Common Sense Christianity: For Believers Who Don't Go to Church and Unbelievers Who Do

by Gerald Mann

A guide to modern Christian living addresses such issues as the role of the church, sexual morality, individual freedom, the family and encourages disheartened Christians to live life as Christ did

160 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1989

Reviews

[Chet Duke · Rating 2 out of 5]

The chapters read like short sermon thoughts. The author seems genuine for the most part. The book started out fairly promising as something worth reading...but it increasingly got worse. Very corny and dated, written to appeal to the those deemed by the church as “‘heathen,’ but now called ‘secular’” (Mann, 131). But he makes clear that this work is mostly personal reflections, a work he intends “for my grandchildren to read and say, ‘That’s what he stood for.’” I was unimpressed with his chapters on sexuality/sex ethics, and especially the lengthy “Calls to Courage” chapter. However, I think his intended audience would find his honesty about struggles with faith, doctrine, community, etc. insightful. Mann—with surprising precision, bluntness, and honesty—predicts the trajectory that many churches of today have taken on a number of political issues (both liberal and conservative).

All in all, I think this book would give most pastors/ministers some nuggets for consideration, as well as a window into the thought process of conflicted pastors in predominantly-conservative churches during the 1980s-90s. There are better books out there, though.