Yancey why bother

Paperback Book Edition. Unabridged MP3. For some years, the Gold Medallion Award-winning author wandered away from church, disillusioned by its narrow-minded ways. Now, however, without whitewashing its obvious flaws, he sings of the church's strengths: its heart for God, care for the hurting, outreach to the lost, deep sense of family and community.

Title: Church: Why Bother? Related Products. Philip Yancey. What's So Amazing About Grace? Have a question about this product? In Church: Why Bother?

This honest and insightful book will help you explore your questions about the place of the church in the life of faith and how to find spiritual connection and community. Philip Yancey serves as editor at Large for Christianity Today magazine. Disappointment with God , and The Gift of Pain. He and his wife live in Colorado. Buy this book at Amazon. View Printer Friendly Version. Email Article to Friend. Return to Book Page. Preview — Church by Philip Yancey. Church: Why Bother?

Why are there so many more professing Christians than churchgoing Christians? Is it because something is wrong with the church?

Get A Copy. Paperback , pages. Published October 14th by Zondervan first published December 23rd More Details Original Title.

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Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. Sort order. Start your review of Church: Why Bother? Aug 30, Veronica Nealis rated it really liked it.

Philip Yancey is an author that walks through the flames of his own doubt and feelings as a Christian. He is not an individual that serves you a book full of christianisms. He talks about the rejecting his church for hypocrisy. I love his honestly and description of his journey. He writes to encourage thought. Feb 10, Jodi rated it liked it. The truth is timeless, but the narrative is dated. You know you're old when 20 years doesn't seem like such a long time, but wow, how culture changes!

Mar 28, Martin Spence rated it really liked it. As the daughter of a minister my mom is a Southern Baptist children's minister, and I often felt I got the short side of the stick - she was available to all of God's children, it seemed, but not her own as I was growing up and the members of the congregation pushed her well beyond her job description I very much related to much of what Yancey said in this short but invaluable little work.

He walks the fine line he is so adept at walking - he does not sugarcoat but at the same time he does not As the daughter of a minister my mom is a Southern Baptist children's minister, and I often felt I got the short side of the stick - she was available to all of God's children, it seemed, but not her own as I was growing up and the members of the congregation pushed her well beyond her job description I very much related to much of what Yancey said in this short but invaluable little work.

He walks the fine line he is so adept at walking - he does not sugarcoat but at the same time he does not rob the church for what it is: the Bride of Christ, rightly understood, though made up of fallible and fallen people who should absolutely continue on, together, down the roads of life in community.

Read it for yourself and see what I mean, for it is a quick but inspiring read that will reaffirm your faith even if you didn't know you particularly needed the boost. View 2 comments. Apr 15, Joy rated it really liked it. Yancey's background was one of strict fundmentalism in Georgia. He rejected the narrowness and prejudices of the members and was away from the church for a number of years. It was years later when he heard preached and understood grace that he came back to appreciate the fellowship of local believers.

One point that he made and I've often appreciated about my early church background was "the very strictness of fundamentalism kept me from deeper trouble. Apr 09, Amy rated it really liked it Shelves: christian-spirituality. I read this book during a time when I was taking a sabbatical from church. Yancey himself has had doubts about whether or not church was worth it thus the title , but makes the argument that ultimately it is worth it.

I have since disagreed, but still think he makes good points in the book. Sep 08, Seth rated it really liked it Shelves: christian. I tripped upon this book "accidentally and it really drew me to focus on the essentials of church and why it is worth the bother, almost no matter what.

Jun 11, Brandon H. Part of what inspired me to read more about this topic is that I keep running into believers who think that it's acceptable and okay to avoid attending church and getting plugged in. I can understand if someone is dealing with a major life illness that limits their abilities but I don't see any biblical support for such a dangerous view.

Here the author makes a good case for getting engaged in the local church. He does focus a lot on social outreach and social justice throughout this short book a Part of what inspired me to read more about this topic is that I keep running into believers who think that it's acceptable and okay to avoid attending church and getting plugged in.

He does focus a lot on social outreach and social justice throughout this short book as a primary reason for church attendance. I think such reasons have a place in the church but is becoming increasingly overemphasized in churches that lean to the Left, theologically and politically. Perhaps this author leans that way himself.

I don't know. Nevertheless, he has some insightful things to say about the importance of going to church. A few quotes that stood out to me - "Church exists primarily not to provide entertainment or to encourage vulnerability or to build self-esteem or facilitate friendship but to worship God. If it fails in that, it fails I've learned that the ministers, the music, the sacraments, and the other trappings of worship are mere promptings to support the ultimate goal of getting worshippers in touch with God and if ever I doubt this fact I go back and read the Old Testament which devotes nearly as much space to specifications for worship in the Tabernacle in the temple as the New Testament devotes to the Life of Christ.

For each of them, at times, the physical reality surely seem to present God is the enemy but each managed to hold on to a trust in God despite the hardships. In doing so, their faith moves from a contract faith - I'll follow God if he treats me well" to a relationship that could transcend any hardship. That is the risk God took. Anyone who enters the church expecting perfection does not understand the nature of that risk or the nature of humanity.

Just as every romantic eventually learns that marriage is the beginning, not the end, of the struggle to make love work, every Christian must learn that church is also only a beginning.