Book Reviews

I am an avid reader and have been asked to provide complimentary book reviews for B & B Media Group, a publicity company. My latest read is 10 Things I Hate About Christianity and I must admit that the title turned me off from the beginning but I thought I'd give the book a chance. This book was written by Jason T. Berggren, the founding member of Strongarm (a Christian band). Jason, admittedly, has an anger problem and it is very evident after reading his book. I must admit that if I hadn't offered to provide a review on this book I would have stopped reading it soon after I started it. I struggled through it and after reading it I'm still left with the unanswered question "What's the point of this book?" I'm not sure who the intended audience is. Is the audience disgruntled Christians and, if so, is the message that you are not alone? If the audience is non-Christians then this book will definitely not do anything, in my humble opinion, to bring them closer to a relationship with Jesus Christ. So, as I said earlier, "What's the point...?" After reading it I felt like I had read a disgruntled Christian's gripes and complaints but nothing positive was gained. If Mr. Berggren is training for the ministry then my observation is that maybe he's not ready. Sure, we Christians aren't perfect and we make mistakes, but even Jesus didn't hate us so why should Mr. Berggren? Jesus Christ is about love and forgiveness, not hate. He personifies a love we humans cannot possibly comprehend and even though he did occasionally get frustrated and, possibly, impatient with us he never hated us. Mr. Berggren even realizes in his ramblings that he is also guilty of everything about Christianity that he hates. So does he hate himself or does he forgive himself as Christ has forgiven him? The positive message of this book could have been that all of us, including Christians, have fallen far short of the love and perfection that Jesus Christ personifies. But, as Christians we are called to model love and forgiveness for the failings of ourselves and of others. Giving Mr. Berggren the benefit of the doubt, if that was his message I didn't get it.

Have a blessed day!