Jim Henderson and Matt Casper, Jim and Casper Go to Church: Frank Conversation About Faith, Churches, and Well-Meaning Christians. Barna Books, 2007.
Referenced in: Evangelism in Contemporary Culture, Special Challenges
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is very similar in content to Henderson’s The Outsider Interviews, both offering a creative view on how a skeptics look at today’s churches.
In this case, Jim Henderson hired an avowed atheist, Matt, to join him in visiting several different types of churches. He interviewed him after each visit. The book is the interweaving of Matt and Jim’s perspectives.
Church members rarely if ever have enough objectivity to see their own weaknesses. Those who do not share our convictions see us for more of who we really are. They equip us to cut away the false layers and arrive at more authentic ways to relate the faith.
Central to the book’s conclusions is that we must move from defending the faith to defending the space – which means “we protect our relationships with non-Christians – they’re real people to us, not targets. I think of it like this: They’re just like me, except they’re not currently interested in Jesus to the same degree I am.” (xxxv). He also suggests several shifts:
- From apologetics to apology
- From talking to listening
- From strength to weakness
- From beliefs to spirituality
- From debate to dialogue
- From manipulation to intentionality
Jim and Casper is not an academic work, and does not claim to be. It is the journal of the opinions of two men, and should be read as such. It cannot hurt, and will probably help any church leader who reads with some degree of contrition and appropriate self-criticism. Certainly to the extent that unbelievers can help us get a more accurate picture of what we project in our worship services, this is a very valuable text.
From the Publisher
Jim Henderson pays people to go to church. In fact, he made national news when he “rented” a soul for $504 on E-Bay after its owner offered an “open mind” to the highest bidder. In Jim & Casper Go to Church, Henderson hires another atheist—Matt Casper—to visit ten leading churches with him and give the “first impression” perspective of a non-believer. What follows is a startling dialogue between an atheist and a believer seeing church anew through the eyes of a skeptic, and the development of an amazing relationship between two men with diametrically opposing views of the world who agree to respect each others’ space. Foreword by George Barna.
FEATURES:
- Unique perspective of both Christian and atheist on the church and Christians in the USA
- Intelligent and respectful, seeking dialogue between key characters
- Helps the Christian understand the change in attitudes and actions required when shifting from defending the faith to defending “sacred space”—from talking to listening, from strength to weakness, from debate to dialogue, from manipulation to intentionality
About the Author
Jim Henderson is cofounder and executive director of Off The Map, a nonprofit organization focused on reinventing evangelism by encouraging Christians to connect with people in small, ordinary, and doable ways. He and his wife, Barb, have been involved in church planting, pastoring, and leadership development for over twenty-five years. They have three children and live in Seattle.
Matt Casper is a marketing copywriter, a freelance writer, a guitar slinger / rock singer, an avid reader, and a halfway decent cook. His dream job is “gadabout … maybe raconteur.” He is happily married to Yvonne and is a proud, hands-on father of Evelyn and Cole. He and his family live in San Diego.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
Related Areas
See Other Resources on Evangelism:
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: