The Subversion of Christianity
The Subversion of Christianity by Jacques Ellul, published by Wipf and Stock Publishers on June 2, 2011, is a thought-provoking examination of the discrepancies between biblical teachings and contemporary church practices. In this 216-page book, Ellul argues that modern interpretations of Christianity have strayed significantly from the original gospel, shaped by cultural influences over generations. He critiques how the church has not only adapted but also redefined sacred practices, leading to a distortion of the gospel message.
Readers will find Ellul’s exploration of the church’s moralistic tendencies and its role in the political sphere particularly insightful. He highlights the contradictions inherent in the church’s efforts to make Christianity more palatable, ultimately suggesting that this approach undermines its true essence. Despite these challenges, Ellul expresses a sense of hope, emphasizing the ongoing influence of the Holy Spirit in the world. This edition invites readers to reflect on the complexities of faith and the enduring nature of spiritual truth.
Official synopsis Publisher
Pointing to the many contradictions between the Bible and the practice of the church, Jacques Ellul asserts in this provocative and stimulating book that what we today call Christianity is actually far removed from the revelation of God.
Successive generations have reinterpreted Scripture and modeled it after their own cultures, thus moving society further from the truth of the original gospel. The church also perverted the gospel message, for instead of simply doing away with pagan practice and belief, it reconstituted the sacred, set up its own religious forms, and thus resacralized the world.
Ellul develops several areas in which this perversion is most obvious, including the church’s emphasis on moralism and its teaching in the political sphere. The heart of the problem, he says, is that we have not accepted the fact that Christianity is a scandal; we attempt to make it acceptable and easy–and thus pervert its true message.
Ultimately, however, Ellul remains hopeful. For, in spite of all that has been done to subvert the message of God, the Holy Spirit continues to move in the world. “Christianity,” writes Ellul, “never carries the day decisively against Christ.”
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