The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World
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“Preach the Gospel permanently. Use words if necessary.” – St. Francis of Assisi
It’s 1998 and Richard Stearns’ heart is breaking as he sits in a mud hut and listens to the tale of an orphaned child in Rakai, Uganda. His journey to this place took more than a long flight from the United States to Africa. It took answering God’s call on his life, a call that hurtled him out of his presidential confront office at Lenox-America’s finest tableware company-to this humble confront of Uganda.
This is a tale of how a corporate CEO faced his own struggle to obey God whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith. Using his own journey as an example, Stearns explores the hole that exists in our understanding of the Gospel.
Two thousand years ago, twelve people changed the world. Stearns believes it can take place again.
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North American, Evangelical Christianity, has seen growing pockets of conversation in the last five years or so about how Christians should face issues of poverty and injustice. I’ve seen the conversation going on in megachurch circles, emerging church circles, house church circles, and everywhere in between. The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, the CEO of World Vision, has served to pull all of these conversations together, uniting the topic into the mainstream. Why do I say so? Because it’s been awarded the 2010 Christian Book of the Year.
Upon cracking the take in for the first time, I was anticipating a book written as a theological argument explaining how North American, Evagelical Christianity must restore Jesus’ emphasis on concern for persons in the margins. And I suppose it was that, but not reasonably like I expected.
Much of the book reads like a memoir, as Richard Stearns describes his journey from the life of a comfortable CEO raising his family tree in a comfortable suburban life and attending a church that made them…comfortable. The call to become the CEO of World Vision turned that upside down. And so his theology does come through, not in the form of an argument, but in the form of his narrative. And because this is his own tale, he writes with fantastic humility and in a way that does set a name like me on the defensive, but causes me to identify with him — both in seeing my own apathy and in my longing to engage more in these issues. The latter half of the book remains deeply personal to the leader, but shifts from his own tale to solutions, as he shares what how individuals and churches might respond.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
“The Hole in Our Gospel,” by Richard Stearns contains Stearns’ biography, a challenge to American believers and many tales of how God is already at work around the globe, all seamlessly natural fiber together. The main question Stearns questions readers to face is, “What does God expect of us?”
Stearns believes that as Christians, we are required to confront and work to conquer the poverty that holds so many in bondage today. The title deals with the how we regularly fail to live out this responsibility. This 279-page book looked daunting when I first selected it up, but held my attention. The chapters were fleeting and simple to follow, but the content was deep. I was challenged to be more compassionate toward individuals around the world, but Stearns didn’t place me feeling guilty and hopeless. When I finished the book, I knew of ways that I could use my resources to help others in need. This knowledge made me keen to get out and make a difference. I would recommend this book to anyone who takes his or her faith seriously.
Disclosure of Material Tie: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Publicity.”
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Disturbing is the best word I know of for this book. There are already hundreds of reviews for this book in its hardbound version and now the soft take in relief invites more. The paperback version added color photos and a study guide to the text. So for my money that is a plus.
Why did I choose to call the book disturbing? I could have called it challenging just as easily, but challenging is simpler to dismiss. Disturbing gets into your soul and is much harder to root out. If that’s what you want to do after you read this book. Mr. Stearns tells his tale to the reader while motivating that person to consider what action the reader could take to join in the world wide efforts of World Vision or another similar organization.
For persons that judge there’s more to Christianity than staring at the back of a name’s head for an hour on Sunday morning this is a fantastic place to start a quest for whatever that something more might be. Only the most callous could resist or disagree, in my opinion. Mr. Stearns balances the social justice aspects and the like of God well throughout this book. That is no simple task since our propensity is to jump into a excellent deed and do it lacking considering more than getting it done and looking excellent ourselves, leaving the recipient as a spectator in the end. That is the additional disturbing thing about this book—the possibility of the reader doing just that with it. Consider your actions carefully or more harm than excellent may come of them.
One really vital point the leader makes is that poverty is more than the lack of food, water, shelter, health, protection and a heap of additional ills. It is the toll persons ills take on the spirit of the person himself. Powerlessness, hopelessness, helplessness is the larger issue that must be addressed simultaneously with all the physical lack the person experiences. Holistic care, but, requires more of us. Do we have the desire to give that much?
Read this book for yourself and choose for yourself. Do you have a hole in the gospel you profess to judge?
Thomas Nelson Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my written review.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
This book has opened my eyes to the plight of the “least of these.” It has convicted me of my own egocentricity and apathy. Truly, it has agreed me a more perfect understanding of the “whole” gospel.
Jesus did not save me just for Heaven. He has called me to help redeem THIS WORLD, to be His “co-worker” in bringing about the Kingdom of God “on planet as it is in Heaven.” Through the pages of this book, I have caught the vision of the Church truly being the Church, the hands and feet of Jesus in this broken and hurting world. It is the LOVE of God that draws people to Himself, and by meeting the real and tangible needs of the desperately poor, we as Christians demonstrate that like.
I reflect every serious Christ-follower should read this book. It has truly been life-changing for me!
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
When people like Bono, Bill Hybels, Max Lucado, T.D. Jakes, Jim Wallis, John Ortberg, Tony Campollo, and Eugene Peterson already give high praise for Richard Stern’s book The Hole in Our Gospel – it seems absolutely ridiculous for me to follow them. Stern’s book not only questions the question: What is our role/responsibility as Christians, but really answers with this profound (regularly overlooked) answer. Yes, being a Christian means to follow Christ and to have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, but beyond that it also means having a public “transforming relationship” with the world.
Stern writes, “When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed our lives to living in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God’s character – his like, justice, mercy – through our words, actions and behavior.”
But if all of that is right, why isn’t the world “fixed?” If Jesus told us to feed the hungry, heal the sick, clothe the homeless and visit persons in prison – why are there still hungry, broken, needy people in the world? The problem certainly can’t be Jesus, and it can’t be the message, so it must be us… are we the “hole” in the gospel? Perhaps in our concern that people make it to the next life (i.e. Heaven) – we neglect them in this one?
Richard Stern takes his reader not only through the spiritual journey of finding the answers to the hole in the gospel, but also the journey of his own life. How he left a career of 23 years as the CEO of Lenox to become the new president of World Vision. How his life changed from selling plates and silverware to one of living with and caring for the poor of the world.
Don’t worry this isn’t a “you should do more” type of book – but Richard’s tale will inspire you to adopt a heart for lost and broken people. This is an outstanding and original tale that presents its case well, then makes you reconsider the gospel you have permanently “heard;” and then challenges you to take responsibility. Richard Stearns has done a wonderful job of framing some of the most vital questions of life in a very approachable format.
My only word of warning – don’t read this book until you are ready to change your life!
NOTE: If you buy the paperback, you will receive a Q and A, colored photographs and much more not included with the initial hardback relief.
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Publicity.”
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5