Gritty, thought-provoking, and often uncomfortable: A wake-up call for the modern church.
Rogers delivers a piercing critique of the church’s waning influence, the apathy of its members, and the deep fractures that have left many questioning their faith in his latest book. Rogers’ arguments are drawn from personal experience. He recalls how national crises, from 9/11 to COVID, shook the church in different ways. When 2001’s attacks happened, people flooded churches looking for hope. In the wake of the pandemic, there were many who never came back. “All COVID did was give the culture permission to relegate the church to the back of their minds,” he writes, a sobering truth that highlights the book’s central thesis: Faith is losing its grip, and if believers want to reclaim it, they need to start with themselves.
Taking inspiration from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the book outlines three distinct phases that guide readers through their spiritual journey: knowing, becoming, and living out faith. Along the way, Rogers lists his own frustrations, such as doubts about faith, the failure of evangelism, and the modern church’s obsession with political and cultural battles. Too many believers, he argues, treat salvation like “fire insurance,” a safety net rather than a transformation. His honesty is bracing, but he doesn’t leave the reader in despair. Instead, he calls for a radical rethinking of how faith is lived out, rooted in humility and action. The book offers no easy solutions. Rogers contrasts the paths of Judas and Jesus to show how frustration can turn dangerous. One lashes out, convinced of his own righteousness. The other walks away, prays, and acts under divine authority. “When we get frustrated, it doesn’t matter if we are right,” he warns. Deeply personal yet universally relevant, this is a book for those who are willing to question, struggle, and ultimately change.
Pub date August 18, 2023
Words Matter Publishing
ISBN 978-1958000465
Price $14.99 (USD) Paperback, $4.99 Kindle edition
