Jesus Freaks

Jesus Freaks
By D.C. Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs
Eagle Publishing. 368 pages. £9.99
ISBN 0 86347 388 1

This lavishly produced book is a much needed volume for the contemporary church. It is sometimes said that we have lived through a century that has seen more martyrdom for Christ than all previous centuries put together.

However, in the western world the Church has been relatively removed from the intensity of that persecution. Sadly, our relative freedom, security and comfort far from aiding the growth of the Church has probably furthered our decline. How much we long for men and women with a radical desire to stand up for Christ! This book serves to draw us face to face with many Christians who have done just that. It sketches for us, in brief accounts, hundreds of stories of Christians who have given much for their Lord. They are the ones who the world will dismiss as "freaks" but who Christ will welcome as good and faithful servants.

The stories are diverse. There are children, teenagers and the elderly. There are men and women. The events take place across the centuries from the apostles to the present day. Every continent of the world has its martyrs who are mentioned. It is a gripping read, which should move any Christian to weep for our own lukewarm commitment and the cruelty of Satan and to rejoice at the power of God's grace!

The accounts mostly rely on other sources, notably Foxe's Book of Martyrs and Richard Wurmbrand's In the Face of Surrender. But they are retold in a simple, clear and challenging form for the modern day. There are inaccuracies and historical anachronisms - in some stories legend is treated as history without question. But these objections are really beside the point. This book is not claiming to be a scholarly product of painstaking research. The overwhelming message of the book is one that desperately needs to be heard in our time and it's clearly written from the heart! D.C. Talk are a Christian rock band who have produced creative and challenging music for some time and I would particularly recommend this book for use in youth work. In our church we have used individual stories as youth meeting epilogues. It will challenge young people to rethink their priorities and the meaning of discipleship. It is also full of practical guidance on how we can pray, support and speak up for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the globe.

Chris Sinkinson,
Bournemouth

© Evangelicals Now - October 2000
Please consider supporting this ministry by subscribing.

• Request Free Sample

Main Articles

• Making us accountable
  Places of worship to register with the Charity Commission from April 2001
• Taking your ethics on tour
  A new challenge from Tearfund to take the ethical aspect of your holiday seriously
• Battle over Britain
  Wing Commander Randle Manwaring, RAF (Retired), reflects on the great battle 60 years ago and sees God's hand in it
• A Christian at college
  Some advice for Christians going to university
• Talking heads - male headship in marriage as part of creation?
  A defence of the role of the man as head of the family
• Art, Calvin and the problem of history
  David Ford presents a Reformed perspective on fine art
• Let the wars begin!
  A review of the BBC series Robot Wars
• Reform and revitalise!
  An interview with Jim Packer (Professor of Theology in Vancouver) on evangelicals and the Church of England (Part 1)
• Monthly column for youth leaders: going for the golden goals
  Challenging and encouraging young people to take risks
• Monthly column on the arts: include me out
  A review of the Channel 4 series Big Brother - what are we to make of it?
• Muslims and the US election
  The imminent American presidential elections could see Muslims and Arab-Americans making a critical impact
• Monthly column on hymns and songs
  Chris Idle describes some friends who represent the great multitude of musical saints
• Our tailor-made universe
  Scientists are facing the question of design as a new study shows the universe is tailor-made for life (reprinted from World Magazine)

Other articles

• X-Men
• The Swingle Singers - Jazz Sebastian Bach - CD review
• Let's Study 2 Corinthians - An extract from the book Let's Study 2 Corinthians on the seven principles of church discipline and forgiving sinners
• Messianic Judaism
• Ten
• An Inspector Calls - Review of the classic play performed by the Royal National Theatre
• God's Renaissance Man
• The Face of Old Testament - A Survey of Contemporary Approaches
• Small Talks on Big Questions
• Praise - 998 Psalms, Hymns and Songs for Christian Worship
• Church and State in the New Millennium
• Time to Celebrate - Hymns and Songs for a New Millennium
• Ben
• Christianity in a Changing World - Biblical Insight on Contemporary Issues
• Jesus Freaks