Suckerpunched…

I was bitterly disappointed at the reference section at Berean Christian Store in San Jose. I had gone in with a coupon figuring I’d pick up a sweet and expensive commentary at reduced rate. After scouring the commentary section I concluded that there was not one single commentary in the store worth owning.

It made me very, very sad. I hate to be one of those ministers who is always whining about how Christian book stores are dumbing down the faith, but I was almost sick inside at the low quality of the books on offer.

As I was on my way out, I noticed Breaking The Missional Code was for sale. Since I had a coupon and the book had been recommended to me by several friends and I didn’t want to leave bitter at the store, I picked it up.

It’s an easy read and I was generally appreciative of their thoughts (especially their warning to the rapidly swelling missional networks to not neglect traditional missions in favor of church planting), and I was almost done with it when I got suckerpunched at the end.

A recent development in church planting is that of planting churches on or near college campuses. Leaders are discovering that when churches are planted on campus they are more strategic at reaching unreached and disconnected people on the college campus. They represent a shift from college and campus ministries that focus on those who already embrace the faith to that of planting the gospel among those who have never or seldom heard.
Breaking The Missional Code, Ed Stetzer & David Putman p. 232
emphasis added

I feel vaguely slandered…

I think perhaps the authors misunderstand what campus ministries do. And they also overestimate the ability of churches to thrive on the college campus — some campuses are very reachable that way and others are not. It’s a tool in our toolbox for reaching collegians, not a replacement toolbox.

Overall, it’s a good book if you haven’t read anything about leading your church to engage the culture before. Otherwise you might find it repetitious. And libelous. 🙂