Different: Living the Holy Life

by Simon Ponsonby

Simon Ponsonby has been called a 'preacher's preacher' on the one hand, and a 'people's theologian' on the other. He speaks and writes from a passion to see God glorified and people's lives changed - and with an increasing concern that too often, even those who are deeply committed to Christianity and church still don't seem to be much different from anyone else.In this punchy new book Simon sets out the challenge for all of us to look hard at our own lives and think about the life God is calling us to - to deal with the things that prevent us from following in spirit and in truth, and to face up to our failure to be true to the task God has set us. Tackling tough issues from porn to family life and digging deep into Bible stories from classics like Daniel and the Lion's Den to hard passages like those dealing with the Israelites' worship of Baal and Asherah, Simon takes us with him on a wide-ranging journey into the heart of what God wants for his people.Holiness is not always an easy read, but it is an important book that might just shake the church out of its current crisis if we will come together to heed its call to a deeper holiness that the world will see and take notice of.

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2016

Reviews

[Emma K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I’ve read this book and I have updated my review as I realise the importance of its’ timely message. Written in an informal and engaging prose, you could be forgiven for missing the seriousness of this book. Here, the author presents a timely warning to all Churches and denominations of the Christian Faith, as well as a call to sincere individuals, to re-assess our behaviours and beliefs in light of the plain and simple truth. Such Truth as found in Christ Himself and the tenets of the Apostles Doctrine. Two things the author rightly deduces we have increasingly slid away from. I can’t convey in this review, just how thorough and well written this book is. I feel it’s imperative, VITAL even, that we heed the warnings within. Written gently and with humour but certainly not without impact, this is an absolute MUST READ for those like myself, who are uncomfortably aware that all is not right within the Body of Christ. I know many are concerned that all our efforts to increase church attendance, are actually failing. I suspected the reasons for this huge decline some years ago and became increasingly disillusioned with the various new Movements, false Revivals and sometimes perplexing new ways of ‘doing church’ that were being introduced; resulting in my gradually drifting away. The book confirmed my own thoughts then, as well as adding several more insights, regarding the often overlooked and wise solution to this falling attendance!
A challenging read but not without encouragement and hope. I wish every Christian would get this book. I’ve passed several copies onto my friends and we all feel it would greatly benefit us to hold group discussions within our own local churches, concerning the important points raised in this undoubtedly prophetic work. A prophetic gift is always defined in Scripture as the ability to discern the Signs of the Times and to rightly divide the Words of Scripture. I believe the author has done just that in this brave and poignant work. Thank you Simon Ponsonby, for using your position and influence by daring to bring our attention to this matter. I can only say Bravo !! and hope that more will be awakened and consoled by its timely message. Otherwise, I fear just as in the Book of Revelations, Christ may well come not to bless, but to remove our Church Lampstands from their place; if we do not heed His warning! I feel this has definitely been written therefore, with the urgency and unction of the Holy Spirit. It is my sincere prayer then, that as many folk as possible read this book and take its message to heart.

[Maarten De vries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different: Living the Holy Life is inderdaad anders. Dit is geen feel-good zelfhulp boek om je schuldgevoel te verminderen. Het is een serieus en diepgaand betoog om eenvoudig christelijk te leven. Met gevoel voor taal en humor brengt Simon Ponsonby de Bijbel en de oproep om heilig te leven heel dichtbij.

Op de achterkant staat: "Different is not always an easy read, but is is an important book that might just shake the church out of its current crisis if we come together to heed its call to a deeper holiness that the world will see and take notice of." En dat is waar. Voor niet-Engelstaligen is het vocabulaire van Ponsonby uitgebreid. Maar hij weet ook de vinger op de zere plek te leggen en gaat moeilijke thema's (porno, de absolute noodzaak van heilig leven en het failliet van het zondaarsgebed om er een paar te noemen) niet uit de weg. Om echt invloed te hebben op de kerk zal het boek een veel groter publiek moeten trekken dan nu het geval is. Een vertaling in het Nederlands zou daar zeker bij helpen. Een hele grote dosis genade is dan zeker ook onmisbaar.

Dit boek is geen wettische opsomming van dingen die fout gaan in het christelijk leven. Wel gaat Ponsonby er van uit dat iedereen door en door gekleurd wordt door de zonde: hij noemt ons 'sindividuals'. Het boek is wel een serieus pastoraal betoog vanuit zowel bekende en onbekendere passages uit het Oude en het Nieuwe testament en het is doordrenkt met een behoorlijke dosis genade: "Christianity is from grace, through grace and to grace." schrijft hij.

Different is herkenbaar hedendaags, maar ook gevoed vanuit het fundament vanuit de (christelijke) geschiedenis. Ponsonby citeert Star Wars en Tozer, Charles Dickens en Josephus, Matt Redman en Nietzsche en Corrie ten Boom, Charles Taylor, Leanne Payne, C. S. Lewis en vele anderen. Hiermee geeft hij aansprekende voorbeelden, benadrukt hij het belang van heilig leven en plant hij zijn betoog in de oude grond van het christelijk geloof.

Een aantal citaten:

"The way of the cross means death to the flesh." (45)

"The first requirement on coming into God's presence is to be quiet and listen; the second is to take off your shoes - to remove whatever represents a barrier between you and him." (54)

"We need to rediscover our responsibility to be holy, to take off our unclean shoes. This takes place in the church community, but is ultimately the responsibility of the individual. No amount of prayer ministry, ecstatic experiences and expository preaching is going to do it for you. Repentance and obedience are the way of the believer. Joshua didn't get someone else to remove his shoes - it was his own responsibility." (58)

"Humankind cries out forkindness. Every tneder touch, sensitive word, generous gesture, warm look echoes the kindness of God." (89)

"Kindness is not an optional extra in the christian life. Kindness is commanded. But as always, God gives what he commandes, and kindness is a fuit of the Spirit..." (95)

"Perhaps nowhere is the disconnect between public and private life, between profession and practice, as stark as in the Church." (155)

"The integrity of Daniel was grounded on the of God - God the ontologically consistent, the whole and complete, whose yes is yes and no is no, and with whom there is no shadow of turning." (157)

"There is a clear pattern: spiritual disciplines neglected, cultural norms accepted, indiscretions indulged - and perhaps if we are challenged, self-justification by alternative readings of Scripture." (164)

"I think Peter and the apostles would first laugh and then freak out at today's evangelical 'Sinner's Prayer' - where the listener is encouraged to echo the preacher's pithy penitential prayer, then raise a hand, while every eye is closed and every head bowed, before coming to collect a leaflet from the preacher at the meeting's end. ... I suggest the major weakness of the above practice is that it does not require repentance. And if there is no repentance there can be no regeneration." (182-183)