Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity

I don't have time to audit multiple seminary courses and read dozens of primary historical documents, but Alisa Childers has done the work for us, pulling together the key information about the historical veracity of the Gospel and the orthodox (i.e. historic) practice of Christianity.I have struggled alone in my church as it seems to be drifting away from the Gospel focus into the social justice primacy of orthodox leftism, including indirect attacks on Biblical veracity. Alisa brings the evidence for remaining faithful to the traditional Gospel.Alisa is a profound thinker with an expansive engagement with the issues and a big heart for Christ.I can't do the book justice in a short review; you should read it for yourself.

Alisa Childers wages a detailed and masterful defense of historic Christianity in “Another Gospel?” The attempt to rewrite and change God’s plan for human history through progressive Christianity (indeed doctrines of demons -1 Tim. 4:1) is destructive and life-taking. Childers’ book is a must read for those who don’t just want to know what they believe, but why as well.

I have a little bit of history with Progressive Christianity. Not a big hero or supervillain defining moment, but a history nonetheless. Of course, back then, it was just the Emergent Church and the majority of the philosophical underpinnings were attributed to Brian McLaren and not too many else. A pastor/friend of mine was looking into the Emergent Church movement as a way of possible church growth/communicating with a different generation kind of thing. So, inquisitive little bugger that I was, I read a few of the books and wrote a little paper, explaining why I disagreed with some of the major tenets of the book. We eventually moved on before anything was resolved. But years later, the Progressive Christian element reared its ugly head in a church I was familiar with and a pastor I had always believed was fairly well grounded. Now, however, I heard he had started preaching the non-existence of hell and some other questionable doctrine. So, you could say, I know first hand why this book is not only needed but extremely helpful. There have been other books, to be certain, but the autobiographical element mixed with strong apologetic answers to some of the largest Progressive doubts make this book stand up way in front of the crowd. Heck, the chapter on the atonement of Christ and the wrath of God is more than sufficient reason to buy and read this book. So, what exactly is Progressive Christianity and what do they believe? Well, it's a movement that's been around for at least 15-20 years in one form or another...and maybe longer than that. It began with questions and doubts about historical Christianity, its practices and its doctrine and morphed from there. Alisa Childers in her book "Another Gospel?" directly addresses the main doctrinal discrepancies, like the authority of the Bible, the concepts of hell, the atonement and who exactly Jesus was and what he taught. If anything, Progressive Christianity looks at historical Christianity and the main doctrines of the church through the lens of secular scholarship. Alisa documents her introduction to Progressive thought as it slowly eroded her confidence in the Christian doctrine she was raised upon. The brilliance of Childer's approach is that not only does she introduce the Progressive doubt behind each of the historic Christian doctrine and then explain how those doubts affected her previously held beliefs, but then she goes on to explain how she overcame those doubts to possess a stronger faith and assurance. Childers presents a concise apologetic for each of the doubted doctrines, but doesn't go into a depth already covered in other well-established books. But she doesn't need to go into as much depth as her main concern is to demonstrate that doubts, while real and persuasive, can and should only temporarily setback any believer. Why? The questions addressed by Progressive Christian authors have very real and solid answers. Instead of drowning in doubt, the questioning believers have only to reach out to well-established apologists whose hands have been reaching out to the drowned for decades. Childers has a flare for presenting biblical truth and defense of that truth is an easy and thorough manner, which makes for great reading for any level of maturity. She peppers her examples and knowledge with amazing word pictures that serve to illuminate her main points and flesh out her material. Childers certainly knows what it feels to have her faith deconstructed and then reconstructed into a firm and unshakable foundation. She gives real hope to those who have been floundering in doubt about the Christian faith and doctrine they may have learned and she presents a step by step process to remaking that faith into the rock-certain worldview it was always meant to be. With Childers' help, any believer who has bought into the lie that Progressive Christianity is an evolution of the Christian faith can truly come to see it for what it is: a worldview that has nothing at all to do with the historic Jesus or the historic Christian faith. As her quote from noted atheist Christopher Hitchens clearly illuminates, "I would say that if you don't believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and the Messiah, that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you're really not in any meaningful sense a Christian."

It was tedious at times so unless you are willing to put in the serious time and study, you may end up not finishing this study.

Alisa writes with a style that anyone will be able to relate to, she’s real. She guides us through the struggles she had when her faith was first tested by progressive ideology masquerading as Christianity. And walks us through the steps she took to confirm her faith is based on reason, logic, history, etc. and to understand why the progressive ideas are not at all scriptural. Read this book to help solidify your own Christian faith!

This book is such an easy-to-understand and even humorous read for those of us that struggle with fancy theological definition, words and contexts. I’d say this book was a “life boat” during a time of a lot of questions and curiosity! A must for any Christian, but especially those wanting a richer understanding of biblical and church history.

I have really enjoyed reading this book! Alisa writes with a very heart felt, engaging, gentle and thought provoking style. She takes you on her journey: growing up in the faith, struggling with challenges to it, her hours upon hours of searching/study and how she came to a stronger grounding in Historic Christianity and a more robust faith.She tells of how she prayed in her struggles, ‘“God, I know you’re there. Please send me a lifeboat.”’. Now in search of clear answers to the challenging questions levelled at the core beliefs of her faith. God did in fact send a number of lifeboats, in the form of solid bible teachers and defenders of the faith.She went on a journey of in-depth study into the (strong) evidence for Christianity. Ministries like ‘Stand to Reason’, ‘Cross Examined' and ‘Cold Case Christianity’ helped along the way, as well as reading/studying theology and aplogetics books and the church fathers writings. This journey and its results are so evident throughout the book.This is a much-needed resource in light of the distorted ideas subtlety making their way into segments of the church. This is a book which clearly defends Historic Christianity, but does so within the narrative of Alisa's story, engaging the heart as well as the intellect, serious in tone, but with injections of humour. I highly recommend it to you! Whoever you are, Christian or not, whether you feel you have a strong faith or your having serious doubts, whatever your view of life is, this book is for you! There is nothing wrong with having doubts, if you are genuinely looking for answers and a better grounding in the truth!'I’m more convinced than ever that Christianity is not based on a mystical revelation or self-inspired philosophy. It’s deeply rooted in history. In fact, it is the only religious system I can think of that depends on a historical event (the resurrection of Jesus) being real—not fake—news.'Ch.1 p.10'Christians have always seen the Cross as the ultimate picture of divine love, but they also recognize that a righteous God cannot abide sin—not because he’s intolerant but because of his goodness and holiness, and because of the havoc sin wreaks on his creation.'Chapter 11 p.212

I was keen to see what Alisa would write on this subject and I wasn’t disappointed. As someone who moved about in the early days of the Emergent church, (I was there when people like Brian McLaren did conferences at Steve Chalk’s church etc.) when it was new and well…emerging. I look back and realise now how much deconstruction (or just destruction) people underwent to bring them to where they are today – i.e. another gospel.Alisa’s book, I’m glad to say, with deep simplicity that isn’t simplistic clearly identifies the major points of diversion, deconstruction and to some degree, dishonesty, progressive thinkers take people. Often by borrowing well-known terms but repackaging them. In so doing people have been sold “snake oil” old fakes out of Church History but wrapped in new packaging.Alisa’s book by contrasting, comparing, analysing and examining helps us do what Paul told Timothy to do, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.” I really appreciated the way that Alisa pointed out how often the emotive language is used skilfully to make what they say seem better. Moreover, her own story which is woven throughout doesn’t emotionally blackmail us into feeling she should be right, as again and again her hard facts and diligent research shows why we have good reason to agree with her defence of the gospel. I especially loved the information on the early witnesses, the autographs and the inerrancy of scripture, the major doctrines or truths we must agree on and others that aren’t of first importance. A great read which I would happily use to hand on to new or not so new Christians who might be struggling with the sorts of questions raised here. OK Alisa, when is the next book due out?

Progressive Christianity, the Emergent/Emerging church has had and is continuing to have far reaching effects on the Church - none of them good. Historic Christianity has been heavily assaulted - yet again. This is a well evidenced rebuttal, a sound defence delivered in a loving, caring way. Its text is readily accessible with pointers to resources that will allow the reader to dig deeper. I would love every Christian, pastor, evangelist, youth worker, etc to read this book. I can't recommend it strongly enough. Well done Alisa.

I purchased this book a few years ago, and devoured it. Alisa has a similar background to myself and lived that I could relate to so much in her book. But what impacted me the most, was the depth of information, proof, and her writing style made me read this book in two days (and working an 8 hrs job). I have just purchased her new book, and plan on reading this book again, and taking further notes as well as diving into a lot of her references. She has made me even more hungry for Jesus Christ and to dive further into apologetics. Thank you Alisa for writing this book. I have also purchased it for my brother and childhood friends who also grew up in the same church and could also relate.

At any point in history there will be a heresy of some kind masquerading as 'true' Christianity. Right now it's 'progressive' Christianity which in the UK is a variant of 'liberal' Christianity. This is the view that the Bible is unreliable and that we all have our own, different and equally valid 'interpretation' of what it means and that no one can be definitive. In fact the very idea of being 'right' is so, what's the word... unsophisticated? Bigoted? We must all live with diversity! In 'Another Gospel?' Childers recounts the story of her encounter with this heresy. Her book is accessible, honest and well researched. It is also timely. The book is already under attack, which is a sure sign it has hit the nail on the head. This heresy is inside our churches now, don't let liberal Christianity shipwreck your faith! Read the book!