What to do when they say they’re Christian but don’t know Jesus
Whether it’s the Christmas and Easter Christians or the faithful church attenders whose hearts are cold toward the Lord, we’ve all encountered cultural Christians. They’d check the Christian box on a survey, they’re fine with church, but the truth is, they’re far from God. So how do we bring Jesus to this overlooked mission field?
… overlooked mission field?
The Unsaved Christian equips you to confront cultural Christianity with honesty, compassion, and grace, whether you’re doing it from the pulpit or the pews. This practical guide will:
- show you how to recognize cultural Christianity
- teach you how to overcome the barriers that get in the way
- give you easy-to-understand advice about VBS, holiday services, reaching “good people,” and more!
If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure how to minister to someone who identifies as Christian but still needs Jesus, this book is for you.
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The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel by Dean Inserra asks the question “what to do when they say they’re Christian but don’t know Jesus?” Cultural Christianity is described as a mindset that places one’s security in heritage, values, rites of passage and a general duty rather than in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. We have all encountered cultural Christians in many ways. They may even be us. They check the Christian box, they are fine with church but they are far from God. How do we bring Jesus to this mission field in our own backyards, in our own churches? In The Unsaved Christian, Mr. Inserra identifies eight Cultural Christians, across denominations from the Christmas and Easter Christians to the Bible Belt Christian, and sets out to equip pastors, teachers and fellow Christians to confront cultural Christians with honesty, compassion and grace. In this book, Mr. Inserra shows how to recognize each type, ways to overcome barriers that get in the way and offers easy to understand advice to minister to those who identify as Christian but still need Jesus.
The Unsaved Christian is an in depth and honest look into Christianity in America today. When I was first came across this book, I was unsure of what Mr. Inserra’s premise would be. How could a Christian be unsaved? But I decided to give it a chance and it was eye opening! He set out to offer a comprehensive overview of cultural Christianity. Each chapter starts by taking the reader on a journey to the past as he details his own experience in his spiritual walk and ministry as a pastor when he interacted with each of these types. As he describes each type of Cultural Christian, I was able to identify people in my own life, past and present, who believe in this way. While he offers advice to confront these individuals, he stresses, which I feel is important, to confront with love and compassion and not judgment. As the Holy Spirit is the only one who truly knows who is saved and who is not. After each chapter, Mr Inserra includes a Questions for Discussion and Reflection section for further thought and consideration. I highly recommend The Unsaved Christian.
The Unsaved Christian: Reaching Cultural Christianity with the Gospel
is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.
Explains the reasons for the decline of true Christianity in our churches and the “glitch in the system” in pushing for a decision for Christ without a true explanation to bring about change and understanding. I highly recommend this book to all Christian pastors, administrators and Christian schools. Mike G. Norton
I enjoyed diving into this book. As someone who find themselves calling “The Bible Belt” their home, it’s not often you find someone who doesn’t believe they are well versed in “Christianity”. Inserra does a delightful job of confronting the idea of cultural Christianity and what that really means. Do you believe you deserve heaven based on your church attendance or your outstanding moral behavior? You might be a cultural Christian. Inserra points out the many ways in which the immersion of Christian culture creates merely cultural Christians. An enjoyable read for anyone living out their faith in the west.
This is an excellent read for anyone in ministry. However it is a necessary read for a Christian; not because it gives some super deep revelation on scripture but because it is a self check. I had never heard of the term Cultural Christianity but the descriptions of what that looks like are eye opening.”Cultural Christianity in a nutshell: Christianity without Christ, a belief system in which God’s love and acceptance are assumed , but not defined. The book was well paced and easy to understand. I would definitely recommend!