Letter to the American Church

Some may say the message is radical, but the facts are true and supports the claim. Thought provoking, not recreational, but easy to read. Still remember the thesis after years of purchasing.

This is a short read by Eric Metaxas, at least by his standards. It gets to the point and challenges Christians and Christian churches to be bold for Christ. He doesn't beat around the bush. He uses a period of Bonhoffer's life during Nazism to challenge us to get off the sofa and fight for God. Incredible book!

Having read and enjoyed Eric Metaxas’ books: Wilberforce, Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther, Is Atheism Dead, Miracles, Fish Out of Water, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God, and If You Can Keep It, I was anxious to read, Letter to the American Church. Full disclosure: I grew up in the Episcopal Church. From my earliest days, attending church was mandatory. I served as an acolyte from age 12 to 16. Earned my God & Country award in the Boy Scouts. I embraced the traditions of the church. I could recite the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds, verses from numerous hymns, and congregational responses from the Hymnal of the Episcopal Church and The Book of Common Prayer. I was often troubled by my loss of faith. The fault was mine. Mom did her best, but there was no masculine spiritual leader in my life. If there were religious men around me, they kept their religion to themselves. With few exceptions, I don’t recall any teachers, friends, neighbors, or family exhibiting a strong faith. The King James Bible sounded foreign to my ears. I respected the book, but didn’t fully understand it. The culture, media, academia, and science embraced evolution; taught that truth was relative; and ridiculed religion. Nevertheless, I was troubled that there were brilliant people, far more intelligent than me, that were religious. What was I missing? Eric Metaxas, through the LORD’s grace, has been profoundly influential in my return to Christ. His logic and writings have assisted me in realizing the aspects of faith that I wasn’t able to see or understand in my youth. I’d encourage anyone who has turned away from belief in Jesus Christ - or never had faith - to take up Eric’s book, "Is Atheism Dead?" At the very least, you’ll be better educated for the effort. With regard to, "Letter to the American Church," it’s a profound declaration of the true meaning of Christian faith, and a profound lesson in human nature and political history. If you’ve ever wondered how the exceptional nation of Germany could have been coerced or persuaded to follow the National Socialists and Adolf Hitler, the short answer to that very complex question is contained in "Letter to the American Church." And parallel with that sobering explanation is an unapologetic criticism of the American Church, including those beyond its Judaeo-Christian core. Metaxas illustrates the frightening similarities between modern American and German society of the 1920-30’s, and the similarities now between the modern American church and the German church on the eve of WWII. In many ways, we are facing political and cultural challenges very much like those faced by the Germans in the early 20th century. Many in the United States assume that something like the Holocaust could never happen here; our human nature is above that. Metaxas would ask you to think again: is your Christian faith really that strong? Would your moral foundation (secular or nonsecular) enable you to give up your job, your wealth, your family, your life, to oppose evil? Or would you succumb to immediate self-preservation and the “Spiral of Silence?” If it does nothing else, reading "Letter to the American Church" will give you a glimpse into the mirror of your heart and soul. This book has the potential to affect you like nothing else you’ve ever read.

"Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. God will not hold us guiltless." This phrase is associated with German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer because as Metaxas says, it sums up what Bonhoeffer was trying to do as he tried to get the German church to fight against the wickedness of the Nazis. Metaxas talks about how the American church has cheapened the ideas of belief and real faith. He quotes James 1:22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James knew if we do not act on what we have heard, we are deceiving ourselves." Metaxas also engages in a piercing discussion of "The Idol of Evangelism." He explains that not offending someone by speaking the truth about topical issues (abortion, transgenderism, critical race theory etc.), in hopes of bringing that person to faith in Christ, might interfere with the process of evangelism. The hungry soul might actually need the truth to be led to God. He also points out that by being silent, we help the enemies of freedom - and the Gospel - gain strength and if history is any guide, as those enemies gain power, they will work to make it impossible to share the Gospel." This is a sobering, compelling and yet encouraging read.

Eric Metaxas, Letter to the American Church. Washington, DC. Salem Books, an imprint of Regnery Publishing, 2022, 139 pages, $19.99, hardback; $14.99 Kindle. ISBN: 978-1-68451-389-5 Several good reasons come to mind. I, perhaps not unlike you, have had my own deep disappointments in today’s American church and I wanted to read another’s perspective of the state of the church. I already had an appreciation of Eric Metaxas’ understanding of history and his ability to write well so the prospect of reading this book was appealing. In this publication, his most recent of 14 books, he provides a concise, articulate, well-informed historical perspective directed primarily to the American Christian church and its members. Within our current cultural landscape riddled with challenges threatening to undo us, but particularly for those who may identify as Christians, Metaxas draws heavily on his research and understanding of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the German Lutheran church just prior and during Hitler’s domination. He pleads with the American church to wake up and understand the dangerous and ever-growing parallels between the two. He urges a thoughtful response beyond accommodating to the progressive culture that is rapidly becoming a soft form of totalitarianism serving to lessen the power and authority of the historic Christian message. Similar to authors Douglas Groothuis, Fire in the Streets (2022); Pete Hegseth, Battle for the American Mind (2022); and Rod Dreher, Live Not by Lies (2020), Metaxas provides a critical and claritin message for any with interest in understanding our cultural needs. This is equally an important message for all who are hoping the church becomes a more positive influence in a culture that seems intent on self-destruction. Finally, my doctoral studies on religious abuse and recovery, along with insights gathered from the many I have life coached over the past three decades harmonizes with many of Metaxas’ conclusions about the American Christian church. I strongly commend this book for your reading. Patrick J. Knapp, PhD Co-director of Becoming Free LLC and author of Understanding Religious Abuse and Recovery: Discovering essential principles for hope and healing (2021).

We need to know where we stand to be effective. This is an eye opener. Straight forward, truthful and scary all at once.

Not only does Metaxas put the case clearly for calling out the new “‘progressive” ideologies of today, he also provides the trumpet call and exhortation to do so.

Thank you Mr Metaxas for writing a book that many Christians need to read. I live in New Zealand and what the American church is going through is not an isolated issue, but one that is a global pandemic. Our churches, brothers and sisters across the world need to speak up and not be silent. Be encouraged as you read this book!

Eric Metaxas hat hier sein vermutlich wichtigstes Buch vorgelegt. Es zeigt exakt auf, woran nicht nur die amerikanische Kirche krankt, sondern auch unsere Amtskirchen: An dem fehlenden Mut, anhand des Wortes Gottes sich der zeitgeistigen Narretei entgegenzustellen, sondern ganz im Gegenteil diese sogar noch zu befeuern. Dabei geht er am Beispiel des Gleichnisses von den anvertrauten Talenten auch theologisch in die Tiefe, stellt unser Gottesbild auf den Prüfstand und unsere Bereitschaft, auch in der Tat Nachfolger Christi zu sein.

I'm just in the beginning of my reading, but I already fully agree with Metaxas. It's exactly the way I think and I see things. I've been saying the same to all my Christian friends. We must fight this war outside the churches. We have an obligation to God's creation. We must save Man, in life and death, in body and soul. Don't be a coward because there is no place for cowards in Heaven. If this book was cheaper I would buy some to gift friends. Finished reading it. Amazing! If it's not the best book I've ever read it's at least in my top five. Already bought four copies, one for me and three to gift. I guess I will buy more.