Review: Keep Christianity Weird

I was standing at Koorong (bookshop) with a handful of books and saw this near the counter. I'd recently read an article by Michael Frost that I liked, so I thought I'd grab the book while I was there. I'm glad I did, but I'm not sure I would have mattered much if I hadn't.

His underlying thesis is a solid one. Christianity has become so mainstream now that we don't stand out anymore. And even though our society might be taking a dim view of Christianity, we still seem much the same as the rest of the world around us. So, let's keep Christianity weird. I like his thinking, and I like his warning

I don't want it to be misconstrued as a call for the church to be zany or wacky. I think our world is tiring of stupid stunts and religious mania. And Christians have been more than willing to look like maniacs. p150

The examples that he lists here are ridiculous and, if I'm honest, a little disturbing. So it's not that type of weirdness that he is promoting. What he is promoting is this -

First, we're weird because our identity is found in God, not our own egos. Second, we're weird because, in following Christ, we embrace an entirely unconventional ethic at odds with the values of this world. And third, we're weird because we believe some crazy supernatural stuff. p154

But this is near the end of the book. There's a bit to get through before we end up here.

The opening chapter, "Here's to the crazy ones" was a great encouragement. Here I am reminded that some of those who have had the greatest impact are those who were just a bit out of the ordinary, the square pegs who don't fit in the round hole, but who do the job anyway. These are the stories that encourage me to be a bit weird.

In chapter three we read about Jesus and some of the weird things he did. This isn't a list of miracles, but rather some of the things he did that were counter-cultural. Chapter four lists some examples from church history that highlights some seemingly weird things Christians have done, while chapter five shows what may have helped to kill the weird. Then in chapter six we are encouraged to see things in a different light.

In a world where beating up your enemies or pushing and shoving those who get in your way is normal and acceptable, praying earnestly for the defenseless is weird. In a world where you only ever speak up for yourself or your own rights, giving voice to the voiceless is strange. In a world of busyness, hustle, bustle, and social media, kneeling in a circle with brothers and sisters and focusing a whole day on worship and prayer and reflection is utterly bizarre. p138

Was it worth reading the book? Absolutely. But it's strength might also be its weakness. You see, I think that those Christians who have a deep interest in social justice will read this and be greatly affirmed in what they think. That's not a bad thing, but I don't know that this will challenge them to think deeper about where salvation can only be found. On the other hand, those who have a deep commitment to theology and doctrine will probably only see this as another call to live better rather than anything about serving and trusting Jesus. (Which is a shame, because they are probably the people who most need to read this book.)

Is it possible that we could be interested in both? "When in doubt, follow Jesus." 149

At 170 pages, it's not a long book to read, and Frost has written in a style that makes it easy to keep reading. In that he has done well. You certainly won't lose anything by reading it, and some of your thinking might well be challenged. So get it, read it, and learn from it.

If you're in Australia, you can probably skip chapter two. It's interesting, but too specific to USA.