Product Description

Here's a thoughtful, probing exploration of why Christians get stuck in the place of complacency, dryness, and tedium -- and how to move on to new levels of spiritual passion! Buchanan shows how the majority of Christians begin their spiritual journey with excitement and enthusiasm -- only to get bogged down in a "borderland" -- an in-between space beyond the "old life" but short of the abundant, adventurous existence promised by Jesus. Citing Jonah, he examines the problem of "borderland living" -- where doubt, disappointment, guilt, and wonderlessness keep people in a quagmire of mediocrity -- then offers solutions ... effective ways to get unstuck and move into a bold, unpredictable, exhilarating walk with Christ. Inspired writing!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #119437 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-05
• Released on: 2001-02-05
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Download Description
Here's a thoughtful, probing exploration of why Christians get stuck in the place of complacency, dryness, and tedium -- and how to move on to new levels of spiritual passion! Buchanan shows how the majority of Christians begin their spiritual journey with excitement and enthusiasm -- only to get bogged down in a "borderland" -- an in-between space beyond the "old life" but short of the abundant, adventurous existence promised by Jesus. Citing Jonah, he examines the problem of "borderland living" -- where doubt, disappointment, guilt, and wonderlessness keep people in a quagmire of mediocrity -- then offers solutions ... effective ways to get unstuck and move into a bold, unpredictable, exhilarating walk with Christ. Inspired writing! Clear, stylish typeset, with user-friendly links to referenced Scripture.

From Publishers Weekly
Canadian pastor and first-time author Buchanan says that he "hit the ground running" when he first became a Christian. He got involved in a church, taught Sunday school and read his Bible regularly. Then things got rote. Buchanan was, in a word, "stuck." But he had friends who weren't stuck: the elderly widow who seemed full of spiritual joy, a multiple sclerosis patient with a broken body but a strong faith. So Buchanan set out to write a book that would explain why many Christians fail to progress spiritually and why only a few grow stronger in faith. He concludes that believers reach a plateau when they think God is too cuddly and (as the title suggests) safe. The literary conceit of this narrative is all too familiar in evangelical Christian books: the church is full of euphemism and afloat on pat answers, but this bold, new author is going to be refreshingly honest about how difficult his own faith walk has been. Buchanan may be honest, but the tactic is stale. Equally banal are Buchanan's tips for "breaking free": Don't boast about your good deeds. Read the Bible. Confess when you've sinned. Pray. Perhaps his only innovative advice is that Christians take up fasting, a biblical activity that has become increasingly popular among contemporary evangelicals.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Lloyd Jamess effortless narration captures Buchanans argument that God is neither safe nor predictable. Instead God takes risks; He is passionate, loving, and filled with purpose to help man become holy. With careful pacing and understatement, James delivers the authors belief that those who think God is safe live in the borderland, a place without passion or the freedom to grow spiritually. The second half of the book explores how to get to know the God of the Bible and encourages listeners to move from the borderland into the unfamiliar. The struggle is worth the prize, which is a rich spiritual life with God. The arguments in this thought-provoking book are biblical and based on solid theology. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Spiritual renewal
Although this book isn't taged a "renewal" book it has as way of feeding a hungry soul weak from feeding on junk food religion. Mark has a gift for answering questions we want addressed but are often not. His use of the word and illustration of "boarderland" may be a stretch for some, just think of it as the old phrase "riding a fence" (uncommitted, lukewarm, having a form of religion but denying it's power). This book speaks to those who are spiritually weary and find all too often a huge gap between religion and a bonified relationship with Jesus Christ.

Want to be offended?
If you enjoy living as an "armchair Christian", this book will offend you, will probably inspire you to roll your eyes and put it aside. But, if you know in your heart of hearts that what you have in that armchair of Christianity can't be all there is, then this book is for you. Mark Buchanan will not inspire you with pithy little statements, the kind that 'feel good' pastors feed you, all the while ignoring the truth of Scripture. Instead, he will unveil the struggles in your heart and call those struggles what they are. You will find yourself in these pages, and be embarassed to have your truth unveiled for what it is. Then he will provide you with some excellent tools for dealing with the struggles you have, and assist you in moving toward Christ. I can highly recommend this book for those who realize that Christianity without a deep longing for Christ in your heart is no Christianity at all, just a cheap imitation of the real thing.

A Book That Exposes, Shatters . . . and Rebuilds; Helped Change My Life!
Other reviewers here have done a great job of describing the contents and layout of "Your God is Too Safe." Let me highly recommend it in more personal terms. God used this book in my life at a time when my ministry, family, and faith all seemed broken beyond repair. It was loaned to me by a pastor after a "coincidental" conversation. As I read the book, I cried again and again - tears of appreciation, understanding, repentance, pain and, finally, hope. Buchanan asks the really tough, honest questions about God that I had struggled with my whole life; how do you trust a God Who, at times, makes His actions appear untrustworthy? How do you surrender to One Who tells you that He will consume you? How do you deal with the frustrations of the paradoxes He has built into this human history? What does it really mean to trust? to follow? to worship? Buchanan not only articulates the feelings, but gently, firmly shoves us back to the Word of God and the God of the Word, instead of the "God" we try to create for ourselves, in order to comfortably "worship/control." This book was instrumental in starting me back down a long road of recovery, and I have given copies of it to many other people since. Some of them have also been shattered - and transformed - after reading it and acting on it . . . the book is not "safe," anymore than God is - but, both are indeed "good." Any thinking, questioning, hurting Christian, especially those struggling with any type of addiction issues, will greatly benefit from this book.