The plague of modernism striped away our identity in Christ. The cult of the individual took over and we were remade into Zombies working for an identity stirred by modern cultural ethics and building our personal brands. We became obsessed by work. Work promised freedom, coolness, and the ability to be sexy. All of this added to us living not a Vertical Life but a Horizontal life. A vertical life is an identity that is framed by God. God shapes us to serve God well. Sayers book is a call back from this self obsession to the beginning of living a vertical life.
The Vertical Life's first 100 pages stirred me in a good way. I enjoyed Sayers ability to express Post Modern Cultural thinking and its effect on the Church.
But I began to be turned away from the book when he attempted to give a step by step solution to Horizontal Living.
The reformed perspective (which I believe) holds that after the fall, man was born innately in sin. The only way to come clean was for Christ to take our sins on the cross. Sayers argues on another platform. He presents Humans as innately good. Sinners just need to apply a behavior management program and live a virtuous life (no cross needed). I fear that many will attempt to live a behavior management formula, and become depressed when their own good measures are not enough to overcome their sinful ways.
For a counter POV check out Joseph's Review.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Criteria
Description
Points Awarded
Total Points
Total P
1. Avoids Preaching Victimhood
Author avoids preaching victim hood by discussing our responsible stewardship.
5
5
5
2. Flow
The author keeps you going and motivates you to
keep reading
keep reading
5
10
10
3. Grasps Contemporary Society:
Does the author present the vices and graces of modern culture.
5
15
15
3. Avoids Legalism
Did the author make it where you had played any part in gaining a grace of our LORD.
2.5
18
20
4. Secular Ready
as an introduction to the faith.
as an introduction to the faith.
Can this be given to a gronala humanist living in Sedona in a VW Mini Van down by the hippy village without offending their Carma?
2.5
21
25
5. Usefulness
Did this book help you explore your faith further?
5
26
30
6. Book Design
Book is laid out well… and is excellent in its overall usefullness.. Or is fun in the way information is laid out….
5
31
35
7. Authors Notes
Author Notes contriube to the overall reading.
Author outlines the evidence collected in telling
the tale.
Author outlines the evidence collected in telling
the tale.
5
36
40
8. Word Choice
Good Mix Of eight grade vocabulary with
collegiate level vocabulary
collegiate level vocabulary
4
41
45
9. Content and Process Collaberate
for overall effectivenss
Content
for overall effectivenss
Content
Uses the bible Scriptures to back up points does it in a way that is not text doctoring.
2.5
44
50
10. Sparking Interest in Research
Author gets you interested in researching the subject
presented in the book. Quotes outside authors and their material.
presented in the book. Quotes outside authors and their material.
5
49
55
11. Desire to share with others
The book is rewarding enough to share with a friend without a fear of embarrasment.
2.5
52
60
0.858333333
Four Star Read out of a Possible Five
No comments:
Post a Comment