The Next Christians

Gabe Lyons (of UnChristian fame) paints a portrait of the future of Christianity in America in The Next Christians. And it looks uncannily like...me and my friends. Divided into three parts, the first addresses the current state of Christianity, how it's divided into separatists (Christians who reject society), blenders (Christians who fit in society nicely), and restorers (in the world, but not of it - his vision of the future). The second defines and expounds upon the characteristics of the restorers, and the third concludes on a positive note.


I enjoyed this book, although it did become tedious at times. I found the discussion about types of Christians enlightening and thought it explained why I felt queasy around certain separatist (and blended) viewpoints. When he listed the spiritual disciplines of the next Christians, they were already things we were doing! Since Lyons is obviously a next Christian himself, it felt odd when he kept referring to the group in the third person (instead of using "we"). I left the book encouraged and thinking about my many friends who are playing this out in the real world - my friend who gave up a job at a biotech company to be a house mom for women rescued from sex trafficking and another friend working as a librarian at a Christian mission school overseas. This should be essential reading for ministry leaders, young adults, and anyone wondering what's the next big thing in the Christian world - it's The Next Christians. (PG, highly recommended) [I received a copy of this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review.]