Alisa Childers grew up in a home where faith was living and showed itself in practical results. She loved studying her own Bible, where the stories fascinated and captivated her: they were real in her mind as she imagined herself stepping into the shoes of her favourite characters and experiencing the incredible events they did. She knew the Bible was the living Word of God and she never questioned that. But as an adult, when she attended a special class run by her pastor who questioned almost every claim Christianity has historically made and was more interested in questions than answers, Alisa felt the foundations of her faith shake -- right to their core.
What do you do when everything you've always believed is called into question? Another Gospel: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity tells of Alisa's quest for truth, and the answers she found.
"Once I was put through my own type of deconstruction, I wanted to reconstruct my faith by planting my flag on the firm bedrock of truth. I needed to know what was true. After I left the class and spent some time in a fog of confusion, I had an idea. Rather than redefine or reject Christianity, why not go back to the beginning and find out what the real thing is? Maybe the only version I knew was true . . . maybe it was false." ~Alisa Childers
One by one, Alisa examines the objections raised by Progressive Christianity, and the evidence for or against them. What did Jesus really think and teach? We turn to His recorded words to find out. What did the early church leaders understand certain passages to mean? We read their own writings to see. Is the Bible we have today even reliable? Welcome to textual criticism. Does Progressive Christianity present a more advanced, a progressing, understanding of Christianity, or another gospel entirely?
I'm so grateful for Alisa's commitment to discovering the truth, whatever it might be and whether or not she likes it. Her calm, methodical, and purposeful way of searching and examining, followed by clear presentation is a welcome breath of fresh air. I loved reading this beautifully written book; I found it so gripping I didn't want to put it down!
My one complaint is the treatment of hell in this book. While there are some points made which have occurred to me previously and I agree with, it appears to me that different conclusions would be reached with a more comprehensive study of Scripture on the topic. Particularly, Luke 16:19-31 seems to me to negate the idea of the gates of hell being "locked from the inside."
All taken into consideration, Another Gospel is an excellent resource for everyone living today, when Progressive Christianity is so prevalent and seeps in where we might least expect. This book can help you find answers to your questions, equip you to answer questions others present, and strengthen your faith. Do yourself a favour and grab your own copy today!
"As I began to put put all the blocks back in their rightful paces, the finished structure was stronger and more beautiful than ever. Today my faith stands strong against the stormy waves of doubt that challenged the existence of God, the reliability of the Bible, and the truthfulness of Christianity." ~Alisa Childers
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