BOOK REVIEW: Jesus Pure and Simple
By Wayne Cordeiro
Wayne Cordeiro is the pastor of a Foursquare charismatic church in Hawaii. Like
too many dustcover author blurbs these days, his notes that New Hope Christian
Fellowship is “one of the nation’s fastest growing churches.” This, apparently, the most important qualification for anyone to write a book.
I liked the title of this book so I asked for a review copy.
I am thankful to the editor for providing one.
The book contained a few good thoughts, but none worth
quoting here. Mostly, it was a big miss. There was a whole lot more Wayne than
Jesus between the covers. I am not sure why this happens so often in books? An
author sets out to tell us of Christ, then talks all about us. It is tiresome. This
book reminded me of a man who invites you to join him at a window to enjoy a
spectacular view, but after he positions you near him, you discover it is
actually a mirror. And he is the only thing you see.
Besides that, one had to endure the typical shout-outs to
Mother Teresa (63) and Joan of Arc (174) and all. Then came the typical evangellyism
stuff; I have to listen to what the Holy Spirit says to me, God told me
such-and-such, God filled my empty spot. Yawn.
Sometimes I shudder to think what is going on in churches in
the West.
(This book was provided courtesy
of Graf-Martin Communications and BakerBooks in exchange for an
honest review.)
