I'm OK - You're Not: The Message We're Sending Nonbelievers And Why We Should Stop - Softcover

Shore, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1600060579 ISBN 13: 9781600060571

Publisher: Navpress Pub Group, 2007

Synopsis

Immediately upon its publication "I'm OK--You're Not" proved so controversial that one month after its release its publisher (NavPress) recalled it from stores and wiped it from its web site. (It continued to sell in America and abroad, however, putting its publisher in the awkward position of fulfilling orders for a book of which it was ostensibly unaware.) The central premise of "I'm OK" is that in their zeal to fulfill the Great Commission ("Therefore go and make disciples of all ... ") Christians too often--and necessarily--violate Jesus' Great Commandment ("Love your neighbor as you love yourself"). John Shore's argument for this case--as engagingly and humorously as he makes it--is simply too powerful to ignore. And Shore doesn't make it alone. One of the most impactful aspects of this book are the statements that conclude each of its chapters, wherein non-Christians share what it's like for them to be the object of evangelizing Christians. Garnered from ads Shore ran on Craigslists across the country (and in the book presented under the subtitle of "Ouch") these deeply affecting testimonies launched the trend in Christian publishing of books based on the value of Christians actually listening to what non-Christians have to say about Christians and Christianity.

"I'm OK--You're Not" is about nothing less than the totality of the relationship between Christians and non-Christians. Shore knows what it's like to live on both sides of the Christian river: until his sudden conversion to the faith at thirty-eight years old he could not, in his own words, "have been less of a Christian if I'd had two horns sprouting from the top of my head and carried about a trident." "I'm OK--You're Not" is Mr. Shore's splendid bridge across the deep waters that too often divide Christian and non-Christian.

About this title

Review

Shore is a humorist whose work is more comedic than Donald Miller, and his appeal to Christians is more direct. Shore is preaching and teaching under the comedy, and he is very effective as a critic and motivator. Shore turns evangelism upside down and engages in just enough hyperbole to effectively make his point.... Shore ends each chapter with sets of extended comments from unbelievers on what they want to say to Christians. Shore calls these sections Ouch, and that is what they are. These unbelievers are articulate, thoughtful and way out in front of many Christians on the subject of love, respect and dialog.... Shore appeals to Christians to ponder the nature of love, the importance of honest and mature Christian character and how relationships with non-Christians really look. Shore speaks so much common sense, and skips so much Christian-ese and predictable rhetoric that some Christians will be offended immediately. Younger, thoughtful, humble Christians who know something is very wrong will find Shore saying exactly what they have been thinking. This is a great book for a discussion group, and it has questions to stir up those discussions. If you let this book loose in church, however, the response may be explosive, which would be a lot of fun. An outstanding book to stir up thought and conversation. And a good book to show to a thoughtful unbeliever. --Michael Spencer, a.k.a The Internet Monk, author of the bestseller "Mere Churchianity"

A frank discussion of a crucial flaw in modern evangelical movements. Emphasizing the concept that letting others experience Gods love is far more potent than simply telling them about it, I m OK - You're Not emphasizes the importance of listening to the Great Commandment above all. The Great Commandment referred to is as spoken by Jesus Christ and recorded in the Bible: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. Penned with gentle charm, Christian humor, love, and understanding, "I m OK - You re Not deserves to be required reading for any Christian considering embarking upon an evangelical mission or career. --Midwest Book Review

A must-read not just for pastors, but for anyone who has a passion for the Gospel, yet lacks the ability to see the Church as others often see it. Shore succeeds in presenting a viewpoint worthy of consideration and advantageous for the growth of outreach-focused believers. --Outreach Magazine

Edition details

• Publisher: Navpress Pub Group
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1600060579
• ISBN 13: 9781600060571
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 169