- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Religious (7 Dec 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340756977
- ISBN-13: 978-0340756973
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 494,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In this punchy little book, TV presenter and Baptist minister Steve Chalke tackles 20 common myths about Christianity. He does so by attacking 20 sayings that are bandied about confidently in some circles, statements such as "There's no room for doubt" and "God helps those who help themselves." As Chalke puts it, "We tend to think of Jesus as being exactly like us ... as a result we use him to rubber-stamp values and ideas he not only didn't believe in, but wouldn't have believed in. What's more, most of the time we're not even aware we're doing it."
He then intelligently and amusingly exposes the attitudes behind the glib clichés, and launches into them, using quotes and stories to make his points. For example, he reveals that the famously ruthless German leader Otto von Bismarck, who vowed to unite his country by "blood and iron," and did so, was a devout and active Christian. "Most of us probably find that a bit hard to believe, but the truth is that Bismarck merely achieved in an extreme way what all of us do to some extent or other--he compartmentalised his life." Chalke then takes the point nearer home, writing of a businessman friend who in his work-world can dismiss firing 200 people "with a grin and a wave of his hand. 'That's business.' ... I knew that if he'd encountered one of those employees in his 'other world' at home or church, he'd have felt the full pain of their predicament and moved heaven and earth" to help.
The first thing you learn from the book is that the author is a brilliant communicator. The second is that he shoots from the hip. It's as if he's talking so fast that he doesn't have time to edit his arguments. Many will find themselves agreeing strongly with him one minute and disagreeing equally strongly the next. He says that he wrote the book to make people think and to stir up debate, and he surely will.
He Never Said is written from a strongly Christian perspective, and addresses Christians directly, yet the way it is written makes it an entertaining and challenging read for those of many religious persuasions or none, especially readers who enjoy seeing platitudes debunked and conventional assumptions overturned. --David Pickering
Product Description
Chalke combines social analysis, celebrity analogies and present-day stories to debunk common modern myths. Is "God helps those who help themselves" the kind of statement that would ever have crossed the lips of Jesus?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an outstanding book. Steve Chalke's style is easy to read frequently illustrated by memorable stories. Drawing on Martyn Joseph's thought provoking song of the same name, he challenges the extent to which what we believe and how we behave is less to do with our faith in Jesus and more simply about where and how we grew up. Chapters on "There's no room for doubt"; "Religion and Politics don't mix"; "Success is the key" and "My country, right or wrong" in particular, powerfully question the tension between what society would have us believe and what Jesus teaches. If you have a long train journey or flight this Summer then buy this book to read as your trip will pass quickly.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Yhis is no doubt Stve Chalkes best ever book, Adressing issues that affect all the church today, He shows himself to be a radical, and not at all in the evangelical middle ground! Based on Martyn Josephs wonderful song of the same name, this is a must read for Christians of all traditions.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Read this book, loved it, was challenged by what Steve Chalke said - much of it rang true in my own thought processes. As someone who is thinking through what the Christianity I grew up with really means for me today, this book was a major help. Chalke puts his points forcefully, amusingly and provokes thought on subjects like "success is the key", "My country right or wrong", "Touch the screen and you'll be healed." Many things we in our culture take as given are challenged deeply and wryly in this book. I recommend it as a chance to sift out what is "cultural" in our Christianity and what is authentic, from Jesus Christ himself. Read and think deeply!
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