How to Quit Church Without Quitting God: 7 Good Reasons to Escape the Box

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Summary: How To QUIT CHURCH Without Quitting God - 7 Reasons to Escap
Review: 7 Good Reasons to Escape the Box.
I think this book is the most refreshing and enlightening book that I have read in the last year, maybe the last 5 years, maybe ever! It is clearly written and challenging to one's thinking. I found that I not only agreed with Martin Zender in what he wrote, but in the way that he wrote it also. I found myself heartily wanting to shake his hand for saying what I think has needed to be said and saying it So Well! I especially enjoyed the humor as well as the method used to expose the false teaching regarding the things that characterize a "cult". So many have been duped into thinking that joining a group that is good at pointing the finger at others who qualify as a "cult" means that they have not also been easily led into, or deceived into becoming "cultic" themselves! This experience is quite common among church groups and members. Meanwhile, being convinced that their behaviour is "scriptural", numerous and obvious passages that clearly state that "God does not live in man-made temples", and "The Living God is the Saviour of All men, specially those that believe" are blatantly ignored. The good news becomes transformed into something quite different, by those that do not have faith in what Christ Himself said. What is told as "fact" today in church groups was not what was stated by early followers of Christ. There are those heading into bondage and those coming out of bondage. We just have to know for ourselves, where we stand with Christ. Is He our Life or is He not? The good news of the Saviour Who "came to save all" has been twisted into a manipulation to get people condemned and needing to "join" their group for safety from a God Who, they say, will have the majority of mankind tormented endlessly in misery, suffering, and hopeless despair. Such is their twisting the truth and misrepresenting the Love of God that He Himself says "NEVER FAILS"!
Martin Zender, in contrast, shares the GOOD NEWS in a large and open manner. His Love for the Lover of His Soul is boundless! He hides nothing concerning the fact that the Saviour's Love is all-encompassing! This Love is experienced in reading this book and available on every page. There is nothing to join and nothing to attain. Truth is handed freely as was freely received by Martin as he so graciously explains! The simple, but most profound experience of Truth, this asking oneself the question, "what is Faith?" and "Is God Who He says He is?" becomes a living epistle in Martin's life as he unfolds for the reader his own experience. What might be seen by many to be a blessing, "Religion" is carefully and astutely unveiled for what it is, or can be, a hindrance to actually knowing God. I came to wonderfully and whole-heartedly agree that God is Who He says He is, no matter if people believe it or not. Love is! Truth is! I rejoiced with the Author in his faith and freedom! The Joy rings out loud and Clear! "Know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free!" This book is about Freedom and finding Joy in worshipping the Living God in Spirit and in Truth! Enjoy!

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Summary: Makes you think ...
Review: I believe that Zender comes up with some good points in this book. His writing is very down to earth and his editorial cartoons are without a doubt, hilarious. I have read this book a dozen times and I get a kick out of it every time I read it. It should turn the religious establishment on it ears. I recommend giving a copy to everyone who is what Zender calls a religionist. If they don't throw the book in the trash at least it will make them think about their religion, which is good.

Christianity is about a relationship with God. It's not about a religion. We have heard this for years, but Zender really explains that it's all about God's sacrifice in order to have a relationship with us. God is so in love with us that he was willing to die on the cross in order to establish that relationship. It' all about God's grace, folks.

5 Stars!

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Summary: How to escape institutionalized religion in favor of God
Review: Martin Zender's book, How to Quit Church without Quitting God is an examination of the church as a religious institution and how it often exchanges the bondage of sin for the bondage of the church. While he does cover several important areas and cover them well, I have two areas where I thought the text either belabored a point far beyond what was necessary or left out a point that was very important.

The belabored point was on the definition of a cult. Zender discusses the fact that the very activities that many Christian groups use to define a cult are the same activities that they engage in. While his points are well made on this front some of them also suffer from problems with his analysis. For example, he accuses the Christian religion of meeting several of the aspects of the definition of a cult as espoused by Bob Larson in his book. The problem is that Zender applies these to point out that the Christian religion as practiced today meets these traits of a cult. For example, he accuses the church of meeting item two of Larson's definition which states that cults alter the diet of those who follow it. They do this by "depriving one of essential nutrients and enforcing a low-protein diet" which "can lead to disorientation and emotional susceptibility". He then points out that they use dozens of cookies at Vacation Bible School and so meet this criteria. Well, so does a typical day care center, many Grandparents offer cookies, ice cream and other items to the grandchildren, etc. As a matter of fact the typical parent would fit just about every factor for definition as a cult according to Larson's book. I felt that Zender wasted my time with Chapter Six on the discussion of how the church today fits the bill as a cult when the problem is the definition of a cult as espoused by Larson would make almost all families cults. The definition itself is defective so why use it?

For the most part, the rest of the book was excellent and points out many of the problems of the church as it practices religion today. Accurate and filled with Biblically based arguments, it is a very good read.

On the other hand, it misses one of the best reasons to quit church (while not quitting God). That reason is the perfection expected from the church. I find it very hard to swallow that so many churches would forgive and accept anyone as a member if they would ask for forgiveness and join their church. On the other hand, if someone who is a member of the church makes a mistake then they are much slower to forgive and much more likely not to forget. For example, I once attended a church where a young, unmarried girl wanted to find new direction in her life and join the church. She was welcomed into the youth group and encouraged to join other activities with the youth. Then one of the young ladies who was already a member of the church and youth group became pregnant. She was told that she could no longer be part of the youth and since she had made an adult decision she would be included on the role of the adult classes and was no longer to have any involvement with the youth activities. With that sort of perfection expected if you join a church then why would anyone want to? Once you are in then you must be perfect, something that even Apostle Paul was unable to attain.

Don't get me wrong, I like the book and would recommend it. The chapters on God does not live in Boxes, the Church digs People into Spiritual Ruts, and the Church binds People to clocks and Buildings are insightful and excellently argued. Taken as a whole it is a good read and can cause the reader to see things in a different light that is based on truth instead of institution. An excellent book that is part of what are probably the three best books on the problems of the church today. The other two books would be "Messy Spirituality" and "When Bad Christians happen to Good People". Every Christian who realizes that something isn't quite right about the way the Christian religion is practiced today should read these three books.