"Nominal Christianity lacks the spiritual reality and vitality of biblical faith." - A.W. Tozer
Is your heart burning to recover authentic Christianity?
In Authentic Christianity, Ruth Conlon issues a passionate call for radical discipleship and wholehearted devotion to Christ in the pattern of Scripture. With scholarly insight and accessible wisdom, she explores biblical warnings against compromised, worldly Christianity void of spiritual vigour and intimacy with God.
Blending solid exegesis with church history and rousing spiritual commentary, Conlon lays out the contours of genuine faith seen in humility, repentance, loving obedience and full surrender to Christ's Lordship. She draws lessons from reformers and revivalists whose passionate God-dependency ignited fresh fire. Ultimately, fruitful Christianity flows from beholding the beauty of Jesus.
Countering self-help gospels fixated on personal prosperity over the cross and holiness, Conlon beckons readers to revive their first love and spiritual intensity. Through adoration, unceasing prayer and pursuing sanctification, authentic faith experiences resurrection life. Conlon inspires revival of Christianity centred on treasuring Christ above all rivals.
In this book, Ruth Conlon helps readers:
Recover costly discipleship.
Revive spiritual fervency.
Reflect God's holiness amidst compromise.
1. Comprehensive Integration of Biblical Exposition and Historical Examples. The book provides extensive exposition of key Scripture passages on radical discipleship and holy passion alongside vivid historical examples and quotes spanning church history. This combination of solid biblical grounding with inspiring illustrations of lived faith makes the book stimulating and memorable.
2. Countercultural Emphasis. In a Christian landscape often overly-accommodated to surrounding culture, this book sounds a vigorously countercultural call to wholehearted devotion to Christ including willingness to suffer loss of worldly status and embrace the way of the cross. It avoids compromise while also stressing compassionate outreach.
3. Godward Focus. Throughout the book the ultimate basis and motive for Christian obedience and holy affections is the beauty, worth, and majesty of God Himself. This God-entranced perspective fuels rightly ordered love avoiding legalism or pride.
4. Revived Historical Voices. The book recovers potent historical insights from largely forgotten figures like Scougal, Rutherford, Flavel and á Kempis to complement better known voices like Wesley, Owen, Bunyan and Tozer. This breadth adds richness and balance.
5. Scholarly Accessibility. While exhibiting historical awareness and theological substance, the book speaks in a straightforward, non-technical manner maximizing accessibility to general Christian readers across education levels interested in renewal.
In summary, the book's skillful weaving of solid biblical exposition and vivid stories with a bold yet grace-based message equips readers to embrace uncompromising discipleship in their daily lives. The book fills a need for material, spurring spiritual vigour and countercultural witness.
I think readers will most appreciate and be impacted by the chapters emphasizing believers' identity in Christ, including the discussions of union with Christ, dying to sin and living to righteousness, and believers' status as citizens of heaven.
In particular, I tried to highlight the profound yet practical truths that through faith we have spiritually participated in Christ's crucifixion and resurrection and that as adopted heirs we await an eternal inheritance imperishable and glorious. Grasping these incredible spiritual realities fuels love, hope, courage and Kingdom vision to walk as pilgrims on earth.
I tied together so many Scripture passages on the triumph of the cross, the hope laid up in heaven, and Christ's high priestly prayer for His people's sanctification. My goal was to inspire a glimpse of the vast spiritual blessings securing the believer's life in God. I pray readers will feel immersed in divine grace, anchoring their souls amidst trial and struggle.
Ultimately, I longed to turn eyes upon the beauty and sufficiency of knowing Christ Jesus as the supreme treasure who alone imparts deep gladness now and forever. Everything hinges on daily walking in intimacy with the Lord through His word and Spirit. This book aimed to awaken hunger and provide some signposts toward that journey of pursuing God's face.
The Christian's identity in Christ encompasses all the book's themes of radical discipleship, overcoming sin and the world, prayerful devotion, and hope-filled eternal perspective. I pray the Spirit will awaken readers to live fully in light of their exalted position in God's Beloved Son!
Preface
I can clearly remember the days and nights in the house of prayer in the City of London when we would pray, worship, and cry out for an authentic encounter with God. We wanted God's presence and didn't relent. We were hungry and thirsty for God, for truth and biblical Christianity; we so passionately read about the lives of the saints and fathers of the faith who had gone before us in the scriptures. Thus, this book was birthed from that place of hunger and thirst for God in the midst of my disconnection with the heart of God. I looked out of the window in the beautiful garden of intimacy with Abba and knew there was more. There, outside of mediocrity, was freedom, liberty, and a higher way of living that Christ purchased with His blood, beckoning us to come. Come, remain, and abide with Me, come.
I don't write as one who has attained but as one in pursuit of the heart of God, who daily fails and falls short of the glory of God. I write as one who seeks to learn, yet, at the same time, as one discontent with the shallow Christianity we have become satisfied with embracing. I write not as a philosopher or a theologian but as the woman at the well who has encountered the living water that never runs dry. I write like a child who is still learning to write but with a deep hunger and desire that one day, I, too, will live in the full stature of Christ. So, when He comes, I also will look like him. I write as a broken vessel in need of a mighty saviour. I come empty in need of filling.
I come in my mess, yet I am not willing to redefine Christianity by my inability or carnal standards. But having the faith and belief that if God said it, He would bring it to pass. If you see anything lacking in this little book, please feel free to continue the dialogue on the biblical standards of Authentic Christianity, which I believe is essential for this generation.