Turner grew up in Fundamental Baptist culture in Maryland. This means, according to the book, that from the time he was young he was terrified of hell, having long hair, and sinners. I was expecting a pretty funny book, but I think that this book, as one reviewer says, "uses humor to keep people from crying."
Turner's misshapen view of God and the church can largely be accredited to his upbringing. On that note, I think this book offers us two important lessons.
The first has to do with parenting. It is important to understand that a parent needs to be careful about the theology they put in front of their children, as well as what is actually emphasized through actions. Turner describes being terrified at "asking Jesus to come into (his) heart." His parents and his church also emphasized perfection, in strange, unbiblical ways. At one point his father took him to a barber shop because "Jesus hated little boys with long hair." Through the whole book, we see the parents making their children follow rules with no explanation, in order for them to be "better little baptist boys and girls." We see Turner as a terrified and confused child, afraid of not meeting expectations and confused about Jesus. As parents, (not that I am one), but are we emphasizing following Christ and loving others out of his love for us? Or are we emphasizing some sort of works based "salvation."
The second lesson is applicable to how we handle our churches. He speaks of the church he grew up in: "Most people thought that Pastor Nolan was perfect..(as if) God had made him without flaws." And that confessing sin was unheard of. Turner says that at one point as a young adult living in a Christian community, "(he) was led to wonder if he was just living a Stepford-type reality." And that grace was simply a foot note in all of the sermons he had ever heard. As Christians living in community, it is easy to want to hide our sin and judge others for theirs. But one of the glorious things about God is that he has forgiven us, and that is we accept that Jesus took the punishment we are due, nothing will separate us from God. There is no condemnation for those that know Christ. And the Bible calls us to confess our sin to one another, as that is what the church is- a bunch sinners thankful to a mighty God- nothing more.
At the end of the book, I am sad for Turner. He has been burned by the church, and while he still calls himself a Christian- I feel his pain and lack of trust have caused him to not look much deeper into what he believes, still basing his view of God on a shallow understanding based on what makes him comfortable. From his writing, I cannot detect any hint of theological study into who God is and what the purpose of church is. There is no happy ending, just a man who is tormented by his legalistic upbringing. Instead of swinging to middle ground, has simply swung to the opposite bank.
I am also thankful that my "churched" upbringing was far from his. I was taught both the depravity of myself AND the richness of the gospel.
Do I recommend this book? Only if you desire a sad tale of Christianity poorly understood and lived out.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
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