CHRISTIANITY FOR THE REST OF US by Diana Butler Bass Book Review

Christianity for the Rest of UsHow the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the FaithDiana Butler Bass, Author© 2006 by Diana Butler BassHarper Collins, PublisherISBN 978-0-06-085949-7Retail price: 13.95

Discernment vs. Judgment

discernment: keenness of insight and judgment,
understand what is true to God's Word

Christian judgment: day of reckoning

The following book review is written for the Christian reader. 
I do not recommend this book.


As a Christian, the question that I revisit fairly often regarding Christianity is to ask, “What people comprise the Christian faith’s greatest foes?” I look at what is preached by televangelists. I listen to Christian radio, communicate with believers and non-believers, and read articles and books.

The conclusion that I draw is always the same. It is we who call ourselves Christians are our own worst enemy— you say that's not you? I respectfully disagree, for there is some of the following in each of us, if we are truly honest with ourselves.

We are divided in so many ways, and it is Satan who gleefully does the dividing. We look at groups rather than individuals and deny that a whole group is not Christian because their ways are not ours. We decide what the rules are and judge others rather than taking what all of what the Living Word of Scripture tells us, which as it happens specifically to leave the judging to God.

We make the mistake of interchanging discernment with judgment.

This is what the world sees: Too many judgmental Christians, none of whom are without sin, who are legalistic in their beliefs.

Does this mean that we should never tell our brothers and sisters in Christ that there is a sinful issue that needs to be addressed? It doesn't mean that at all--but are we doing it because God has called us to do so, or are we doing it for self-righteous purpose?


This week a shipment of new books came in, one of them being, Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith, by Diana Butler Bass. Published in 2006, I believe it reflects contemporary thought.

Using my discernment, I disagree with the thoughts of Diana Butler Bass on what is viable in regard to the Christian faith. On salvation I will not judge what is between Ms. Bass and God. I must confess to readers of this article that my opinion is limited to the first 64 pages with a browsing of a remainder of the book—it is just not my way of thinking and I had no desire to read further at this time.

Diana Butler Bass is certainly not alone in her theology. Holding a doctorate in religious studies, she is well-educated. On her website, she describes herself as an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture. Online, as an intro to her website, Ms. Bass calls herself as expert.

To write Christianity for the Rest of Us, Ms. Bass spoke with many people, and visited many churches of the ilk that she describes as the “new type” of Christian church body. I am assuming that she felt her history of growing up in a mainline denomination along with extensive education sufficient information for what has been taught as the Christian faith for nearly 2,000 years, because there was no mention of speaking with any Christians who are so-to-speak, "out-of-date."

What I am most uncomfortable with in the portion of the book that I read, is that Ms. Bass writes of creating a church where God is present in a manner that allows for those who attend to not compromise their own beliefs. She speaks of creating Christian community by finding out what people in the neighborhood want and think, then making Christianity conform. Not once was a passage of the Living Word of God quoted or mentioned—but then you can’t do so under her premise, because someone might disagree, and then the church would not be loving or caring.

Yet, Scripture tells us that God works through us, that He is the one who builds His church, His way, His idea.

After making that point, I still will not judge her faith, though I would like to challenge her belief system, which means I do not condemn or acquit—for that is in the hands of God.

I would like to know, however, what she thinks of the Holy Bible, because the only conclusion I can draw from her words is that it needs to be “re-written” to fit her and other’s theology of the 21st century.


Jesus will sometimes tell us to change our way of thinking, or he will tell us to stand back and to turn the other cheek, that He will be there to handle what we discern to be incorrect teaching.


Ms. Bass points out that the church which espouses her theology is growing, yet that is not the sign of a successful church. She stresses harmony and acceptance, to the point of denying the affects and consequences of sin, she speaks of “shalom” when all will come into unity with God, yet the Bible speaks of not only Heaven, but also Hell.

A valid point made by Diana Bass is that too often a church is a “gathering of saints” rather than a “hospital for sinners.” (p. 35) When a church preaches against certain sins and not all sin equally, there is a man-made created exclusivity. And, although it is sin that condemns all of humanity and we are humanly helpless against it, the sin is not where our salvation or lack of- lies.

Our salvation lies in whether or not we have accepted Jesus Christ as the Son of God, whose resurrection conquered sin and death, as a free gift to all from the Loving God. When this is the root of Christian faith, the believer will read the Holy Bible, will understand the nature of sin, will take what is and is not sin as stated in Scripture as true, will have less and less desire or will to sin, and will produce fruits through the workings of God, not by following the teachings of God that the individual has hand-picked as their choice du’jour.

I now challenge Christians to remember to love all, be faithful to Scripture, and leave judgment where it belongs. Remember that every single one of us carries sin, and that only the free gift of Grace changes us. Remember to not completely close the door on anyone—if you must walk away, leave an open “crack” of light shining through. Our God is a God of love, and His desire is to see all of His children come home.


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