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peterdray's review
5.0
Church attendance may have declined in the West over past decades, but David Zahl argues that we haven't lost any of our desire for righteousness. Today we're just as liable to make ourselves feel righteous as ever - for instance, in the way we parent and eat, and in the way we work and rest. Yet, unlike in the Christian gospel, no grace is on offer. Our culture is left exhausted, competitive and judgemental. David Zahl invites us instead to find our sense of "enoughness" in Jesus, coming just as we are.
alcazalsir's review
5.0
Absolutely loved it. Got me to think about religion as it is being practiced by Americans today in a whole new way. When contemplating the decline of church attendance today I used to be fond of saying things like “they’re at yoga” or “brunch is the new church.” David Zahl looks at places Americans are putting their time, money, and emotional energy, such as work, parenting, romance, and politics and he focuses on the motivation behind it - the drive to be enough, to prove ourselves worthy. He even identifies how this happens at many churches today. We either focus on doing enough to achieve personal sanctification or social righteousness. Either way the focus is on us and what we are doing. The beauty of Christianity is the offer of grace. All that needed to be done has been done. And God offers it to us now in our place of failure and inadequacy. I’m grateful to Zahl for his keen analysis and for reminding me of the good news of God’s grace. A favorite quote: “Christianity at its sustaining core is not a religion of good people getting better, but of real people coping with their failure to be good.”
jacobgane8's review
5.0
Such a delight to read! Zahl, throughout this whole book, read my mail with ease and offered a reminder of God’s grace that was both poignant and beautiful.
Arguably my favorite quote from the book:
“What makes Christianity a religion of grace, ultimately, is its essential revelation: of a God who meets us in both our individual and collective sin with a love that knows no bounds, the kind of love that lays down its life for its enemies. It is not a roadmap to engineering spiritual enoughness but a glorious proclamation that on account of Christ, you and I are enough—right now, right here, before we do or say anything. That is to say, Christianity at its sustaining core is not a religion of good people getting better, but of real people coping with their failure to be good” (p. 176).
Arguably my favorite quote from the book:
“What makes Christianity a religion of grace, ultimately, is its essential revelation: of a God who meets us in both our individual and collective sin with a love that knows no bounds, the kind of love that lays down its life for its enemies. It is not a roadmap to engineering spiritual enoughness but a glorious proclamation that on account of Christ, you and I are enough—right now, right here, before we do or say anything. That is to say, Christianity at its sustaining core is not a religion of good people getting better, but of real people coping with their failure to be good” (p. 176).
katecam330's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this book and the amazing perspective it takes on the world. Now everywhere I look I'll see seculosity and search for the religion of grace that pokes its head through. Beautifully written, funny and witty, and so relevant.
todd_luallen's review
4.0
A quick and easy read highlighting the woes of trying to achieve success through "enoughness" in all aspects of life. The first 6 or 7 chapters outline the various topics in the subtitle individually. With each chapter Zahl presents a society that is overwhelmed with trying to keep up with the Jones's in a variety of ways. At the end of the book he outlines how Christianity has gone wrong by becoming a religion of works (do this, don't do that, serve here, don't associate there, etc.). His solution in the end is for Christianity to once again be a religion of Grace, spending less time talking about God, and more time talking to God. He highlights AA as a good example to follow. A flat organization where everyone that comes in is acknowledging that they are a failure in one way, they are an alcoholic. He says the church would be a much better place if all members were required to walk in on Sunday by acknowledging first that they are sinners. More to the book, for those interested. But I can't say there is much more. This book felt like it could have been an online article instead of a full book. Having said that, I do think Zahl accurately portrays the state of society today. His commentary about the church and works is one that is common among Christian authors going back at least a few decades. I know I've read a few times about the balance between legalism and antinomianism. It's always good to be reminded that we are not saved by our works (Eph. 2:8-9), and yet at the same time we are called to produce good works as a fruit of the Spirit that is in us (James 2:17).
condorhanson's review
4.0
Highly recommend to anyone. Religion/devotion isn’t on the decline, it’s just migrated to different objects like parenting, romance, sex, money, work, success, food, political and utopian projects (probably what’s behind the resurgence of Marxism) etc. We look to these things to make us feel like we’re enough; for meaning and identity. But we need what only Jesus can bring: salvation and redemption from the force of sin that oppresses people and societies. We need grace, the free gift of enough-ness through Jesus.
Zahl writes clearly and to anyone living in the modern West of how we are all captured by ‘seculosity’ (horizontally oriented worship and devotion, as opposed to vertical i.e. transcendent). Even the Church is a place of seculosity, and this should drive us to recall and rediscover the gospel to live faithfully.
The only issue that I think Zahl missed is the biggest object of worship in the modern world, the one that is a perennial temptation and especially so in liberal democratic societies: the cult of the individual/the self. I would have liked him to have explored that, since I think that’s one of the biggest challenges to Christians (ultimately it comes down to idolatry as does all seculosity).
Also I’m skeptical of the simplistic law/gospel distinction that Zahl applies as a blanket over everything. Perhaps a too simple and reductionist hermeneutic, though not without some truth for sure.
Also the endnotes are in a horrendous format. I’ve never seen a format like he uses; it’s more confusing than helpful. Just use Chicago!!!
Zahl writes clearly and to anyone living in the modern West of how we are all captured by ‘seculosity’ (horizontally oriented worship and devotion, as opposed to vertical i.e. transcendent). Even the Church is a place of seculosity, and this should drive us to recall and rediscover the gospel to live faithfully.
The only issue that I think Zahl missed is the biggest object of worship in the modern world, the one that is a perennial temptation and especially so in liberal democratic societies: the cult of the individual/the self. I would have liked him to have explored that, since I think that’s one of the biggest challenges to Christians (ultimately it comes down to idolatry as does all seculosity).
Also I’m skeptical of the simplistic law/gospel distinction that Zahl applies as a blanket over everything. Perhaps a too simple and reductionist hermeneutic, though not without some truth for sure.
Also the endnotes are in a horrendous format. I’ve never seen a format like he uses; it’s more confusing than helpful. Just use Chicago!!!
wmartin's review
5.0
Zahl did an incredible job of making dense, serious & touchy subject matter succinct, light & accessible. If I had to guess I would say that “Seculosity” will be my most recommended and most gifted book of 2020. It’s one of those rare books that I think everyone should read!
2020 reading prompt 13/40: “A book you received as a gift”
2020 reading prompt 13/40: “A book you received as a gift”