Stop Dating the Church

a review by Kevin Binkley

Stop Dating the Church by Joshua Harris calls readers out to wholeheartedly commit to be engaged in a local body of Christ. Josh begins with his personal journey to this commitment, and how his casual views of the importance of the local church changed.

In chapter one Josh gives several characteristics of church daters. First, he says they tend to me-centered. What can the Church do for me? What can I get out of it? What programs and activities are good for me?

Second, a church dater is independent. Church daters go to Church because they are supposed to, but are careful so they do not get to close to anyone. They are not focused on the larger purposes of God through the church.

Third, church daters tend to be critical of the church. Their allegiance to any one church is short, and so they are quick to find fault in any church. Josh defines these church daters as fickle, not invested for the long term, with a wandering eye always on the hunt for something better.

One example in the book is a man who goes to one church because he likes the preaching and another church because he likes the music. Harris writes, "I guess you could say [he] was two-timing."

The writer argues that not being fully committed to one church for the ling haul cheats yourself, your church community, and your world. Josh says the world is cheated because the church is the primary means through history to carry the gospel. Quoting another writer, Josh says "God is rescuing fallen humanity, transporting them into his kingdom, and progressively shaping them into his likeness-and he wants you to be a part of it." For us to be genuinely involved, we have to take the family of God seriously.

Josh writes that you cheat yourself by not being in the community where we learn to love God and others. The Church is the earth's single best place -- God's specially designed place -- to start over, to grow, and to change for the glory of God. The writer contends that we need the local church because sanctification is a community project.

Quoting Mark Dever, Josh asks, "Do you want know that your new life in Christ is real? Commit yourself to a local group of saved sinners. Try to love them. Don't just do it for three weeks. Don't just do it for six months. Do it for years. And I think you'll find out, and others will too, whether or not you love God. The truth will show itself." The local church is the place where new life in Christ is lived out and proven.

Harris says dating the church is easy. But what takes courage is to lay down your selfish desires, humble yourself, and acknowledge that you need other Christians. "Invite them into your life. Stop complaining about what is wrong with the church, and become a part of the solution."

Harris reminds the reader that John Stott said, "If the church is central to God's purpose as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surly be central to our lives." Harris gives a profile of commitment.

1. You join.
2. You make the local church a priority.
3. You try to make your pastors job a joy.
4. You find ways to serve.
5. You give.
6. You connect with people.
7. You share your passion.

The book details several things to look for in a church like true doctrine, sharing the gospel, people coming to know the Lord, and others. Getting rather bold, he contends that we should choose a church "...that is willing to kick me out..." if I live in a way that contradicts what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

In a nutshell, Joshua Harris is contending throughout the entire book for Christians to get serious about the local church, and to go to work with passion to secure what the passion of Christ obtained, namely, the souls of all who believe.