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0 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Somebody definitely peed in this guys Cheerios! Jun 28, 2009
The author never states WHY he left the ministry only why he quit attending.I suspect he had a traumatic and probable involuntary break with his pastorate.No doubt the man is a believer and speaks much truth about the need for Christians to love one another.But,thankfully,I see no resemblance of the church I attend and the one he writes about. Does that church exist or is it a composite conjured up by the author based on years of bruised feelings?
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 To Go or Not To Go Jan 24, 2009
While this book brings forth some important questions, and it does cause you to think, it is a bit too angry for my taste. He seems genuinely indignant with organized religion. If that is what you are looking for, then you will be well supported by this book. I would recommend reading it even if you are not currently unhappy with your choice of worship options. It will make you challenge your "churchianty" and you will come out of it with a better understanding of where you stand. It is a somewhat easy read and flows from one idea to the next without too much jumping around. In the end I will not give up my church attendance, but I will no longer feel guilty if I choose not to attend for reasons personal or private.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent Jan 11, 2009
There was so much information to read but Shean Smith did an excellent job in putting into words what todays churches are doing to the people of God. Jesus said that His yoke was easy and His burden was light but while I was attending church what an overload I felt on my shoulders with the fundraisers and deadlines for the building fund while my own bills weren't being fully paid.
exposes religion today Jan 06, 2009
BEST BOOK I HAVE READ AND HOW WE ARE CONTROLLED BY PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH.
TAKES AWAY THE GUILT WHEN YOU ARE NOT INTO CHURCH BUT LOVE GOD.
I DARE EVERY PREACHER TO READ THIS BOOK.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
the last chapter is the most important part Aug 14, 2008
(I, admittedly, have not read the second edition. However, I know from good sources that the only major difference between the two editions is that Shean reformatted the book so as to make it more readable. To this same end he made some adjustments in wording, but not many. Other than that the only noticeable differences are new cover art and more eco-friendly paper.)
Shean starts by telling about his life; how he grew up, followed in the family business and eventually came to a realization of the superfluity of church. He was a missionary kid who grew up to be a preacher and then left church completely. I could relate to this, in a way, so it definitely sparked my interest. I knew Shean's story before I read the book and so being able to see how he had come to where he was, was something I really looked forward to. His book was a timely and informative aid to me in my life as I headed down the same path he was already on.
Shean uses his theological background and study of church history to lay out the various unnecessary trappings of the modern church. He explains where they came from and what many of them were meant to be (but aren't anymore). Making simple all those `religious' words and concepts; he demystifies what we have come to know as the status quo and shows us that "the way it is" isn't the way it should be. In fact, it isn't necessarily the way it was ever meant to be. Piece by piece he dismantles the establishment or organized religion and states what the Bible says about being a `Christian.'
He doesn't leave you stuck doubting your faith and trying to figure out where to go next, though. He explains what he has done since leaving the church, answering two BIG questions natural to someone who has just left organized Christian religion. Those being: (1) how do I continue to be a Christian after I have left church? And (2) what about fellowship and corporate worship?
(1) He tells you how he lives his Christian life outside of `the church,' giving a simple explanation of his life with God. He never says there is one right way (although there are plenty of wrong ways) to be a Christian. He merely gives you a start point, one that he uses as the meter stick of his own lifestyle, and that is the `two greatest commandments' given to us by Jesus. This allows for your Christian lifestyle to be as personal and personalized as it was meant to be. Shean remembers that, given that we are living according to Christ's commands to love God and love others, there is no specific way that we should all go about it. Christianity is a relationship, and each person's relationship with God is unique.
(2) He also tells how he has community with others. He explains how a `church' is not necessary for fellowship or community worship and how you can have these things without one. He gives examples of cook-outs and brunches. (I know from personal experience that when Shean fellowships food always seems to be involved somehow... not that I mind.) I have fellowshipped with him and his family, talking religion and politics at the dinner table (anything to upset the status quo, right? ). Like it has been stated in another review, he reminds that true fellowship is face to face and that, in turn, our fellowship is closer among a small group of friends and that, that is all we really need. As for worship, Shean states clearly that it is not an outward act or scheduled event, but how we live our lives that is our worship.
In neither instance does he try to say "this is how it ought to be done" (with the exception of Christ's commands). What he does is explain what he has done since leaving the church so as to give the reader something to work with if they too choose to leave `church' and really get to know God.
That last statement summarizes the whole book rather nicely. Shean is not trying to reinvent the wheel. He is only trying to help people realize that it needs to be made round again, or it will never roll like it is supposed to.
NOTE: Shean is not trying to defend the Christian faith. He is trying to explain what Christianity was (is) meant to be, what it has become and the difference between the two. Shean wrote this more for people already in the church. If you don't fit that target audience, don't lose heart, more and more there is material for those on the outside looking in and wondering what it's all about. (Check out Josh McDowell, Dr. Jay Wile and maybe Dr. Francis Schaeffer for apologetics. I would read something from all of them because you may find one to be out in left field and another on home plate.)
P.S. I wrote and re-wrote this over and over, so i hope it says all that I wanted it to. hope it helps.
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