[.ca] When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have ... (ISBN 1578564905)

How Bad Can We Really Be.....?:
I bought this book thinking it would confirm my beliefs about why people leave churches. What I found are the answers to that multi-faceted issue, as well as much more food for thought and spiritual growth. Dave Burchett, a cynical journalist-type like me, smacks me between the eyes with each compelling chapter. A devout, sinful, growing, imperfect Christian like me, he points out ways the church universal has hurt thousands of people yet points out ways we can turn the tide in hopes of helping fulfill Christ's Great Commission. We can't win souls for Jesus by condemning others, judging others or boycotts as Burchett points out ever-so-often. He pulls no punches when he embraces the fact that Christ wants us ALL to have salvation and that we poor little, selfish, prideful humans cannot rid the world of sin. But if we are truly Christ's followers, we should spread extravagant love. Christ's ministry here on earth was about love and service and how we can have salvation. We are supposed to give His love to EVERYONE!!! That means love your neighbor even if he/she takes part in "Gay Days" at Disney, is a different color from you, has a tattoo or pierced tongue or drinks alcohol to oblivion. But, he also points out how we need balance in our lives to bring our yet-to-turn-their-lives-over-to-Christ friends to Christ. I recommend this book to anyone and already have been told by those I've told about it that they want to buy it now. And yes, I've been a bad Christian. But, now I know how to continue to grow to change that. Hopefully now, I'll think a whole lot more before I open my mouth or do something that would make our Savior cringe from above.

A thoughtful book on a great controversy:
The great thinker Brennan Manning once stated, "The greates single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who aknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifsyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." It is in this spirit that Dave Burchett addresses the problem of Bad Christians. "When Bad Christians Happen to Good People" is a book that is as humorous and controversial as the title. It is something that many church goers simply ignore: when good, well intentioned people are hurt and wounded by those we consider to be undeserving of the title "Christian." From the judgmental deacon telling you to shave your beard, to bigoted Fred Phelps, to the gossiping prayer chain, and "signs and wonders" Benny Hinn, we have all dealt with our share of bab Christians. Burchett is bold to tell us that the Church must change or eventually be seen as a bigoted group of people, as it is at times. He opens with his own personal tragedy of his daughter and the downright cruility of the church. Using this, we see that he is well qualified to present his powerful points. Though serious, he uses a great mix of humor that can loosely be compared to that of GK Chesterton. All in all, this is a book that must be read by all Christians and non-christians who have dealt with hurtful individuals we'd unjustly call Christians. I personally couldn't put the book down! It was by far the most thought provoking works in modern Christian Living books. Though I can't say that I agree with everything Dave Burchett presents, I also couldn't deny most of his points. His humor shows us some things that are just plain nutty like WWJD boxers, Christian Testamints, and Jesus air fresheners (it's almost as if Jesus' was getting perfume poured on his feet again!). He also uses his wit to show us where the church, as a whole, has failed in that it has allowed bigots and hypocrites to represent itself while the members sit back and think their donation to Untied Way is enough. However, his book addresses problems with solutions. We are asked, and probably justly, to go out and show what being a Christian is. He also has a message to familiar individuals hurt by Bad Christians: that those who hurt in Jesus name actually grieve God. If you're somebody without an open mind and have lost a willingness to grow in whatever faith you have, I don't reccomend "When Bad Christians Happen To Good People." However, you're probably human, and therefore this book will open you to a new idea of trying to sort out the good from the bad in faith, and maybe increasing the good.

A must read!!!:
In his book, Dave Burchett sheds new light on today's church and the Christians that fill the pews. Burchett succeeds in writing a book that deals with the Christians who inflict pain on others through their actions, and Christians who the Christians who are victims of actions in the name of the same Christ that they serve. He unashamedly draws from experiences in his own life and faith to address issues that cross denominational lines and affect all Christians. We can all relate to the experiences that Burchett describes in our own lives and especially in our own churches. Read this book honestly and openly and allow it to change the way you think about faith forever.

Well-Intentioned, But...:
"When Bad Christians Happen To Good People" makes many excellent points - that Christians need to be a part of the world and not cloistered, that how we convey our message is as important as the message itself, and that we need to focus on grace more than militancy. I understand his choice to use a casual, conversational tone for the sake of accessability, but on occasion he came across as flippant about rather important subject matter. Unfortunately, Burchett loses all credibility when he feebly attempts to derive Christian lessons from the 2000 US Presidential election fiasco. His inaccurate and incomplete recounting of events leads him into the same trap that he (rightly) accuses other Christians of falling into - just as some take Bible quotations out of context or become very selective about which parts of the Bible they choose to follow, he similarly recounts selective events while losing sight of the Big Picture.

Should be read by all Christians:
One of the best books available on how Christians continue to damage the cause of Christ, "When Bad Christians Happen to Good People" is a must read. Mr. Burchett starts with an example from his own life involving his daughter. She had a terminal physical condition that posed no threat to anyone. However, the church decided that she was unwelcome in the nursery because of her problems. Didn't Christ reach out to those in need? Didn't Christ spend most of his time dealing with those who were outside the mainstream of society? In a sad state of reversion to times gone by it seems that the modern Church has a lot in common with the Pharisees of old. Don't disturb our status quo, don't do anything that might make our nice, pretty church not look like the best one in the community. Not only does that apply to the physical church but the people of the church also. I have attended several churches with the problems mentioned in this book (unfortunately far more seem to have the problems than do not). From one that wanted the teenagers to participate in taking up the offering but only if they could get a nice suit jacket to ones that would forgive and accept any repentitant sinner into their group but would not forgive a repentitant member who made a mistake. While Burchett's criticism of the church can be caustic, he never makes a point that he does not backup with a real life example and then also backs it up with specific Biblical concepts. If you have been injured by the church or know of others that have been then this book is for you. On the other hand, because we all are human and at various times commit many of the sins covered in this book, it should be required reading for all Christians.