Michael Spencer was educated at the John Lyon School and Oxford University and is a medical consultant. He has been interested in firearms all his adult life and is co-author of 'Early European Hand-Firearms in Liverpool Museum', along with a number of articles and papers on the subject of early firearms. He lives in Chester.
Praise for
Mere Churchianity
"This is a book you'll treasure and go back to over and over again.
It's convicting, funny, and wise. And even if you wince, it's
profoundly biblical. Meet the real Jesus and you'll never be the
same. And not only that, you'll rise up and call me blessed for
having told you about it."
--Steve Brown, professor at Reformed Theological Seminary
(Orlando), author, and teacher on the Key Life radio program "There
is an anxious question in the air: does church contribute anything
positive to following Jesus? If you are asking this question, the
late Michael Spencer is someone who felt your pain. If you have
left the church to follow Jesus, and if you find him, Jesus will
lead you to a community of fellow followers--call it what you will.
Mere Churchianity will guide you along this path."
--Bishop Todd Hunter, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, author of
Giving Church Another Chance "Michael Spencer was a self-described
'post-evangelical' Christian. He pointed out what already was
obvious to many: that too often, churches practice 'moralistic,
culture-war religion.' And sadly, their members are 'church-shaped'
rather than Jesus-shaped. Almost prophetic in his railing against
the prosperity gospel and efforts to turn God into a 'convenient
vending machine, ' Spencer's book offers a timely and difficult
reimagining of what living as a person of faith really means."
--Jennifer Grant, journalist, columnist for The Chicago Tribune
"Mere Churchianity expresses a brilliant empathy for those who are
disillusioned with--and distant from--what evangelicalism has
become. At the same time, Michael's writing is a clarion call to
evangelicals to stop obscuring Jesus and his gospel. This book asks
the most challenging question of all: does the body of Christ
resemble Jesus?"
--Jared C. Wilson, pastor, author of Your Jesus Is Too Safe
"If you are satisfied with the way the church does Christianity in
America, then you should back slowly away. However, if you are
willing to be challenged, and maybe even infuriated, by Michael
Spencer's analysis of evangelicalism, then read this book. You may
or may not agree with him, but you will be forced to think and
hopefully pray about how we engage those who have left our
churches."
--Dave Burchett, author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good
People
"Every Christian, regardless if they're engaged in church or not,
needs to read, discuss, and reread Mere Churchianity. Reading this
book is like the best of Brennan Manning, Anne Lamott, and Philip
Yancey all rolled into one literary experience. This is the best,
most easily relatable book about following Jesus that I've read in
at least ten years. What Michael left behind in words is nothing
short of a gift."
--Matthew Paul Turner, author of Churched and Hear No Evil
"In this highly anticipated manifesto, Michael Spencer wrote for a
generation that is struggling to figure out what it means to live
out Jesus-shaped spirituality. Michael was familiar with the
burdens of the dominating religious, political, and cultural norms
that suffocate our everyday existence. Mere Churchianity delivers,
and its message will live on through people who can't help but be
changed by it."
--Andrew Marin, author of Love Is an Orientation, president of The
Marin Foundation "As someone who has been writing for years on the
supremacy of Jesus Christ and its relationship to his church, I
found the Christ-centeredness of this book to be profoundly
refreshing. We have lost a choice servant of God in Michael, but
heaven is the richer. I'm thankful that he left us this excellent
contribution."
--Frank Viola, author of Jesus Manifesto, Reimagining Church, and
Finding Organic Church
"You will look far and wide before you find another Christian who
speaks with as much honesty, insight, and foresight as Michael
Spencer. I am very careful about the Christian books I recommend,
but this one definitely makes the list. I am excited to have a book
I can give my non-Christian friends that accurately portrays
Jesus."
--Jim Henderson, author of Evangelism without Additives, Jim and
Casper Go to Church, and The Outsider Interviews
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