Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile

Bell's book contains good themes, but may be too ambiguous concerning salvation and how one is included in the covenant community. In his typical way, his theology is thin while his context bridging is well done.

Also, I agree with another reviewer who noted the book was too "thin." It is more like a few blog posts rather than a book. His style is completely distracting and fails to be "hip," although the green pages were nice.

Challenges us as the most blessed people to ever inhabit the planet.
Will we long only for comfort, or will we bring Heaven to earth.
LOVE WINS.

A brilliant manifesto from one of God's leaders of the Church today. Written with clarity and a depth of knowledge, God's passion for what his people are to be like should stir the hearts of many Christians in America. Bell offers great historical perspective and interprets world events in light of the revelation of God the Son, Jesus Christ. A book to be very familiar with and any follower of Jesus shouldn't be without.

I picked this book up on a whim and have been really moved by it. It is a very easy read - as a previous reviewer stated - lots of short lines. I think, however, it is the kind of book that will speak to Christians who are troubled by the perception that the established Church is showing too much interest in maintaining the staus quo. It speaks to people who may feel discarded and disregarded by what they see as the traditional church. I think it may strongly speak to people who did not grow up in the Church or who believe that Christianity is supposed to be radical.
I only read a chapter at a time. It is the kind of book I like to ponder before moving on to the next chapter. I thought the End notes were great.

If you are not inspired to live like Jesus over and above living like an American after reading this book, you either completely missed the point or have some serious issues with syncretism to work out.

That said, Rob Bell paints a beautiful, poetic manifesto (for all the reviewers complaining about how 'short' the book was, perhaps a healthy understanding of expectations coming in would have been worthwhile) that far surpasses even his brilliant 'Velvet Elvis'. Bell says so much in so few words, cutting through the heady theology and allowing Jesus to pierce the heart of His followers to wake up and 'get it'.

Bell's book is framed around the idea that Jesus is not only saving the world,

but saving US.

You and me.

In America.

From the kingdom of comfort.

From the pursuit of power.

From the priority of preservation.

From the empire of indifference.

From an exile of irrelevance.


If the Church is to regain her authority in the world instead of settling for the preponderance of power in political realms, then it will be necessary to follow the urgings of Jesus and the trajectory of all human experience (encapsulated and emulated in YHWH's deliverance of His people from bondage in the exodus)from enslavement to liberation, from power to authority, and from despairing comfort to sacrificial hope.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians is the perfect manifesto for that journey.