Unfashionable

By Tullian Tchividjian

Multnomah Books; 204 pages; hardcover

Bottom line: Christianity is not cool. And it is not supposed to be.

Christianity is about being in the world, but not of the world. And Jesus' teaching of living counter-culturally is the very backbone of Tullian Tchividjian's latest book, Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different.

Ironically, as Tchividjian points out, we live in a world where churches are trying to stay culturally relevant, so much so that these very churches are slowly becoming irrelevant.

Bottom line: The next generation isn't looking for a faith that glorifies the latest technologies and fads that will eventually fade away. The next generation, according to Tchividjian, is looking for something solid in which to put their faith.

Tchividjian, a grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham, begins his literary journey with a verbal portrait of his prodigal son moment. Waking up one morning, after a night of drunken escapades on Miami's South Beach, Tchividjian came to "a sudden stark awareness" of his "empty heart."

Echoing throughout the pages of Unfashionable are the reminders that God established His church as an alternative to society, and the church was ordained to provide a reviving alternative to the world in which we live. Sadly, the church, according to Tchividjian, has resorted to providing a carbon copy of the world God is trying to rescue humanity from.

Unfashionable is a great resource for churches that are feeling the pressures of having to stay relevant with today's culture, as it provides easily structured, applicable steps to remain true to the call of God.

Bottom line: Unfashionable is the ironic collision of God's beauty with the ugliness of today's world.  

How to get this resource

This book is available at your local Christian bookstore, or at your favorite online book retailer.

Reviewed by: Derrick Engoy, associate pastor, Harbor City Foursquare Church in Harbor City, Calif.