The Christian Culture Survival Guide: The Misadventures of an Outsider on the Inside

By: Matthew Paul Turner

Relevant Books / 2004 / Paperback

4.5 out of 5 stars (2 Reviews)

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Product Description

By taking a hilarious look at the peculiarities and churchisms that have been added to this thing called Christianity, The Christian Culture Survival Guide leaves you with a knowing smile and the reassurance that true faith is only found in Jesus.

Product Information

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 176
Vendor: Relevant Books
Publication Date: 2004

Dimensions: 7 X 5 (inches)
ISBN: 0974694207
ISBN-13: 9780974694207
Availability: Usually ships in 24-48 hours.

Publisher's Description

The Christian Culture Survival Guide is about the author's humorous experiences growing up in the Christian subculture and what he's learned along the way. From overcoming the temptation to wear W.W.J.D. bracelets to the disparaging experience of witnessing to a gay man at a bar, Matthew Paul Turner offers a fun read that's packed with profound insight and truth.

ChristianBookPreviews.com

The Christian Culture Survival Guide pokes fun at all the ridiculous and downright absurd pieces of the church culture puzzle. In this commentary on the Church scene, Matthew Turner, a preachers kid former editor of CCM magazine, gives us a laugh along with a sturdy dose of mirror gazing. What are we doing? What are we saying to the world who see Christians as a bunch of fruitcakes, hypocrites and beyond comprehensible? The book makes fun of the incredibly weird stuff Christians do and say and wear! Though parts are offensive many are also disturbing in that they are frank and honest depictions of the church world. This book should only be read by folks with strong sense of humor and a stronger wish to get to the real issue--a true abiding uncluttered relationship with Jesus. -- Elece Hollis, Christian Book Previews.com

Product Reviews

The Christian Culture Survival Guide: The Misadventures of an Outsider on the Inside 4.5 5 2 2

I don't find this book to be negative at all, just honest. Basically this is a book that about half of Christians wish they had the nerve to write and the other half hope would never be written because it will expose them. When I think of the term outsider, I think of someone who has not been accepted by the traditional church establishment (as I have never been). This is a great book on a number of different levels. It is funny and most will laugh until they cry. It also exposes some of the problems with the hypocritical attitude of some in the church and how to survive it. If someone is offended by it: 1) Explore and pray about why you are offended or 2) Just don't read it. March 4, 2006

This is a very interesting book. I think you'll find yourself laughing and giggling while reading it. The biggest thing (in my humble opinion) that is wrong with this book is the same as "Blue Like Jazz." Though he never comes out and says it, he comes across as saying that only people in Church with his personality, his theology, his ideology and his disdain for Christianity are good or acceptable Christians. He also considers church-hopping something that people should try and talks about finding the church that makes you "comfortable" and has people that you like. I'm not saying this is necessarily bad (we should enjoy our worship/teaching and the people of the church), but it becomes a consumer mentality when it should never be that way. The title is strange too. You would assume from the title that he was not a Christian and became one later in life. That is not the case. He tells in his book that he was raised in church and then worked at a Christian magazine. "The Misadventures of a Negative Person in Church" would be a better fit. On the other hand, the chapters on boycotts and Christian entertainment are great. The chapter on getting along with other Christians is pretty good as well. His thoughts on evangelism being more than a drive-by/fast-food mentality are great. All in all, it is not a bad book. Give it a try, and read on, even if you get a little bothered by it. It'll probably make you think a little about yourself and the culture we live in. September 3, 2005