Book Review: Saving the Saved

Below you will find a book review for Saving the Saved by Bryan Loritts.  I received a free advance electronic copy of the book for an honest review.  This book releases today. 

As the title suggests, this book is about moving from trying harder and performance in the Christian life into living from who God says we are.  The book is comprised of 3 parts: What Goodness Isn't, Authentic Goodness and Living In and Reflecting God's Performance-Free Love based on the gospel of Matthew.

Loritts does an excellent job of presenting the reason this book is needed through examples from Scripture, his own life and the church. It reminds us that our relationship with Christ is not based on our performance for Him or what he calls "meritocracy".  Instead, Bryan helps us refocus on Christ and what it means to abide or be in relationship with Him.

I would recommend this book for anyone especially those who are striving to earn God's love or who question their identity in Christ.  Loritts presents a compelling case for how Christianity and the church have lost its focus and need to return to relationship with Christ rather than striving or what we do for Him.  Bryan understands the culture and the church and how easy it is to move from what Christ has done to what we need to do especially because that's how our society operates.  I greatly appreciated parts 1 and 2 of the book. 

My one critique of the book was part 3.  As all authors, teachers, and pastors know, people want to know "how".  I agreed with much of what Loritts presented in parts 1 and 2, but disagreed with how to live this out in part 3.  I would have liked Part 3 to continue to focus on abiding, gratitude and delight for what God has done for us and the results flowing from relationship and Holy Spirit working in us rather than a list or a "how-to". It is difficult to be descriptive of "how" without sounding too prescriptive.

I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the street team for this book and would recommend you pick up a copy today.



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