Who Stole My Church: What to Do When the Church You Love Tries to Enter the 21st Century

Just finished this book on Kindle, and while it is fresh in my mind, I wanted to go ahead and review it. I know that we all have our preferences for reading material. The reason that this book is timely is that he could be describing my own church which like the fictional church in New England is steeped in tradition, has a LONG history like ours, has multi-generations who have attended the same church. I believe he used the novelization approach just as a vehicle to convey the thoughts, feelings, opinions of the people which make up the church as well as inserting much good information on the process of change in a congregation over time. Gordon MacDonald describes himself as a compromise candidate, a kind of father figure. He and his wife, Gail are themselves in this book, and it is told from the Pastor’s point of view. Each chapter begins with Pastor notes on whatever is going on at the time.The book opens with the failure of an agenda item that by all rights should have passed with flying colors. Blind-sided by the over-reactions of people he had been pastoring for three years and thought he knew, he decided some further communication should be undertaken. There had been a lot of outward changes in this church over the years, not all of his doing: hymnbooks were passe’, the organ was gone, PowerPoint presentations during the sermons were common, pews had been replaced with individual chairs, people didn’t dress up for church as much, and small groups replaced Sunday School classes. His purpose as a pastor was stated in chapter 1: “Most important, I was committed to pointing the church toward the outside world and getting it to see that the real action was what happened, not on Sunday in the church building, but between Sundays in the home, in the marketplace, in the school” (Loc. 276).But, tension between the generations had reached a tipping point. An informational meeting was set up, and fifteen stalwarts of the church showed up. Complaints are flying thick and fast, but to Pastor MacDonald’s credit, his character listens and wants to understand their point of view. The title of the book is taken from a comment made by a widow, “Who stole my church?” which is the way she feels. The rest of the book explores how change occurs from church history, and from biblical examples. Each generation must find a way to reach the next one.The church was transformed because the people began to understand and see that the Gospel message and the Word of God, and Christ do not change, but the method of delivery has changed from the early church onward. Along the way, they learn more about each other, and become a core group that seeks to support and mentor the younger generation, and reach the lost all around them.I enjoyed this read, posted on Goodreads also. Had a hard time putting it down. Every church body of believers is different, but it was heartening to see explanations for how people perceive and deal with change as a process. He references a book, The Diffusion of Innovation by Roberts about the Toshiba Corporation to illustrate the percentage of people in a group who are innovators (2.5%); early adopters (key people who are trusted) (13:5%); early majority (those who talk it out and come around) (34%), late majority, (those who are skeptical and want to see results first),(34%), and laggards (never changers). Our church has a wonderful visionary gifted in leadership as pastor, but this book helped me understand that change is normal, and things ever stay the same EXCEPT the gospel message and the Word of God.

I read a lot, if not most of the reviews on Amazon about this book prior to purchasing. The book is a non fiction and so like others have said the characters are basically puppets of the author, they do what he wants them to do. With that said, the characters very closely resemble real life individuals in our church, and I'm sure in many others. I am in a traditional church and our deacon body suggested we read this book as we look to possibly change some things so as to reach first of all the younger people in our church, and those who may come into the church. I know there are two opposite views here, I've read from people who love the book that this book was like a mirror image of their church, and they are happy that their church is coming into the current times in how they minister to people through music, programs, etc. The negative reviews seem to say that there is a danger in changing in this way, in modernizing in those areas, and that their churches were negatively affected by the particular individuals who led the charge to modernize the music, and outreach of the church. Like with all things in the Church, if the Word of God is not the foundation, there will be problems. Bottom line, you can't reach people without speaking their language, you wouldn't go into China, preach in English, and expect people to come to Christ. You can share the gospel without speaking in words that younger generations (teens, 20's, 30's) can't understand, you can worship in ways with music that speaks to the heart of all generations, including the younger, as long as the content is tested by the Word. At the same time, you cannot abandon the people who are so valuable to your church, the older generations. But the individual local church going through these traditional vs. modern struggles will cease to exist if they do not begin speaking the language of the people they hope the disciple. That does not just mean the hypothetical strangers from outside, that means the sons and daughters of the older generation inside the church. The book so far (I am about 1/2 to 2/3rds way through, seems to do a good job of recognizing this). I'm only reviewing now because Amazon sent this email today and I don't want to forget to review. With that said someone suggested reading 'Why I Left Contemporary Christian Music Movement' as sort of a counter to this book. I bought it and read it, and I disagree with much of it. That book is one man's view on how contemporary Christian music for him brings about feelings and memories of a darker/sinful past that involved contemporary secular music. Speaking for myself contemporary Christian music typically has a sound that is ALWAYS behind the times vs. secular music. It is not a knock, it's just something I have found to be true, so the idea that contemporary Christian music is right in step with secular music, except for the words, is just false to me. And the assumption that contemporary Christian music, which has Godly lyrics that are Biblical, are going to conjure up sinful and evil thoughts in the worshipers or players of this music, is an assumption I do not think we can make.

A great book which read a bit too close to home... A cracking insight as to how church politics can sometimes work and what to do about it! #RECOMMENDED

We have come through this on our own, no with GOD,s help, but was a struggle just like the book says,but He brought us through.

This is a well written and thought provoking book. I found it challenging.

Very good book. Interesting.

Challenging