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13 of 15 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent book!!! Feb 12, 2008
By Dave Y.
"nobody777"
Free indeed is an incredible book that explores the subject of "status quo churchianity" and compares it with what the Bible actually refers to as the Church (i.e. the body of Christ). Many Christians today are raised with a certain deffinition of "church" that actually exists nowhere in Scripture but is purely the product of tradition.
The previous reviewer who called Shean's book "ridiculous" must have skipped over half the book because Shean is very clear regarding how he defines the Church that Scripture refers to compared with the "church" that religion regards... and Shean is right on! His examination is wholly biblical and the distinctions he makes are significant. Even most traditional church-attending Christians would agree that there are religious groups who identify their organizations as "churches" but which clearly do not represent God's design for what Christ called His Church. Shean presents the same challenge to those Christians to examine the very thing they have regarded as "church" for so many years to see whether it aligns with biblical truth and the nature of Christ. This is not a book that seeks to tear apart the body of Christ or devalue corporate worship or the benefit of gathering together among true believers in Christ. In fact, just the opposite is true; Shean is simply drawing a line between one concept of church, which is a product of organized religion, made entirely by man, and the true concept of Church that is defined in Scripture as the body of Christ (a spiritual house of living stones - not buildings and programs based on institutional mindsets).
Jesus Himself directed followers away from the status quo mindset of worshipping God at a physical place (complete with static rituals and religious performance) with something entirely different and, in all actuality, quite different from what most people had always known. One such example is the story of the woman at the well that Jesus interviewed. Her concept of worship also involved a specific place and a certain kind of ritual performance; but Jesus corrected this outdated view of worship by directing all the attention to a new and living Way (the Message version paraphrases this passage well):
John 4:20-21 - (the woman to Jesus) "Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?" (Jesus replies) "Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem."
John 4:23-26 - "But the time is coming--it has, in fact, come--when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself--Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." The woman said, "I don't know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we'll get the whole story." "I am he," said Jesus. "You don't have to wait any longer or look any further."
Strangely, so many people are still "looking further" and replacing "spirit and truth" with religion and subservience of man-made doctrines and traditions, even elevating them to the position of "commandments/requirements/expectations of God". Instead of following simply what Jesus taught, they have created pages of man made rules and considered them to be God's rules. It reminds me of what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day:
Mark 7:6-9 - He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!"
Shean's book is written with grace, sincerity and conviction. In it he shares his personal path to revelation and encourages readers to examine Scripture for themselves and to be led wholly by their relationship with Christ, not by merely paying subservience to long-held religious traditions. Remember, "he whom the Son sets free is free indeed," (John 8:36) and as believers in Christ, we should not allow ourselves to be enslaved by anything - especially religious traditions of men.
The reviewer who criticized Shean's book and concluded by saying, "If you see the Church as in 'institution' then you've never known Christ," needs to take a second look at Shean's book because this is exactly the point Shean is making. The only way someone could confuse that message is if they still regard the church as an institution themselves, in which case their conclusion is self condemning.
I've had the privilege of talking with Shean on the phone and through e-mail several times since reading this excellent book and can tell you that this bro is 100% genuine and truly impacted by God's truth and love. Those who are criticizing the book have either not read it or are largely critical by virtue of ignorance. I encourage you not to be swayed merely by a few critical reviewers. Read it yourself, lay your own heart before the Lord (allowing Him to speak to you Himself), and then make up your own mind based on honest investigation rather than other people's religious reactions and offenses. I believe Jesus meant it when He said that if you ask your Father for bread He won't give you a stone... In other words, if your heart is after truth, you will find it!
1 John 2:26-27 - I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him.
John 16:13 - (Jesus said) "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come."
I wholly recommend Shean's awesome book and encourage you to check it out! I firmly believe that most of those whose hearts are hungry for truth and purely in love with Jesus will not be offended by the content, but will find themselves identifying with what they already suspected in their hearts, because the Holy Spirit has been speaking to them already.
7 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Free Indeed?: Are Christians Free Indeed or Enslaved by Religion? Feb 29, 2008
By Free Man
An excellent description of how not to let the organized church get in the way of one's commitment to Christ. The organization demands, Christ satisfies. For anyone who thinks that his/her church organization is applying guilt and making demands of any kind read this book.
Too often the church becomes consumed with itself. Although the book advocates no need for a church home, I don't know if I would go that far. However, it does make a compelling point, in theory, that the organized and controlled church is not the end to which Jesus pointed. One can be a committed Christian without organized church membership or affiliation.
9 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Oh...NOW I get it... Mar 12, 2007
By Bookworm
This book opened my eyes! It made me see that all the work that goes into "doing church right"--keeping the kids clean, trying to make it on time, putting on a smile in the church parking lot after screaming at the kids for wearing the wrong shoes or making you late--just isn't necessary. After reading this book, I was able to see the institution clearly, and I realized that I can have a freer and closer relationship with God (and other people) outside the walls of the church building.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 To Go or Not To Go Jan 24, 2009
By R. Neve
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.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Jan 11, 2009
By M. Robinson
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.
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