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Moody Publishers (March 5, 2019)

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra is Matthew 7:21â€"23 is one of the most sobering passages of the Bible. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,” Jesus tells His disciples, “but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” What does it mean to say, “Lord, Lord”? Jesus explains: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’” Regardless of their displays of spiritual power, Jesus’ verdict is negative: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Dean Inserra opens The Unsaved Christian with this passage because it so starkly portrays the self-deception of self-identified Christians whom Christ cannot identify as His own. “These petitioners Jesus spoke of loved to say, ‘didn’t we?’ when they should have been saying, ‘didn’t He?’” In other words, they practiced self-righteousness, attempting to merit salvation through powerful spiritual works, rather than receiving God’s gracious gift of righteousness in Christ through repentance and faith in Him.Today, many self-identified American Christians don’t claim to prophesy or exorcize demons or work miracles, but the central insight of The Unsaved Christian is that they are nevertheless as lost as the “evildoers” of Matthew 7:23. They are Christians in name only, practitioners of cultural Christianity. “Cultural Christianity is a mindset that places one’s security in heritage, values, rites of passage (such as a first communion or a baptism from childhood), and a generic deity, rather than the redemptive work of Jesus Christ,” writes Inserra. He goes on to provide a taxonomy of eight types of cultural Christians:1. Country Club Christian: “Self-focused, not missional; church just happens to be the social club of their preference.”2. Christmas & Easter Christian: “Holds the Christian holidays close with sentimentality, but the implications of these holidays seem to have little impact on daily life."3. God & Country Christian: “Is ‘proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free’; digests everything first as an American or member of a certain political party, not as a believer. Can have blinders on to what really matters.”4. Liberal Social Justice Christian: “Feels strongly about specific social justice issues; compromises biblical teachings in light of cultural whims; believes that politicians and legislation can fix the world.”5. Good Guy Next Door Christian: “Believes God wants people to be good and kind to each other as taught in most world religions; Jesus just so happens to be the mascot, but the specifics of Christianity aren’t really relevant.”6. Generational Catholic Christian: “Generally either views Catholicism as a heritage or carries significant guilt to be loyal to its tenants.” (I think Inserra means “tenets.”)7. Mainline Protestant: “Generally believes vague things about the Bible but is prone to discard it in favor of the pressing beliefs of the day. Proclaims God’s love in terms of license to seek comfort.”8. Bible Belt Christian: “Displays external forms of religiosity and would be offended to be called an atheist, but in actuality, Jesus has little impact on their lives.”These eight varieties of cultural Christians are ideal types, obviously, but they do describe a lot of the features of what passes for Christianity in contemporary American culture.For each variety, Inserra elaborates on what it mistakes the gospel for, identifies starting points for gospel conversations, and shows how the gospel, correctly understood, both challenges and provides a remedy for it. Take the Bible Belt Christianity, for example. It is typically found in the South, which Flannery O’Connor described as “Christ-haunted.” Its “unofficial liturgy” is country music, and Inserra provides an insightful look at the religious outlook of three contemporary country songs.Based on those songs, he comments: “Sadly, many people in the Bible Belt are haunted by the idea of Christ, while not understanding His love for them. The judgment of God lingers in their minds. Believing the gospel would allow them to understand that it is the kindness of God that can actually lead them to repentance (Rom. 2:4). With an awareness of God and our sins, but not the gospel, one is only left with country music theology, hoping God will let us into heaven one day after we have some fun on earth.”Inserra closes The Unsaved Christian by enumerating three things necessary for evangelizing cultural Christians: “a refusal to be in denial, gospel clarity, and boldness to speak the truth in love” (emphasis in original). Inserra is a pastor, and he intends his book as an aid to pastors and other concerned Christians who long to “make disciples” of Jesus Christ” (Matthew 28:19). Distinguishing between authentic and nominal Christianity is never easy, especially in a supposedly Christian nation, but it’s an evangelistic necessity, lest we leave people thinking what we did, rather than what He did, saves us.

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra is Living in the Bible belt, this books title immediately grabbed me. There is a lot of Cultural Christianity here. Ministry is really hard because most people would tell you they are saved. That is why chapter one of this book is immediately grabbing for meâ€"Help Them Get Lost. Yes, many people in the area I live need help getting lost so they know that they need to be found. If you’re like me, The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra may be just the book you’ve been looking for.Dean Inserra is the founding pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida. He has an MA in theological studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a DMin from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also is an advisory member of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s Leadership Counsel with the Southern Baptist Convention. Dean writes with honesty and transparency in a way that I feel will leave the reader hopeful and encouraged.I personally recommend reading this book cover-to-cover, but you will notice when you open it that chapters are laid out in a way that serves the reader. If there is a certain demographic that you find yourself in, whether that be the Bible Belt, Generational Catholics, Mainline Protestants, etc., you can flip straight to that chapter and read it. However, the first few chapters lay the ground work so I would recommend you read those first.I found Inserra’s insights into the Bible Belt especially helpful given my context. “In the Bible Belt, identifying as a Christian is a way of life, but sadly, believing the gospel and following Jesus often are not” (169). He says later, “In ministering to the Bible Belt, don’t fight against the Christ-haunting culture of the Southâ€"use it as a means to preach Christ” (177). I have always said that ministry is very difficult when everyone thinks they’re saved, but Inserra has given me confidence through his advice that the Lord has great work for us to do here in the South.There are large parts of the United States infected with Cultural Christianity. Inserra calls on Christians to quit being timid, embrace what needs to be done, and take actionâ€"a message we all need to hear. “Reaching a Cultural Christian requires three primary things: a refusal to be in denial, gospel clarity, and boldness to speak the truth in love” (182). No matter the context you find yourself in, this book will benefit you. May we all follow Inserra’s advice and face the facts, know the gospel, and pray for boldness to lovingly share the truth with those who may be confused.Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra is Dean's story resonates with me as I grew up a cultural christian in a pastor's home. I remember the first time my faith was challenged I was extremely offended. But, it was in that time when my christian vanity was challenged that I found true faith. This book shines a light accurately on a mission field that many pastors are in the midst of reaching whether the realize it or not. While reading it many people in my congregation were brought to mind as people I need to be lovingly reaching with the Gospel. This book also provides actionable steps to reaching these lost Christians and provides clarity on what aspects of their faith system need to be challenged. Chapter 1 suggest "help them get lost," in this Dean encourages the truth of the gospel as the plan for them learning how lost they are. This is a sign that his heart is for them to receive true salvation and not something he has determined as the solution. Easy to read book that exposes a vital mission field!

The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra is