Book Review: "Radically Unchurched"

In his book titled “Radically Unchurched” author Alvin Reid writes an incredible book about sharing Christ is the rapidly changing culture that threatens to swallow up and overturn the 21st Century church of today.[1] Dr. Reid is an accomplished author, leader and professor. He currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and student Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the founder of Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism and has earned a M.Div and Ph.D with a major in, what one will find out quickly to be his passion – evangelism.

He is a highly sought out speaker and has spoken at a multiplicity of conferences in just about every state and continent. Reid’s writings focus extensively on evangelism, in one way or another, and he has a soft spot for student ministries that is evident in much of the titles of his books and writings. In addition, Reid’s writings challenge and help to equip current leaders to deal with the upcoming generations and the tremendous opportunity leaders have to make an impact on the “radically unchurched.”[2]

The thesis of “Radically Unchurced” is found right in the book’s subtitle, which states “who they are and how to reach them.” His premise is that the church is not focusing on the upcoming generation and the great opportunity that the church has to reach them. He goes on to state that the church is not reaching them, partly because the church does not know how or what to do to reach them. Reid’s passion is to help equip the church and its leaders to reach these radical’s and that is evident throughout the book as he injects numerous challenges to the reader with a question that strikes at the heart: “The question is, will the adults who lead such your people in our churches take advantage of this opportunity.”[3] Reid is highly successful in achieving his intended purpose in profiling not only who these people are but more importantly how to best reach them with the gospel. The author accomplishes this by first giving the profile of who exactly these radically unchurched are in the first part of the book. Then, in the second part, the book details a plan on how the church can reach these people in the most effective way.

In part one, Reid does not only profile who the radically unchurched are, but what the author also includes the underlying causes of this loss, which he states as unequivocally as the “failure of the church to follow the New Testament pattern for penetrating the culture with the gospel.”[4] There is no doubt in the authors mind that to be “successful” at piercing the culture will be through a mighty movement of God on behalf of His church being obedient to the Great Commission and living lives that resemble and reflect Jesus Christ. Chapters one and two, will give the reader a complete picture of who the radically unchurched and what the church needs to do to reach them. The strategy Reid gives is a biblical model as seen in Scripture and notable the Great Commission. However, the author illustrates how the church reacts and speaks to its culture. What’s missing, he surmises, is the power of God through the preaching of the gospel in the fullness of the Spirit through prayer and a holy life. In the remaining chapters of part one, he explains the incredible power that one person can have and how that can be the impetus for moving the church to change and focus on the great opportunity the church has.

In the second part of the book and what will be refreshing to the reader, is that Reid attacks this issue in a positive, rather than just being argumentative about the problem, and here offers various solutions to reaching the radically unchurched. Within these five chapters, Reid explains the specific changes and mindset the church must have in reaching this unreached people group. In these chapters, Reid stresses that the church must not abandon a solid biblical foundation, but will have to look at its methodology. Testimonies and narratives are the norm as these “radicals” want to know how the gospel has affected our own lives. The worship needs to bring folks to encounter the presence of God, and not just filler within a particular church service. Lastly, in reaching these radically unchurched, the leadership and churches need to be willing to plant specific churches that understand and are focused, trained and equipped with a goal to reach this people group, Reid calls the “Radically Unchurched.”

Overall, I would put this on the must read list of books and should be on the shelf of every church pastor and leader. The author does a great job in the book’s architecture in breaking it down into two parts. In the first part, he explains in detail, who these radically unchrurched are, and that we, the church, are in a different and emerging culture that must understand who these people are. One does not have to go out on visitation or talk with people very long to understand that our present culture has little understanding of what a church is, nor do they comprehend or have been given a clear presentation of the gospel message. This book will give you the background and understanding of who these people are and more importantly how to communicate to this generation that regards the church irrelevant and outdated.

Reid defines the “radically unchurced as those who have no clear personal understanding of the message of the gospel, and who have had little or no contact with a Bible-teaching, Christ-honoring church.”[5] Shame on us, who are called to reach people right in our “Jerusalem” and yet this generation makes up 41% of a people group that is untouched by the church.[6] This is true in my own church that I have been pastor now for two months. I find that most of the new membership is coming from other churches and not from new converts. In fact, there is little to no emphasis on reaching let alone even trying to understand this untapped, unchurched generation. This is why the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptists are putting more effort, energy and money into starting new churches that are slanted at reaching this untapped generation with the gospel. I can see why it would be easier to “start new” as opposed to waiting on churched who, refuse to budge from their time continuum. I experienced this personally in talking with many pulpit committees as I was looking for a church. Most wanted me to keep the status-quo and found it difficult to find a church willing and eager to reach this generation.

Reid articulates well and spells out in a way that is motivational and yet challenging to pastors, and leaders to “re-tool” their church. I personally was challenged and before this believed that we had the gospel and that they would and should come to us our way. However, I think if we are to be effective in reaching this generation, we are going to have to take the church to them. This is doable, and the author does a good job of telling us how and shows that it can be done without, as he explains in chapter six, subtracting or taking anything away from the fundamentals of the gospel. In fact, Reid is adamant that “To reach the changing culture, the church needs doctrinal conviction, compassion for people, and the realization that the church belongs to God, not to us.”[7]

As pastors and leaders in the church, we need to look closely at chapter nine, where it talks about communicating the Truth in new and creative ways. We must remember that we are only communicating if what we say is listened to and to be listened to by this generation we need to speak their language. One way I have implemented some of what I read is I am now having my associate pastor teach the Wednesday night service so I can meet with the teens and singles in an environment that is conducive to them. We also have brought in the “older” generations to give their testimony to them each month. What we have found is that there is a connection being made as they are beginning to look at and talk with one another as we work through the language and generation barriers. We found that they want to be prayed for more than they want to be preached at. They also want to be actively involved in the church and are excited about starting a “Teens On-Mission” ministry that has set a high bar for standard for themselves in their personal lives and what they are doing to reach their generation. I agree that the best folks to reach these “radically unchruched” are those who understand it the best and who are part of that generation.

In conclusion, this book will be one that I will keep close at hand as we “re-tool” our church to reach this generation. I praise God, that although we have a long way to go, that my people are willing and eager to radically reach this unchurched people group. Reid ends the book with a chapter titled “What is Your Passion?” Our passion needs to be what the author’s friend Richard’s was “a consuming passion for Jesus.”[8] Ultimately it is not about any program or a philosophy but a person – Jesus Christ. We need to have and reflect the same passion as He did for the lost because infiltrating this unchurched culture will come at a great cost.

Bibliography:
[1] Alvin L. Reid, Radically Unchurched: Who are They & How to Reach Them (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2002).
[2] Alvin Reid, "Http://alvinreid.com/as-a-speaker/my-bio," http://alvinreid.com// (accessed May 6, 2009).
[3] Alvin L. Reid, Radically Unchurched: 101.
[4] Ibid. 13.
[5] Ibid. 21.
[6] Ibid. 22.
[7] Ibid. 112.
[8] Ibid. 194.