I recently completed Andrew Farley’s, The Naked Gospel. To be totally honest, I do not know how I would rate the book. I found myself thoroughly enjoying a chapter or section, only to feel a few pages later that it was time to move on to another topic. I felt that as I read the book, a new chapter would begin, but the topic of conversation or even the approach to the same topic did not change much at all.
With that said, I still think that I would recommend this book to others. I would recommend this book to those that some times need to be hit over the head numerous times before things sink it. The topics within the book, were not mind-blowing or staggering. The fact that the book centered on the idea of “Jesus plus nothing” is obviously not a new convention. Churches and people have been arguing on the proper way to do “Jesus plus nothing” for ages.
I appreciated the approach that Farley took with this book though. It felt conversational and easy going as opposed to a book that relied on demonstrating superior knowledge in order to woo the reader into thinking the author was much more intelligent and therefore must be right. I was able to leisurely approach the book and find enjoyment in the metaphors that were used. I enjoyed the discussion on the law and the new spiritual creation that one becomes when they are reborn.
Overall I appreciated the message that Farley was wanting to bring and share. I got bored when it seemed that it was slow to move from one idea to the next. Or at times, I would think we had moved on, only to return to the same old topic and the same conclusion.
If I had a star system to rate this book, I would still give it 3.5 out of 5. The material is presented in a way where most anyone could understand it and be encouraged by it. Even in the areas where my personal beliefs did not line up with the authors, I did not feel threatened by the differences. It never came across to me as a “my way or the highway” book and that is something that is commendable in today’s culture.
Unconditional Chaos 