Adventures in Churchland' is a thoughtful look at what we call 'church', including the author's own experiences with some most unhelpful Christians and church styles. He contrasts what he calls 'Churchland' (the typical culture and traditions that often go with church congregations) with 'Graceland', the ideal church as Body of Christ.

He writes with clarity and honesty about the horrors of judgemental and rigid church leaders, of the rejection of those who are perceived as 'different', of the worst kind of controlling religious stereotypes who may be rare, but, alas, do exist. He also writes of his warm welcome by a small group in London. He began to relate to people very different from himself, who encouraged him to ask questions and didn't criticise the way he dressed or the habits he indulged in, but offered him love and acceptance as a person made in God's image.

I don't know that it's particularly helpful for followers of Jesus who are currently 'called out' of the local structured church. But it's a thought-provoking book, which could be useful for anyone who has been hurt or attacked by Christians, or who had one bad experience with a local congregation and then reject them all (understandably) in reaction. I thought it very readable and it certainly made me think. ( )

An exploration of Evangelical Christian subculture through the author's life story and experiences.

The author presents his themes according to his experiences from an "unchurched" lifestyle among many who were hostile to Evangelical Christianity toward becoming a Christian and a minister himself. Through his own story he explains the challenges often posed by Evangelical subculture which he subsumes under the rubric of "churchland." He also highlights the positives and great experiences he shared with others in the faith, subsumed under the rubric of "graceland" based upon the idea of God's grace in action.

Through this contrast the author explores many subjects relating to Christianity: level of comfort/acceptance of others with whom Evangelicals may disagree, judgmentalism regarding matters of importance and unimportance, the nature of Christianity, salvation, the church, and the faith, along with a thoroughgoing critique of Evangelical subculture and its challenges.

While there are the standard challenges present with all books written by Evangelicals with this work, the author nevertheless writes in a winsome and engaging manner, highlighting his points and critiques with his own experiences as well as the experiences of others, and unlike many other such writers maintains a charitable attitude toward those with whom he had challenges for whatever reason, seeking to see the best intentions in them even though the end result may not have been as productive.

A major critique of the author might involve his view of the role of the church, which he says is not for itself but for the benefit of others, whereas Paul declares that the church is to build itself up in love, and by building itself up it can empower its individual members to be of service and benefit to others so those "others" may be led to God in Christ and thus become part of the Body (Acts 2:42-48, Ephesians 4:11-16). Otherwise much of the author's critiques of Evangelical subculture are spot on, and many of his theological emphases are important to consider in terms of what the Scriptures teach and how the faith should be practiced and communicated in the twenty-first century.

Not a hard-hitting theological treatise by any means but a good book for Christians to consider, especially those who have become so thoroughly enmeshed in Christian subculture that they do not seem able to effectively communicate with those outside that realm.

**--book received as part of early review program ( )