Excerpts from "Don't Stop Believing"

Here are some excerpts from the Introduction to "Don't Stop Believing: Why Living Like Jesus Is Not Enough" by Michael Wittmer:

"This postmodern turn toward liberalism is penetrating the evangelical church. As I will explain in this book, an increasing number of postmodern Christians are practicing a liberal method: accomodating the gospel to contemporary culture and expressing greater concern for Christian ethics than its traditional doctrines....

"So I intend this book as a friendly warning. Many of the leaders whom I quote in this book are friends whom I love and respect.... I am thankful for their emphasis on authentic Christian living. Their vision for what the church can become is both exhilarating and challenging.

"My only concern, and the point I will press in this book, is that their quest to correct the abuses of previous generations must not lead them to err on the opposite extreme. Perhaps our parents emphasized right belief more than good behavior, but that must not become an excuse to teach good behavior at the expense of right belief. If we continue down this road, it may not be long until our liberal method leads to liberal conclusions.

"Authentic Christianity demands our head, heart and hands. Our labor for Christ flows from our love for him, which can arise only when we know and think rightly about him. Genuine Christians never stop serving, because they never stop loving, and they never stop loving, because they never stop believing." (pp.20-21)