claims that we may be the most overrated generation ever. He asserts that we may care more about the tweets, pictures and stories we can share about justice than actually going deep, sacrificing and getting our hands dirty, and doing what Jesus commands us to do. Cho writes, "We tweet, blog, talk, preach, retweet, share, like and click incessantly. While I'm not implying that the aforementioned things aren't actions, what do those actions actually cost us? How are we sacrificing?"

Rather than coming across as overly preachy or all knowing, Cho journeys with the reader in an honest and raw way, sharing his own experiences and mishaps. Repeatedly, he says that this book is his confession as much as it may be our own. As a student whose major is all about justice and who actually happens to wear glasses, enjoy lattes, love sweaters and listen to indie music, I appreciated the sincerity that covered the pages of this book.

Overrated has a lot of great takeaways, and I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and read it for yourself. One of my favorites was Cho's assertion that Christians cannot ignore the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed because justice is so closely tied to the Gospel. He writes, "I care about justice because I care about the gospel. I care about Jesus. I care about the kingdom of God. The pursuit of justice cannot stand alone for followers of Jesus. For Christians, the gospel informs everything we do--including our understanding and praxis of justice…The most important thing about the kingdom of God is the gospel. Jesus came to usher in the kingdom of God and part of that promise is that Jesus came to reconcile and restore all that is good and beautiful back unto the One."

Read this book if you're passionate about culture. Read it if you love people. Read it if you want "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God." Read this book if you care about the gospel, how it can impact the nations, and how it impacts your own heart. The authenticity and real life stories make it read quickly, but the many nuggets of truth make it something that should be savored.

However, consider this warning. Do not read this book if you do not want to be stretched and challenged. One of the most common misconceptions when thinking about justice is that we ourselves do not need to be changed. This could not be farther from the truth. From the limited time that I have spent serving, I have seen time and time again that God uses the beautiful people I meet to humble me, change me and stretch me. I have seen some of the most vivid pictures of Christ in these places, often feeling as though I have received more than I have given. One of the best nuggets of this book, which you should keep in mind as you read it, is that "Our calling is not simply to change the world, but perhaps as important, our calling is to be changed ourselves."


If Overrated sounds like something you're interested in, you can preorder it (http://www.amazon.com/Overrated-More-...). In the mean time, you can sign up for the Overrated 5 Day challenge (http://areyouoverrated.us2.list-manag...)!

[Mitchell Roush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are we more in love with the idea of changing the world than actually changing the world?
I think we are.
In one way or another, we’re all guilty of this.

We’re guilty of buying a pair of TOMS and feeling good about difference we’ve made.
We’re guilty of posting an Ice Bucket Challenge Video and donating a few bucks to ALS and leaving it at that.
We’re guilty of saying, “This needs to change.”, but not engaging in resolution.
We’re guilty of desiring something better without sacrificing to build it.
We’re guilty of reading about inspirational individuals without it sparking action.
We’re guilty of innocently knowing we’re called to a higher standard without fully living like it.

Why is that?
What can we do to change these tendencies?
How can we love our God and each other better?

These are the questions and concepts Eugene Cho covers in his upcoming book, OVERRATED.

Simply put, “Overrated” is one of the most important and unsettling books of the year.

As a life-long champion of peace, racial equality and justice, Eugene Cho has given us what we’ve desperately needed–a testimony of changing ourselves so that we can change our own backyards, and with it…the world.

It’s been a long-time since I’ve read a book I was tempted to stop reading. Seriously, I lost count of how many times I read an powerful passage and said, “Ouch!”. Cho delivers therapeutic punches to the gut, calling us (and himself) out on our superficial activism and flimsy faith.

The crazy thing about the book is that Cho doesn’t really share anything earth-shattering–just a message we forget too easily.

His main premise is: If we truly believe in the life and faith of Jesus Christ, then we cannot allow our hearts or lives to remain the same. If we aren’t first transformed into what we’re meant to be in the light of His Grace, how can we expect to change the world?

And if we aren’t willing to engage the uncomfortable; break the silence; stand-up in the face of injustice; and truly view our brothers and sisters as equals no matter the skin color, economic standing, or personal history–we’re not practicing what we’re preaching.

We mustn’t ignore the needs in our own backyards. We mustn’t underestimate what Holy Spirit can do thru us. We mustn’t sell-short the validity of simply living a humble and faithful life. We mustn’t fall victim to allowing words or social-media shout-outs to be enough.

For fans of Shane Claiborne, Jen Hatmaker, Donald Miller & John Perkins–this book is for you.
For those needing a profound reminder–this book is for you.
For us social-justice wanna-be’s–this book is for you.
For those of us struggling to find the right way to respond to a hurting society–this book is for you.
For a church that sometimes sucks at representing Jesus–this book is for us.

I cannot recommend Euguene Cho’s easy-to-read but difficult-to-swallow testament enough!

- See more at: http://www.themitchroush.com/overrate...

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just based on the title, I didn't have to even read one page to know that this book is not to be taken lightly. (Disclaimer: I received an advance e-copy of the book in exchange for my review.)

Cho does not mince words. He does not coddle. He does not accept excuses.

He asks the question that needs to be asked: Are we more in love with the idea of changing the world than actually changing the world?

And as much as I hate to admit it, he's right. I'm guilty of wanting to change the world, of wanting to make a difference but doing very little to back that up.

So this book is hard to read. It's like seeking advice from a friend who tells you not what you want to hear but says the hard things and challenges you to do what needs to be done.

While it's a book about justice and the Christian's role in justice, it's also about discipleship and generosity and intentional living and passion and purpose. It's about these things working together in the life of a disciple of Jesus so much that the world can't help but notice.

And Cho does not speak as one who has done it all perfectly with impure motives. He does not preach what he doesn't live. He offers his own confessions, failings, and wrong motives as testimony that this call is not just for other people but for him as well.

Here are five of the most challenging statements, for me, Cho makes in the book:

"Isn't that what makes discipleship so uncomfortable and challenging? God often leads us on journeys we would never go on if it were up to us." (26)

"I believe you cannot credibly follow Christ unless you pursue justice." (43)

"The inescapable truth about justice is that there is something wrong in the world that needs to be set right." (52)

"We should be about the marathon, not about the transactional sprint for instant justice gratification." (105)

"We cannot speak with integrity about what we are not living. We don't need more dazzling storytellers; we need more genuine storytellers. And the best way to become a better storyteller is to simply live a better life. Not a perfect life, but one of honesty, integrity, and passion." (178)

I could go on. Nearly every page contained a nugget of truth that lodged in my heart and wouldn't let go.

I forced myself to read it slow, take one chapter at a time and really let the words sink in.

I'd put this book at the top of my list of recommended reads for churches, youth groups, ministry workers, seminaries--really anyone who desires to do good in the world because of their relationship with Christ.

Overrated won't condemn you for your actions, or lack thereof, but it will challenge you to let your life be about more than Twitter-style justice and passionate ideas. It's encouragement to dream big, yes, and think hard and press on in the long run.

[Donna Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cancer sucks. Just thought I’d get that out of the way.
I’ve lost people to cancer. I’m sure most people have.

I love that celebrities use their celebrity for a good cause, like the Stand Up To Cancer concert event (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox), tonight Friday September 5, 2014. #SU2C @SU2C and here in Canada @su2c_ca

I know I’ll enjoy the show tonight, it’ll be wonderful, full of inspirational, sharable, moving moments. There will be tweets, retweets, updates, posts, memes, but when the excitement fades, when people have moved on to the next thing, cancer will still be there.

I believe most celebrities and people have the best intentions when jumping on these cause bandwagons. I think most celebrities do care on some level.

The next day, the world will move on and you know what will be left? People with cancer…or other issues: ALS, MS, CP, Diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, Heart & Stroke, Asthma, Epilepsy, Mental illness, TBI, poverty, AIDS, Kidney disease, liver disease, SARS, TB, Ebola, Lupus, and the list goes on.

We have the ability to donate wherever we want, whenever we want, whatever we can. Get out there and help those in need please! These events and activities raise money and may raise some awareness, but no one has to remind us to go out to eat, stand in line for the latest iPhone, go on vacation, watch our favourite show, buy new shoes, go to a movie, buy ice cream or cookies, so why do they have to remind us to give? If you care, don’t wait to be reminded – get out there and do what you can!

Are We More In Love With The Idea Of Changing The World Than Actually Changing The World? While reading Overrated (I don’t know about that title, doesn’t that just invite a critic to say, yes, it is) by Eugene Cho (David C Cook), I was struck by how much truth there was in that subtitle: Are We More In Love With The Idea Of Changing The World Than Actually Changing The World?
Are we more in love with the idea of peace than peace itself?
Are we more in love with the idea of activism than actually doing something, is that why Slacktivism is so seductive?
Overrated was a quick, but thorough read with an insightful narrative and very perceptive moments about actually doing something about what’s wrong with the world, not just talking about it.

People with cancer and those who love them stand up to cancer everyday.

They could always use more help.

#SU2C

http://yadadarcyyada.com/2014/09/05/s...

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is also posted on Book by Book.

Overrated by Eugene Cho is a book with an important message – one, I know, I really needed to read. In this day and age, I can quickly see both the appeal of the idea of changing the world and the lack of few results beyond a quick post on Facebook or Twitter. As he writes, Cho wrestles with this society-wide obsession and admits many things that need admitting. He covers many aspects of the pursuit of justice, and as I read, I appreciated how openly he explored and exposed his own experiences and subsequent thoughts, flaws and all. While deeply personal, Overrated manages to transcend individual experience and excellently engages a widespread mindset. Rooted in passion, humility, humor and Gospel truths, Overrated is convicting and impossible to ignore. Any follower of Christ should read it, discuss it, reflect on it, act on it. Don’t wait to pick up a copy of Eugene Cho’s Overrated. I definitely recommend it.

[Kyle Kachelmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what it is, "Overrated" is a great read. It is a transparent, accessible, and honest reflection of Eugene's own personal journey of finding God's heart in living out a lifestyle of justice.
From the beginning, Eugene describes the book as his own confession. As such, the book recognizes his own pitfalls and failings as he comes to grips with what it means to pursue God's heart for justice.
It is not enough to be "pro-justice", but to do justice. And it is not enough to do justice, but to be just.
Overrated is a challenging, yet encouraging read for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the heart of discipleship and follow Jesus into a world of suffering.
Overrated is definitely worth the read.

[Tamara Blatny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eugene Cho writes in a way that is easy to relate to, even if we don't want to hear the truth.
"Before we’re so quick to act and move and Instagram our food, may we ...
Pray, discern, listen.
Pray, discern, listen.
Pray, discern, listen.
I would love for us to take more time to listen, pray, and allow
God to speak, mold, and even break us."

Eugene nailed this 'can't wait' chapter & it is so true of our western culture....we don't like to wait, even when we are fasting (for God) to speak to us....we think we are waiting patiently but we are complaining while trying to walk thru a spiritual discipline. Overrated is a book that challenges everyone that is reading it, Christian or not.
I highly recommend Eugene Cho's Overrated book! Easy to read; hard to digest.

[Ellen Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overrated by Eugene Cho has truly made me think. Am I living what I’m preaching or, am I living what Jesus is preaching? While this book does have religious undertones, it’s applicable to everyone in a variety of different ways. Do you have a health goal (maybe weight loss) that you talk about a lot but find yourself grabbing foods you should not eat anyway? Are you an environmentalist who is passionate about eco-friendly living but are still supporting those brands that destroy our environment? Are you an advocate for pets who never volunteers their time at a shelter? Either way, are you really living what you’re preaching? This book really makes you think and you may, or may not like the answers, but you should still read it.

Book provided for my honest review.

[Dwayne Shugert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are we more in love with the idea if changing the world than actual changing the world? This is the question Pastor Eugene Cho asks in this book. He challenges all of us who want to help make the world better in concrete and specific ways. I found the book to be full of a better story to live, and a better story to invite others into. Pastor Cho encourages us to shut up, listen and pray, to go deep and learn and grow so we can help in the best ways possible. If you really want to help change the world, READ THIS BOOK!

[Kimber Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good ideas and concepts; the overall writing was not direct and could have been condensed; enjoyed examples of stories in the last few chapter as well as the authors humility

[Rebecca Ray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Many of us say we want to change the world. We find ourselves tugged and tugged by each opportunity. We complete ALS Bucket challenges. We like quotes and statuses on Facebook. We put bumper stickers on our car. We might even buy a pair of Toms shoes or give a dollar or two to the March of Dimes when the cashier at the grocery store asks us too.

However, as far as Eugene Cho is concerned, that is not enough awareness from Christians. We are called to live like Christ and to do justice and to right the wrongs of the world. Anyone who does not live in this manner, according to the author, may have to examine whether or not he is truly a follower of Christ.

Along the way of calling Christians to action for justice, Cho shares part of his own story in his upbringing, in his vocation, and in his work and establishment of the charity One Day's Wages.

THE GOOD
Cho is an excellent storyteller. His tales of his upbringing and family, his desperate search for a job during his wife's pregnancy and his establishment of a coffee shop are fun to read and are told with great wit. I found myself smiling as I read his stories.

He also has some excellent facts about our habits. For example, did you know that the average American wastes 9 years of their lives in front of the television? Or that most Americans are in the top 1% of the world's wealthiest people? However, despite that, Cho is willing to acknowledge the large minority of families in the US that can't even pay rent. It's a delicate balance, and Cho is able to discuss it without seeming like he wants to make improverished Americans feel like they are overburdened with guilt.

Cho also does an excellent job of reminding us that we live what we believe. Everything else is truly just talk. As he does this, Cho also makes the excellent point several times that giving to others is a way that God uses to change us.

THE BAD
His argument is kind of muddled. He begins the book with a really strong social justice theme, and expects it of all followers of Christ. He points out all the ways our culture is materialistic and how we could be giving more and doing more for others.

Then, in almost the same breath he denounces many forms giving and justice organizations by saying that they hurt more than they help. He discusses our misperceptions of Africans and the things that they don't need. He cautions us against hurting local economies and provides almost mocking examples of things people have done wrong for giving because their hearts were in the right place, but they lacked the knowledge to truly help.

He demands something of Jesus followers that he then doesn't provide them with the tools to provide. Then, his tone mocks those who help wrong. Perhaps a better focus for his book and the latter part of his book could have been more of a "ways you can truly help make the world a better place."

He also finishes by quoting quotes from Mother Teresa about helping those closest to you and going home and making the world a better place by going home and loving your family. This is the complete opposite of the advice that he's been giving the entire book. The logical inconsistency just about drove me crazy.

Also, I must note in this section that most (but not all) of his footnoted sources are either Wikipedia or online news outlets. I immediately deduct a star in my rating for any book that uses Wikipedia as a primary source. Wikipedia is better than it used to be, but it is still not a reliable place to get research data.

THE UGLY
However, unfortunately, the muddled and unclear help for those wishing to practice social justice is not the worst part of the book. The "ugly" part of the book is the misuse of the gospel message.

I was a little irked in the beginning about his use of "changing the world" as a theme. I was pretty sure that our job was to bring the gospel message to the world and trust Jesus (the only true world-changer) to draw men to him and to change their hearts. I was pretty convinced that it wasn't our job to change the world that the Bible says lies in the power of the evil one (I John 5:19). So, I was a little inclined to be skeptical about Cho's argument from the beginning.

Then, he talked about God prompting him and the Holy Spirit prompting him to pledge a certain amount of money to his charity and to the tough trials that completing this public pledge would cause him to go through. He didn't even leave it at prompting though. He even claimed that twice God literally spoke to him. No chapter and verse were cited to back up any of this discussion of God leading him/prompting him/speaking to him. There is no examination of what scriptural authority he has for any of the actions that "God prompted him" to do.

Then, there were three statements made in the book that made me truly question the author's theology. The first statement is this: "Jesus came to usher in the kingdom of God, and part of the promise of the gospel is that Jesus came to reconcile and restore all that is good and beautiful back unto the One."

The one?

Like the pantheistic concept of neutral monism? Or the Hindu idea of absorption of individual souls in an absolute? I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I don't know how else to read that, and I was seriously contemplating how he meant it since he uses the phrase "back unto the One" several times in the book.

The second statement that I truly questioned in the book was the statement that: "I’m not trying to diminish the importance of salvation, but to limit the depth and power of the gospel merely to salvation is simply a disservice to the gospel of Jesus Christ."

There is a serious issue with "to limit the depth and power of the gospel merely to salvation is simply a disservice to the gospel of Jesus Christ." This is an especially troubling statement. "Merely to salvation" implies an arrogance about my sin and my total inability to save myself. "Merely to salvation" makes like of Jesus's sacrifice, which we are told in the Bible was made as a propitiation for our sins. We are sold that God loves us so much that he gave his only begotten son to us that we might have eternal life through our belief. There is no "merely" about salvation. There is only amazing about salvation. A pastor who can forget that has left his first mission and his first love to serve something else. I'm going to need to see some actual Biblical exegesis for him to support this statement that he makes in passing before I can see it as anything other than I serious misunderstanding of the importance of our salvation to God and to the gospel.

The third serious theological red flag I had in a statement in his book is when he is discussing a certain passage out of Acts chapter 2. In this passage, verse 42 tells us four things that the believers devoted themselves to. They devoted themselves to fellowship with other believers, the apostles' teaching, breaking bread together and to prayer.

Cho's discussion of verse 42 contains this statement: "Do you know what I think the most important element was? I think the most important element was not what they did, but rather the devotion itself. Read verse 42 again. They devoted themselves."

Many people have wrecked their lives by devoting themselves to the wrong thing. I think at best this is an irresponsible statement on the part of Cho, and at worst, this is a serious misinterpretation of the passage. What we do is very important. Otherwise, Cho would not have written a whole book encouraging us to change the world through the practice of social justice. Just saying.

Despite the fact that Cho really does have some good information and is a great storyteller, his muddled thesis and his complete misrepresentation of the gospel have me saying that this book is completely "overrated." If I had read this book from a secular perspective, it would have probably been a three star (average) book. However, once Cho played the Jesus card to add weight to his message, his misrepresentation of the gospel becomes more than enough reason to avoid this book.

[Bonita Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty, I only picked up this book because it was on sale. I looked interesting but it also hung out on a bookshelf for about a year before I cracked it open.

But I'm so glad I began to read it. Eugene Cho is a very engaging writer, personable and casual, but also encourages the reader to deep reflection and personal accountability for the privileges that we have.

The author invites Christians and non-christians alike to do the work of justice but to do it rightly. He highlights the damage and danger of not doing right works in the right way in the chapter titled "The Irony of Doing Justice ... Unjustly."

He encourages the readers to think and study and become, if not experts, at least knowledgeable students of the work that they do and the places they serve.

The book had a pretty deep impact on me and I hope it will prove to be a lasting one. As the daughter of missionaries, as a young teenager I moved to India and devoted over a decade of my life to serving there. I could really engage with the idea of wanting to do more for those in need and to do the work of Justice. The book made me really think about what have I been doing since my return to a far more privileged nation to promote the work of justice and equity here.

But more than the idea of just jumping into some ministry or work, I am the drawn to the importance of taking time to truly examine myself, become knowledgeable of an area of need, and figure out ways to make a lasting difference that doesn't just make me feel good but promotes and defines the dignity and worth of those who I wish to help.

There are so many great quotes in this book, but this one really stood out to me:

"It is easy for us, perhaps more so with our individualistic Western mindset, to forget that relationships matter. Acknowledging and hearing someone's story matters. We have to be particularly careful--locally, globally, or perhaps within our own communities--how we engage those we serve. We have to constantly remember that they, to, are created in the image of God. Someone I am less likely to consider helpless and in need of saving. Someone to come alongside of. Someone full of potential. Someone God created. Someone with a story. Someone who might be able to teach me. ...

This is the importance of dignity, mutuality, and reciprocity, or in more simple terms, we acknowledge their human worth and beauty. We have things to both learn from and teach one another, and we are in relationship with one another. When you're not interested in building genuine mutual relationships, you rob people of their dignity and they become projects. Don't reduce people into projects. When that happens, they become statistics inside of people. How can you love and serve the poor if you don't even know the poor?"

[Allen Madding · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We do what we do because we love God and we love the people whom God loves. We love the things that God loves and what reflects the character of God. We do justice not because it is sexy, glamorous, or trendy, but because God loves justice. Justice isn’t a clothing accessory we wear when it becomes fashionable, but rather it is something we live into because it reflects the character of God."
- Eugene Cho

Eugene Cho challenges us to truly pursue justice, and to be willing to make the personal sacrifices that the pursuit will ultimately force us to make. In an age of short-term mission trips and numerous opportunities to change the world, many people love the idea of justice and doing good until it begins to require some sacrifice, and it always will. Pursuing justice will come with a cost, and it will change us. Change is painful, but if we stick with it, the changes are good. Instead of pursuing justice because the world is broken, we need to recognize we are also broken. By serving others, we begin to get a better glimpse of God’s heart and His character, and we begin to change.

Over and over again, we read in the Bible that God loves justice. It goes on to command us to pursue justice and to live justly. Instead of watching the evening news and recognizing the injustice in the world and in our communities, we are called to pursue justice. Why? Because ultimately justice reflects the character of God. If we are truly a follower of Jesus, then we are called to love the people He loves and our hearts should break for the things that break His heart.

Finally, Cho challenges us to take time to “go deep” in our convictions. Study, research, and become an expert in the area of our passion. Instead of simply blindly launching out on a mission to do good, to consider the impact of what we are considering and ensuring that it does in fact have a positive long-term result.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who truly wants to be the hands and feet of Christ in this world.

[Rachel Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a powerful book. It was so well-spoken for this day and age, with a convicting message. Cho speaks with a truth and honesty, that while it may be hard to hear, needs to be heard.

Shut up, pray, listen

That's the recurring motto throughout the book. Cho starts off by making some pretty bold statements, about how we as Christians like to say we want to change the world, but don't actually do it. He reiterates that he isn't judging anyone, but that he preaches to himself as well. Cho is speaking to a generation who thinks bringing awareness to an issue consists of posting a 10-second video on Instagram. But while there's nothing wrong with that, it's not really helping either.

Don't just tell us what you're against. Demonstrate what you're about. Fascinate us. Compel us. Invite us. Help us reimagine a better story. -94% of eARC

But Cho isn't just here to yell at us. By sharing parts of his story with us, he also shows us that he really is living what he is sharing. He believes this. He's not preaching about what we should do, but simply telling us what he is doing. And he does this with his signature wit and humor (and #hashtags).

Every chapter held a convicting message. Cho teaches us about justice, and what is really means as a Christian. He talks about idolatry of money. Some may get offended, but he also talks about helping others, and when we actually aren't. He may speak some hard truths, but they come from a place of love and teaching. And most of all, he teaches us that what we think God wants us to do to help others, He is actually using to change us.

I know that I have already started reevaluating my life, and the choices I make on a daily basis. This book is one that I would seriously consider a life-changer, and I hope you allow it to change and shape you.

I received an eARC from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads

[Jessica Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wrecked me, but in a positive, life changing way. What is our true motivation when it comes to serving others? Is it for our own glory and to make ourselves look good to others? Or is it to genuinely make a difference?

I admire the amount of research Cho put into for this book. The water crisis, for example. So many churches and organizations are quick to want to dig another well, but in some areas, that's not the best option and could cause more issues than help.

His passion for people researching their convictions and knowing how to actually HELP people and not just cover up their problems for one week and take a photo for social media was truly refreshing and very thought provoking.

We need to research our convictions and learn the best way to serve those in need. The truth is that sometimes we go in these places with the best of intentions, but as we build these schools or whatever it is we are doing, we might be taking a person's paying job from them, in turn causing a family to lose wages, and go hungry.

This book made me think about how things are done and also made me think about my own convictions. Some people will be offended by his blunt writing, but I enjoyed it and his sense of humor.