Alisa Childers: Examining Progressive Christianity Through the Lens of a Lifelong Christian

Rachel E.: Alisa's knowledge of apologetics is enlightening. Delving into historical documents and theological writings isn't a priority for me right now, so I'm happy that she brings so much of that together and relates it to real present-day arguments. I didn't know much about the progressive Christian movement before reading this book. It was shocking but then she describes how these ideas are not new and that the answers are the same today as they were in the first-century. Her writing is relatable and easy to understand while going deep to get to the heart of the matter.

United States on Dec 05, 2023

Jennifer Young: For many years I had attended a church that was becoming more and more progressive - only I didn’t realize it. I had grown up in church, was heavily involved, and while I didn’t think I was immune to deception, I certainly didn’t think I was easy prey. I was wrong. All that to say, someone told me about Alisa Childers and this book due to my background. Her writing style is refreshing, humorous, and serious all at the same time. She explains the why. She points back to Jesus and the true gospel found in God’s inerrant and all sufficient word. She explains how progressive Christianity is anything but - and what we need to be aware of in our churches and our belief system. I HIGHLY recommend this book, and I’ve already loaned it to several others. I very much respect Alisa Childers and am so thankful for her work!!

United States on Oct 28, 2023

Gideon: Not only from outside, but also from within Christianity itself, faith in the Bible, the Cross and the Gospel, for example, is being called into question. Perhaps we ourselves have also experienced how our once rock-solid convictions have become rather diluted over the years. We say, “I’m not as naïve as I used to be anymore,” but is that really true? Alisa Childers felt the same way, until she set out to find out. In her lightly written and gripping book, she takes us on her journey. Her book helps us to recognise false teachings around us and to counter them. She also puts her finger on the wound and exposes where the church itself has fallen short. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to reclaim the passion of their faith.

- Rev. Gideon de Jong

Germany on Mar 20, 2023

Karen Lovering: An excellent thorough deep dive into the essentials of our salvation. A beautiful and skilful deconstruction and reconstruction of what we can and should hold onto to call ourselves Christian

Australia on Nov 05, 2022

Heidi: This book is an excellent journey of examining historic Christianity in a way that is readable yet supported with evidence. I read the whole book in one sitting. Alisa does a wonderful job of showing the weaknesses and emptiness in the stances of "Progressive Christianity" while also taking an honest look at whether historic Christianity stands up to analysis.

Mexico on Aug 15, 2021

Derek Elkins, Author of "Life Unworthy of Life": I have a little bit of history with Progressive Christianity. Not a big hero or supervillain defining moment, but a history nonetheless. Of course, back then, it was just the Emergent Church and the majority of the philosophical underpinnings were attributed to Brian McLaren and not too many else. A pastor/friend of mine was looking into the Emergent Church movement as a way of possible church growth/communicating with a different generation kind of thing. So, inquisitive little bugger that I was, I read a few of the books and wrote a little paper, explaining why I disagreed with some of the major tenets of the book. We eventually moved on before anything was resolved. But years later, the Progressive Christian element reared its ugly head in a church I was familiar with and a pastor I had always believed was fairly well grounded. Now, however, I heard he had started preaching the non-existence of hell and some other questionable doctrine.
So, you could say, I know first hand why this book is not only needed but extremely helpful. There have been other books, to be certain, but the autobiographical element mixed with strong apologetic answers to some of the largest Progressive...

United States on Jan 03, 2021

Brad Broadhead: As a pastor, part of what I want to do for my congregation is to bridge the gap between the academy and the pew. On the one hand, I want to ground what I teach in good sources, preferably primary sources. I need ancient sources (the Bible, the church fathers, the reformers, etc.) and I need contemporary sources (influential theologians, philosophers, sociologists, etc.). It is my task to teach sound doctrine and to warn against whatever is contrary to the Gospel. But I also need to be accessible or no one will care and all my research will have been in vain.

I have noticed that emergent/progressive Christians (I know, I know, no one likes a label, but they remain a necessary evil) have been writing books not only aimed at the academy but at a general readership. From Rob Bell’s Love Wins to Peter Enns’ The Bible tells Me So, they are arguing for their point of view in a compelling and accessible way. However, those in the traditional/orthodox (again the labels—people who believe the whole of the Bible is inspired by God and is reliable in what it teaches about everything from God’s character to human sexuality, who believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus and...

Canada on Dec 15, 2020

David: There are generally two kinds of apologetics books: those that list arguments and facts, and those that present arguments and facts through a story, usually a memoir or biography. Of the former, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist” (Turek, Geisler) and “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” (McDowell) might be the most famous. Of the latter, “The Case for Christ” (Strobel) and “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” (Qureshi).

The former are excellent books for classes, for studying, for referencing. The latter are excellent for growing, for learning, for understanding. Rote facts are often less memorable than a good and solid lesson in which such facts can be presented in context. Together, along with the few books like Tactics (Koukl) and Conversational Evangelism (Geisler), they make up a whole that every Christian should learn from.

Alisa Childers is adding a new book to the latter group, to the stories. While most such books talk about things outside the faith, usually someone coming to Christ, Alisa talks about nearly leaving the church because of threats from within. This is a lesson sorely needed today in the church as people, young and old, are...

United States on Oct 09, 2020

Jeremiah KirkmanJeremiah Kirkman: I have really enjoyed reading this book! Alisa writes with a very heart felt, engaging, gentle and thought provoking style. She takes you on her journey: growing up in the faith, struggling with challenges to it, her hours upon hours of searching/study and how she came to a stronger grounding in Historic Christianity and a more robust faith.

She tells of how she prayed in her struggles, ‘“God, I know you’re there. Please send me a lifeboat.”’. Now in search of clear answers to the challenging questions levelled at the core beliefs of her faith. God did in fact send a number of lifeboats, in the form of solid bible teachers and defenders of the faith.

She went on a journey of in-depth study into the (strong) evidence for Christianity. Ministries like ‘Stand to Reason’, ‘Cross Examined' and ‘Cold Case Christianity’ helped along the way, as well as reading/studying theology and aplogetics books and the church fathers writings. This journey and its results are so evident throughout the book.

This is a much-needed resource in light of the distorted ideas subtlety making their way into segments of the church. This is a book which clearly defends...

United Kingdom on Oct 08, 2020