18) and of barriers men and women face in “making decisions to become Christians” (p.
In that light, he might have avoided speaking about “commitment to Jesus Christ” (p. In chapter 9, Inserra contrasts making decisions with making disciples and does well in pointing out the danger of depending on the “sinner’s prayer” as the basis for one’s assurance of salvation. Each chapter begins with a pithy quote from past and present Christian leaders and ends with discussion questions. The book’s fifteen chapters each examine a different emphasis or religious experience “to illustrate common ways people may place faith in a false gospel and still identify themselves as Christians” (p. The book ends with a call to action and an appeal for the readers to examine their own hearts and lives in case they are unknowingly cultural Christians. The book begins with the difficulty many cultural Christians have in seeing themselves as lost and in need of a savior. Among these unsaved Christians are those who are “religious, but not repentant” (p. The challenge for Christians on mission is reaching people who are familiar with Christianity and Christian lingo yet appear immune or blind to their need of repentance and faith in a crucified and risen Savior. 13) and as the “most underrated mission field in America” (p. Inserra describes cultural Christianity as a religion “practiced by more Americans than any other faith or religion” (p. They may lead moral lives, attend church regularly, and are falsely assured of their standing before God. These are neither scoffers nor antagonistic toward Christianity. They are lost and are trusting something other than Christ for their salvation.
The book is replete with stories, anecdotes, and personal encounters from his own experience.Īt the heart of the book is the predicament of cultural Christians who may know a great deal about Christ without knowing Christ. He has numerous friendships with unsaved people and engages in intentional evangelism. The book reveals a pastor burdened to reach religious unbelievers and point them to Jesus. Although unsaved Christians do not really exist, it is apparent that many who identify with Christianity as a religion have never experienced the new birth through faith in Christ. Yet how many people have responded in the affirmative, offered a quick prayer, made a decision, and years later base their salvation on a distant experience? Dean Inserra, pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, has rendered a great service to the church in this book with an intentionally oxymoronic title. It is certainly preferable to the alternative. “Do you want to go to heaven when you die?” Most people who believe that heaven is a real place want to go there when they die.
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