Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America

Written by Gabe Lyons

Narrated by Gabe Lyons

Turn on a cable news show or pick up any news magazine, and you get the impression that Christian America is on its last leg. The once dominant faith is now facing rapidly declining church attendance, waning political influence, and an abysmal public perception. More than 76% of Americans self-identify as Christians, but many today are ashamed to carry the label. While many Christians are bemoaning their faith's decline, Gabe Lyons is optimistic that Christianity's best days are yet to come. In the wake of the stunning research from his bestselling book, unChristian, which revealed the growing disenchantment among young generations for Christians, Lyons has witnessed the beginnings of a new iteration of the faith. Marked by Lyons' brutal honesty and unvarying generosity, Lyons exposes a whole movement of Christians-Evangelicals, Mainline, Protestants, Orthodox, Pentecostals, and others-who desire to be a force for restoration even as they proclaim the Christian Gospel. They want the label Christian to mean something good, intelligent, authentic, and beautiful. The next generation of Christians, Lyons argues, embodies six revolutionary characteristics: "When Christians incorporate these characteristics throughout the fabric of their lives, a fresh, yet orthodox way of being Christian springs forth. The death of yesterday becomes the birth of a great tomorrow. The end of an era becomes a beautiful new beginning. In this way, the end of Christian America becomes good news for Christians." In THE NEXT CHRISTIANS, Lyons disarms readers by speaking as a candid observer rather than cultural crusader. Where other people shout, Lyons speaks in a measured tone offering helpful analysis of our current reality while casting a vision for how to be a Christian in a world disenchanted with the faith. Both a celebration and a reckoning, THE NEXT CHRISTIANS combines current day models and relevant research with stories of a new generation of Christian leaders. If you are worried by what you see transpiring around you, this book will take you on a surprising social exploration in hopes that you too will restore confidence in your faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: Oct 5, 2010
• ISBN: 9781610450058

Reviews for Next Christians

[trey7jasso · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The author of this book has basically divided Christians into 3 groups. Separatist, Cultural or Restorers. He has had some unpleasant experiences with "Separatist" in his life and thus he is definitely writing as a reaction to his personal experiences.Theologically, his book is problematic as think that Jesus came and died to bring the world back to the Garden of Eden. He ignores the idea of propitiation and substitutionary atonement altogether. In his "restoration story" on page 54-55 he characterizes the redemptive story as if there was spilled milk on the floor that needed cleaning. He misunderstands the Garden of Eden, therefore he misunderstands Israel and he rebellion and exile. He misrepresents Christ goals and therefore his aim at evangelism is basically non-existent and his hope to fit in a world that hates Christians is fully functional. In this authors view, the role of the Christian is to fit in and "only when necessary use words". Frankly speaking that's not evangelism that's just how not to be jerk.

[alan_pierce_10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, I've long thought that Christians have lost influence in culture, but more importantly we have lost respect in the public forum. I'm defining respect as being something earned, influence as being something wielded (often through political power). The first question this book addresses is whether Christians should even aspire to effect society. The answer in the negative would create sectarian, secluded Christians who avoid "the world" e.g. the Amish. The answer in the positive leads us to more questions. Should Christians then try to make "the world" more like "the Church" or should Christians seek to gain respect in the greater culture (or what the author refers to being a "restorer"). This I think is the key question of this book. Although it might not be phrased in quite this way. The author exhorts Christians to focus on first things first, being counter-cultural, but not for the sake of evangelism. The first-things-first approach would encourage counter-cultural Christians for the sake of greater faithfulness to the scriptures and relationship with God. The evangelism should naturally follow as a secondary goal. I would agree. It is clear that the Bible beating, religious-right, moral majority have done greater harm for the Gospel than good. Most Christians statistically are barely distinguishable from the rest of secular society. They look at pornography as much, or more than the average person, have an equivalent divorce rate, and are just as charitable as their secular counterpart. Except, they are looked at as anti-homosexual, judgmental, hypocritical and generally are known more for what they're against than issues they support. I would recommend this book to any Christian because I think it is perhaps quite prophetic about future of the direction of the Church in the Third Millennium A.D. The only reason why I decided only to give four stars instead of five is that I think the author could have done a better job at emphasizting that his principles could be taken too far. People could be so focused on being "next Christians" that they compromise the gospel, his example of the creator of the "to write love on her arms" cutting Jesus out of the story on the inside of the shirt to continue to be sold by Hot Topic. Jesus is the whole point of Christianity, and the author here never states that there are ever any lines in the sand to be made in how we as Christians make our stand within society for Christ. The early church advanced, not simply because their exemplary lives within society (as the author notes), but also on the bloody backs of martyrs. Compromising how we communicate the gospel for the sake of effecting our world in positive ways should only advance so far. The great commission is every single Christians' responsibility, not just those gifted with the gift of evangelism or teaching. The basic gospel story is something every Christian should be able to explain and the sharing of which no Christian should be afraid to share boldly.

[gmtapublishing · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book Title: "The Next Christians”Author: Gabe LyonsPublished By: MultnomahAge Recommended: 17+Reviewed By: Kitty BullardRaven Rating: 4.5Review: This book brings a necessary hope to Christians and gives a brighter outlook for future generations. The author writes in such a way that you don’t feel as though you are being preached at. He shares his vision in an insightful and approachable way that makes this book a genuinely great read. Christians that feel there is no hope for their religion left or for the love of God, should definitely get a copy of Gabe’s book.

[deusvitae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author's analysis of current trends among certain groups of mostly Evangelicals. He suggests that "Christian America" is past, and in the new era, there are three types of responses-- separatist, cultural, or restorative. Separatism involves those who separate themselves entirely from mainstream society and are full of critiques; the cultural are those who conform to society in many ways and dilute the gospel message. The author champions those whom he deems the "restorationists" as the way forward for Christianity.He defines restorationists as those who are provoked, not offended; who create, not criticize; who are called, not employed; who are grounded, not distracted; who are in community and not alone; and who are countercultural, not relevant. These are believers who seek to work within society's framework to reflect Jesus there, remaining grounded and attached to Jesus and a group of His followers, and who witness to Him in word and deed.Much of what the author says about the "restorationists" is well and good, and does represent what is likely the most viable way of advancing Christ's purposes in our society. In regards to "culture changing," I would suggest Davison's "To Change the World" as a helpful critique of how that process happens if it even happens intentionally. I am unaware of how well the author knows his church history and the 200 year old "Restoration movement" that has been going on, attempting to restore Christianity back to the spirit of its Author and those who first advanced it. It sounds as if people are attempting to get back to such things in some ways but not others. It is my hope that those whom the author calls "restorationists" attempt to get back to the New Testament in doctrine as well as praxis, and that those who seek to restore New Testament Christianity get out and strive to do such things within our society.