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Introverts in the Church

Giveaway: Win a copy of “Introverts in the Church” by subscribing to alanrudnick.org, follow @alanrud on Twitter, comment on this post, or “Like” the Facebook page. The winner will be selected @ 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.  

In college, I was able to spend time with two international public speakers, pastors, and authors.  These two people were electric in front of people. Able to be funny, compelling, and keep a crowd’s attention. As I spent one-on-one time with these speakers, I realized that they were withdrawn and seemingly non-social. Was there something wrong with me?

If you are public speaker or a church person it must mean you are an extrovert! Singing, talking, eating, serving and doing all those “churchy” things in public. Enter, Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh.

McHugh dispels the myth that only extroverts can thrive and lead in the church.  He traces the Great Awakening as an important moment for extroverts coming to the forefront of church lift. Outdoor preachers like George Whitfield set the standard for grandstanding preaching.  Since half the American population is an introvert it would only seem logical that there would be many books on introverted people in the church, but there are not.

There is a great deal of psychology in the book. McHugh doesn’t shoot from his hip (that wouldn’t be very introverted, would it). He supplies a ton of data and cultural studies on American’s habits and church culture. The author is quick to present a more complex nature to introverts than just shyness:

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Book Review, Book Reviews

Book Review: NuChristian

As part of Judson Press’ blog tour for Russell Rathbun’s new book, nuChristian: finding faith in a new generation, I have had the wonderful opportunity to preview and review this insightful book.  In addition, Wednesday of this week, I will feature a Q & A with Russell about his new book.  On Friday, Russell will be featured as a guest blogger.

nuChristian begins with a very brief forward by author and activist Shane Claiborne (fellow Eastern University alum), of the Simple Way.  Claiborne, known for being a radical voice and champion for the poor, harmonizes with Rathbun’s message of how Christianity must shape “nuChristians”.  That is, Christians who are no longer identified by hypocritical actions, scandal, and hot button issues.

In the preface, Rathbun lays out that the purpose of this book is to join the conversation of David Kinnamen’s book UnChristian.  Back in 1996, Kinnamen’s Barna Group, found that 83% of Americans identified themselves as Christians, and that fewer than 20% of non-Christians held an unfavorable view of Christianity.  Between 2004 and 2007, nine out of ten non-Christians between the ages of 16-29 found Christians to be too anti-homosexual.  In addition, almost as many saw Christianity as it as “hypocritical” and “judgmental.” Seventy-five percent of non-Christians thought Christians were too involved in politics. UnChristian used these statistics and made the case that non-Christian resentment is focused on perceived Christian attitudes. Kinnaman used these statistics to form a bleak picture of Western Christianity.

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