Letters to the Church by Francis ChanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Letters to the Church is thought-provoking, especially since it addresses some of the issues I am currently having around church.
Chan draws examples from his personal experiences, both in the old megachurch and in the new house-church style, but qualifies them with the statement that what he has done and what he is doing isn't representational of what Church is meant to be worldwide. He seems to ask instead, who are you following? Jesus or the church leadership team? What does faith, love, and community look like in your context? How would Jesus work in your situation, in your community?
The one thing he does come strongly against is the consumer mindset that besets many a churchgoer, myself included. The emphasis here is not how the church can cater to you, but how you can serve your church in its goal to reach the surrounding community.
I guess it all centres around the question What IS church? Is church as we know it the way it's supposed to be? Or is it supposed to be something more? Chan draws stark differences between the Westernised church (Westernised, not Western, because there are many churches in the East which follow the Western ways) and the persecuted church.
And that's the answer I'm still trying to find.
Note: I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley. I was given the book with no expectation of a positive review and the review is my own.
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