This is a book for everyone who sees how “Christian” and “White Evangelical” have become disparaging terms, and asks the question: “where do we go from here?”
I have been looking forward to this book since it was announced. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. While reading, I nodded until my neck ached. I cried, I prayed, and I finished feeling hopeful and encouraged. Now, I can’t wait to read it again.
Radiant Church: Restoring the Credibility of Our Witness delivers just the message it’s title promises. There is hard truth to be read here, but also the hope for restoration.
It is not particularly difficult nowadays to find a book telling Christians what is wrong with them. This book is different. Tara Beth Leach tells it like it is, without pulling punches, where the Church (capital C) has strayed from the path of credibility (Christian nationalism, systemic racism, and sexism, to name a few), but she does so while explaining how the Bible lays out the Lord’s vision for his Church – the Radiant Church – a vision she passionately embraces and calls all of us Christ followers to be a part of. Throughout the book, she shares from her personal experience as a young Christian in the 90’s and her years of pastoral ministry. In all the hard truth, personal experience, lament, and call to change, her unending love for Jesus Christ and his Church never fails to shine through.
Prepare to be challenged and encouraged at the same time. This is not an easy thing to do, but this book does just that. Read prayerfully with an open heart, then read it again. You won’t be disappointed.
The Road Less Traveled 