Lord, Save Us From Your Followers: Why is the Gospel of ...

Finally - Christianity for all of us:
I think this is probably the best book I have ever read. I know that seems extreme, but as a Christian that goes to church every Sunday - and as a person that the typical "Christian" would seemingly hate (I am a lesbian) - it has been hard for me to go back to church after feeling like I am someone that Christians loath. It has been hard for me to get over my prejudices and fears of going to church again; get over my expectations of condemnation, hate and rejection; get over my expectation of being told I am going to hell. If you have ever, for what ever reason, felt that the church isn't for you - but you still feel that tug from your childhood - the feeling that "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so" and you also feel that "Christians hate me this I know, for the Bible (and hateful Christians) tell me so" THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! Author, Dan Merchant, has put his love for God - and Jesus' love for us - together in this story over his (and my) confusion between what the Religious Right tells us and what Jesus asks us to do. Love one another! Just that. Merchant's subtitle: Why is the gospel of love dividing America? Because we are letting our fears and hates keep us from loving one another. Read this! Share it! And if you are one of the people who have never felt the fear of going back to church, and being authentically who you are, please read this. If your church is half empty, or your heart is telling you that the mega church you belong to isn't quite sharing the Gospel of Love like it should, please read this book. Some of your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, acquaintances and strangers need to know you and God still love them. How full would our Churches be if people knew that they wouldn't be met with hate! God bless Dan for starting this conversation, and God bless you for being open to this very very important message.

Needs work:
I saw Dan Merchant on the Today show and thought he was very charming and that the idea for the book was unique. When reading it, I get the impression he is a moderate Republican that is annoyed that religious right has taken hold of the party. He seems to be an apologist for Rick Santorum while being critical of the views of Al Franken. I say seems, as he is always hedging and never outright says what he wants the reader to know. I may also not agree with everything Al Franken says, but I say outright I am a Democrat with moderate views. I will also say the former Senator Santorum was defeated for his views, his policies, and partisanship- things Merchant didn't touch on or research as he writes his review of him. Is he aware that Santorum fought for a cap on medical lawsuit awards, and when his wife's back was 'injured' in a spinal manipulation session they sued for twice as much as the cap. One of the claims that she couldn't help campaign for her husband. Or that he derided opponents for satelite schools at the tax payers expense- but what did he do? Same thing... Or his refering to gay people as man-on-dog lovers. I did enjoy some interviews with people like Michael Reagan. It provided more insight into his personality. And I read it with an open mind he is someone I may not agree with, but would certainly speak with to exchange opinions. That is another thing that is missing- we only 'sorta' know what Merchant wants to say- and there is not a sharing of ideas among his interview subjects- they are just interviews. I was hoping (and told by one review) that the documentary was included, but it turns out it is not. I will actively look for this as it does look interesting. I think Merchant has great ideas, he just needs to say what he really thinks.

Look at yourself first...:
I had seen Dan Merchant on the Today show and my interest in this book was piqued. I bought the book and read it quickly as it touched on so many issues I have when I think of how my Christian faith is portrayed. I am involved in my local church and study my bible in order to learn how to be better. I find that many times my views of how we should treat others in terms of love and respect go against the grain of what many believers practice... I find that often we who want to treat all with the love of Christ are not heard over the loud and annoying voices that really promotes intolerance and are not inclusive of a large section of our society. When this happens it promotes the views that we are all of that same ilk. Dan Merchant in his book and documentary gave the Christians who try to live by Jesus' example a voice and like "Blue Like Jazz" is refreshing and needed in our world. God Bless this book and all those who read it regardless of what they might think about it.

A Questions all Christians Must Ask Themselves:
Lord, Save us From Your Followers should jump start a whole bunch of conversations about why a group of people whose very name implies that they follow someone who taught about loving one another are responsible for so much hate, animosity and down right awfulness. Dan Merchant traveled the United States talking to people one on one about why Christians are perceived to be more committed to being right than being loving. It doesn't help when some people on the religious right are so condemnatory. Amazingly it was people on the left who seemed to be more willing to talk with him about things. Al Franken, Sister Mary Timothy and Michael Reagan sit and talk with Dan and help us to see how we are perceived by those outside the church. This book should make you think about whom you are following and if your faith is really in him or in the hands of some political strategist, whether you believe in the words of Christ or the words of the Republican party. I would recommend this book for everyone but especially for those who call themselves Christians or Christ followers.

All Christians ought to read this (and so should the non-Christians):
Gandhi famously said, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." That quote captures the essence of this book: Jesus Christ is almost universally admired, even by non-Christians. His followers, on the other hand, often provoke a very different reaction. Many people reject Christianity, not because they have anything against Jesus, but because they are repulsed by those so-called "Christians" who appear to be so unlike Christ. Christians are often perceived to be intolerant, judgmental, "holier-than-thou" hatemongers, who want to impose their narrow-minded beliefs and puritanical values on the world. Of course, most born again Christians would reject this rather unflattering stereotype; and insist that they are only trying to follow Jesus and spread the gospel message to those whose souls need saving. This divide has led to a "culture war" in modern America -- a war between evangelicals and secularists over the issue of whether America is going to be a Christian nation that promotes traditional values or a secular nation that celebrates individual freedom. This "culture war" has led documentary filmmaker Dan Merchant, a moderately-conservative evangelical Christian, to ask the question: "Why is the gospel of love dividing America?" Merchant wants to encourage both sides in the culture war to chill out, lighten up, get a sense of humor, move beyond the unfair stereotypes, and actually enter into a mutually-respectful dialogue with each other rather than a hate-filled shouting match. He encourages Christians to be more Christ-like: more loving, more forgiving, and less judgmental. And he encourages non-Christians to judge Christianity based on the words and deeds of Christ rather than on the words and deeds of his imperfect followers. That's a message we all need to hear.