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 PrintableVersion Churchgoing for AmateursCHURCHGOING FOR AMATEURS Any book by Michael Green is great fun. Once again we have considerable theological distinction allied to enviable and outstanding communication skills. As a page-turner it leaves Tom Clancey a long way behind. In typical knock-about language Michael Green debunks the image of the church as it is often perceived, and in mouth-watering terms describes it as it ought to be. Any new Christian who has hitherto been put off by joining a local church will now be prompted to sign on as soon as possible. Old stagers who have been responsible for the church's bad image through their bickering, lack of warmth and love, and refusal to adapt and change will be duly chastened and humbled. There are a few little 'buts'. This booklet is strangely lacking in theological rigour. If evangelicals were ever to be accused of not having a proper ecclesiology, this book would hardly answer the charge. There is, for instance, no distinction drawn between 'the people of God' and the 'meeting' of the people of God (which is when the word 'church' is usually used in the New Testament). Perhaps this is excusable in a pocket-book for amateurs. More serious, I feel, is the neglect of an emphasis on the church 'devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching.' In a post-modern way there is much good stuff on loving and caring for one another but very little on 'being of one mind', and hardly a mention of the fact that from John 17 it is the truth that unites, sanctifies and motivates. Perhaps the biggest 'but' about a popular book for amateurs is to be laid at the door of the publishers rather than at the author's - for a mere 100 ages of large print on small paper £4.99 is an inordinately high price to pay. I'm glad I've got a 'review' copy. Jonathan Fletcher,
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