Damage Control: How to Stop Making Jesus Look Bad - Softcover

Merrill, Dean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801065658 ISBN 13: 9780801065651

Publisher: Baker Books, 2006

Synopsis

People don't like Christians. It's a sad fact, but it's true. Instead of being seen as representatives of a loving God, Christians are often seen as narrow-minded, exclusionary, or pushy. In Damage Control, Dean Merrill examines what Christians can do to stop making Jesus look bad. "Let's shine a light on what we're doing wrong--and what we, as 'field reps,' could do better," he says. In three parts, Merrill looks at God's "shaky plan"--why God left his reputation in the hands of fallible humans--the ways we hurt God's cause without realizing it, and the ways we can help God's cause. This insightful and energizing book will show Christians how to engage in spiritual disciplines, peaceful practices, and evangelism to represent Christ for who he really is.

About this title

About the Author

Dean Merrill is the author of The God Who Won't Let Go and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church. He has also collaborated on a number of other books, including Jim Cymbala's Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

From the Back Cover

People don't like Christians. Christians are often seen as narrow-minded, exclusionary, or pushy instead of being seen as representatives of a loving God. It's easy to think that the actions of others are causing the problem, but are you aware of how much your neighbors and friends are forming their opinions of Jesus by watching you? This book will help you determine if you're hurting God's cause without realizing it, and how to become part of the solution instead. Damage Control takes an honest look at what's wrong-and what's right-about Christianity today. It offers specific ideas for making your faith attractive to those around you. Jesus started a global revolution, then left us as ambassadors to carry on his mission. Damage Control shows how to engage in spiritual disciplines and peaceful practices so you can represent Christ for who he really is. "Readers can't help being challenged by Merrill's message of change and love. He'll offend a few, encourage many others, and cause some Christians to make huge changes in how they relate to the people around them. This is a necessary and timely book."-Publishers Weekly "A welcome book, full of wise counsel."-Harold Myra, executive chair, Christianity Today International "Dean Merrill has given us a 'high definition' version of the biblical theme of ambassador. He reminds us this journey starts with acting like the One we say we represent."-Byron D. Klaus, president, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri "Through powerful stories and convincing application of Scripture, Dean Merrill perfectly portrays the Christian's role as 'God's ambassador.' Damage Control can make a real difference in how the church impacts a skeptical but needy world."-Wess Stafford, president and CEO, Compassion International Dean Merrill is the author of The God Who Won't Let Go and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church. He has also collaborated on a number of other books, including Jim Cymbala's Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.

Reviews

As Merrill tells it, "the cause of Christ is at the mercy of human handling." And therein lies the problem. Christians believe that God chose fallible humans to be his ambassadors on earth, but these emissaries routinely botch the job. This honest and provocative book points out how Christians often fail to make their faith attractive, and how unintended hindrances bury the message of God's love. Merrill focuses closely on how words are among the worst offenders: Christianese mystifies, overwhelms, antagonizes and manipulates those who don't hold similar beliefs. He also addresses Christendom's fractured unity, group agendas and frequent hypocrisy. The good news is that Merrill also describes how Christians can overcome these deficiencies by choosing effective vocabulary, using cogent reasoning when discussing God and tailoring the message of Christianity to individuals. Readers can't help being challenged by Merrill's message of change and love. He'll offend a few, encourage many others and cause some Christians to make huge changes in how they relate to the people around them. This is a necessary and timely book. (Mar.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Baker Books
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801065658
• ISBN 13: 9780801065651
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176