Christian Living
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Letter to the American Church
In an earnest and searing wake-up call, the author of the bestseller Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy warns of the haunting similarities between today's American church and the German church of the 1930s. Echoing Bonhoeffer's prophetic call, Eric Metaxas exhorts his fellow Christians to repent of their silence in the face of evil before it is too late.
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.
God will not hold us guiltless."
Can it really be God's will that His children be silent at a time like this? Decrying the cowardice that masquerades as godly meekness, Eric Metaxas summons the Church to battle.
The author of a bestselling biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Metaxas reveals the haunting similarities between today's American Church and the German Church of the 1930s. Echoing the German martyr's prophetic call, he exhorts his fellow Christians to repent of their silence in the face of evil.
An attenuated and unbiblical "faith" based on what Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace" has sapped the spiritual vitality of millions of Americans. Paying lip service to an insipid "evangelism," they shrink from combating the evils of our time. Metaxas refutes the pernicious lie that fighting evil politicizes Christianity. As Bonhoeffer and other heroes of the faith insisted, the Church has an irreplaceable role in the culture of a nation. It is our duty to fight the powers of darkness, especially on behalf of the weak and vulnerable.
Silence is not an option. God calls us to defend the unborn, to confront the lies of cultural Marxism, and to battle the globalist tyranny that crushes human freedom. Confident that this is His fight, the Church must overcome fear and enter the fray, armed with the spiritual weapons of prayer, self-sacrifice, and love.
"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil.
Not to speak is to speak.
Not to act is to act.
God will not hold us guiltless."
Can it really be God's will that His children be silent at a time like this? Decrying the cowardice that masquerades as godly meekness, Eric Metaxas summons the Church to battle.
The author of a bestselling biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Metaxas reveals the haunting similarities between today's American Church and the German Church of the 1930s. Echoing the German martyr's prophetic call, he exhorts his fellow Christians to repent of their silence in the face of evil.
An attenuated and unbiblical "faith" based on what Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace" has sapped the spiritual vitality of millions of Americans. Paying lip service to an insipid "evangelism," they shrink from combating the evils of our time. Metaxas refutes the pernicious lie that fighting evil politicizes Christianity. As Bonhoeffer and other heroes of the faith insisted, the Church has an irreplaceable role in the culture of a nation. It is our duty to fight the powers of darkness, especially on behalf of the weak and vulnerable.
Silence is not an option. God calls us to defend the unborn, to confront the lies of cultural Marxism, and to battle the globalist tyranny that crushes human freedom. Confident that this is His fight, the Church must overcome fear and enter the fray, armed with the spiritual weapons of prayer, self-sacrifice, and love.
Editorial Reviews
"This book is like a bucket of cold water thrown into the face of a sleeping church. I found myself arguing with Eric over some points, but I was struck with the uncanny parallels he draws between the compliant churches in Nazi Germany and our churches today. If you are inclined to think you might disagree with what he has to say, here is my challenge: read this book and ask yourself ‘where does Eric have it wrong'?. I think you will find that question more difficult to answer than you expected. I personally think this is Eric Metaxas' most important book for us today." -Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus, Moody Church, Chicago
"Eric Metaxas has spent years researching and writing about giants of our faith; from that wealth of insight and understanding he has taken a new step. In Letter to the American Church he has issued a call to action. The message is historically informed, Biblically sound and I believe "Spirit-directed". I pray every Christ follower in our nation will take to the time to read and consider what Eric has presented." -Pastor Allen Jackson, World Outreach Church
"Eric Metaxas has spent years researching and writing about giants of our faith; from that wealth of insight and understanding he has taken a new step. In Letter to the American Church he has issued a call to action. The message is historically informed, Biblically sound and I believe "Spirit-directed". I pray every Christ follower in our nation will take to the time to read and consider what Eric has presented." -Pastor Allen Jackson, World Outreach Church
Readers Top Reviews
In “Letter to the American Church,” we are challenged to not hide away in our church circles. We are meant to be salt and light in the world around us. Back in the 70’s I was taught to “come out from among them and be separate.” We thought that meant leaving family and friends to follow after the Lord. Not that we didn’t spend time with them, but there was a disconnect. That led to a lot of religious pride on our part. We had our church circle of friends and ‘family’ and even spoke our favorite church language. Questions about what church someone went to was a way to find out how our beliefs were similar or different. So, even in church circles there was alienation. The problem — I found that I was keeping myself from really nice people. Some of the non-church goers showed more of what was considered the Fruit of the Spirit. At that point, I moved from being critical to being very merciful. I withheld my opinion, stopped the religious way of speaking and believed I should love everyone. We are called to love, but does that mean we remain silent in the face of wrong. Where is the balance? Now, it is as if it is no longer my choice as to what I say. In order to get along and not cause division with other people, including family and friends, I am compelled to be silent. Keep the peace at any cost, even if it means losing my voice! But, is that what we are called to do? Read the book and discover that Jesus calls us to influence the world around us. You will read what happens when we do not. It’s not good and doesn’t bring glory to God. We are not meant to hide who we are when we are outside of church. Let your voice be heard. Make a difference in your circle of influence by being wise and loving. You are called for such a time as this! Don’t waste it.
Ted Shimanuki
Letter to the American Church is a book by best-selling author Eric Metaxas which, for people of Christian faith, makes you think. That, in and of itself, is an exceptional reason to read this book, and pass it on to a friend. Mr. Metaxas uses the amazing parallels of the American Church in current times with the German Church of the 1930's in the rapid changes in their society brought on by the Nazi party. He knows much about that time period because he researched and wrote his award-winning biography, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not remain silent as a church leader in his era, and Mr. Metaxas calls on the American Church to not be silent as well, particularly church leaders. In our current day of "the mainstream news" being filled with political messaging from one side of the political spectrum, the rapidly evolving social media landscape, and recent public challenges to the 1st Amendment's unalienable rights of free speech and freedom of religion -- with the outlandish view of placing someone's feelings as a higher priority than the right of free speech -- it is paramount that the Church's voice and that of Mr. Metaxas be heard in the public square, and seriously considered. The book identifies four common reasons which Christians in our era may give for justifying non-involvement and separation from political matters in this nation. In this regard, Metaxas adroitly argues each reason: 1) the meaning of the word "faith", effectively borrowing from Bonhoeffer's clarion teaching on "cheap grace"; 2) the "idol of evangelism"; 3) an apparent, but false, "commandment" to not be political; and 4) the error of placing the goal of avoiding sin as above all other spiritual life matters. He writes convincingly on these. I believe the strength of the book is that Mr. Metaxas does not give a prescription of what every church leader and every church member ought to do in response to the status and direction of American society. Just as there is diversity within the American Church, there are a wide range of responses one may be called upon to act -- based on their individual understanding, their conscience, their application of the word of God, and their relationship with God. Here is where Metaxas accomplishes his goal: he admonishes the American Church to be doers of the faith, and to respond like Bonhoeffer in declaring what one believes to be right and wrong in the public square as opportunities present themselves. In a pluralistic American society, it is wise to balance the one-sided "religion" of secularism -- by adding the voices of our pluralistic religious communities -- be it Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or Christian. America is founded on the ability to argue and debate what liberty means, and Mr. Metaxas advances this cause. I highly recommend this book.
