3D Christianity and the Nesses
Introduction
The Christian Community A growing number of evangelical Christians know that there is something wrong in the organized church and in the Christian community at large. We feel unease in our souls and see a huge gap when comparing the Church in the Bible with what we see in the contemporary Christian community. It saddens us when we observe that the evangelical Christian community is seriously fractured and is virtually indistinguishable from the secular culture.
Several years ago I was doing a conference in the Midwest for a group of Christians I had known for many years. During the conference I brought up the sad state of contemporary Christianity at large here in North America. I shared with them that for more than 40 years, as I studied the evangelical Christian community, I was continually struck with how powerless and fractured it was.
In the early 1960s, while I was in seminary, I studied the history of one Pentecostal denomination that was born out of a sovereign work of God in 1904 called the Welsh revival, and the subsequent Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles (1906 to 1915). This denomination was formally organized by 1914, and in the following 50 years, it fragmented into more than 150 other separate 13 denominations, all over differences of theology and doctrine. I showed them an article1 by the consulting group ReligiousTolerance.org reporting that as of 2006 it counted more than 1,500 (yes, 1,500; it is not a typo) separate denominations in North America.
Then, I shared that the incidence of pornography was about the same for the evangelical Christian culture as for the secular culture. For example, in 2003, Focus on the Family did a poll showing that: 47% of respondents said pornography is a problem in their home, 50% of men viewed pornography within one week of attending a Promise Keepers stadium event, and 54% of pastors said they had viewed pornography within the past year. (Article available at http://www.religioustolerance.org)
During my observations over those 40 years, I concluded that much of the evangelical Christian community is indiscernible from the secular culture; it has just as much sickness and disease, anger, bitterness, backbiting, accusation, envy, jealousy, fear, stress, anxiety, depression, dissension, strife, abuse, abortion, and pornography as is found in secular culture.
One of the attendees said to me, “Will, you are being way too hard on the Church.” My response was, “Brother, what part of what I have said is not true? Shouldn’t we be concerned about the sad state of Christianity today? The Christian culture is a reflection of the lives of the individual Christians that make up the culture.” It is clear that the Christian community is in trouble. We, as members of the Christian community, need radical change. We need transformation.
Chapter Nine Problem
Many books we read today have what I call the “chapter nine problem.” The first six to eight chapters are a really helpful hardhitting analysis, spelling out the problem. We agree with the analysis and now we’re fired up and ready to move into the chapters that share the solution and help us get involved. But alas…that chapter or those chapters are lacking or missing altogether.
I call this the “chapter nine problem.” It is not my intent to expound further in this book on the problems within the Christian community. In this book I want to go immediately to chapter nine and explore how an ordinary Christian can participate in the Christian life as God intended from the beginning. The solution to the problem is not organizational—it is an individual heart solution. I believe the solution resides in the answer to this basic question:
“How can we, as believing Christians, fulfill the eternal purpose of God, that we would be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ so we manifest the Life of God in our lives?”
Read more by downloading free copy of this short book (98 pages).
Book Table of Content
A Short Note to My Readers
Introduction
2D Christianity
The Third Dimension
Life and Lives
Spiritual Life
Shadows
Summary of 3D Christianity
The Nesses
Simpleness
Nothingness
Willingness
Puppyness
Featherness
Nextness
Nowness
Forgiveness
Nesses Summary
Finis
What are people saying about 3D Christianity and the Nesses?
Larson speaks frankly about his own search for God and how all the “right” things—including seminary—left him feeling empty. With compassion and humility, he shares the practical ideas and helpful illustrations that God used to draw him into a life-giving relationship. If you’re disillusioned with doctrine and want to connect with the Living God, this book is a great starting place.
—JM, Massachusetts
Dad always said, “a good teacher is one who can take apparently complex issues and explain them to a six year old, without loss of content.” Willis is such a teacher. He cuts through silly religious language, “we understand what we are talking about; don’t we?” He exposes obscure and incorrect church doctrine and obtuse alleged principles which are either misunderstood or do not actually exist at all. Thank You Brother.
— FO, South Carolina
This is a must read for every believer because this book could be as life changing for you as the experience that Saul had on his journey near Damascus. Saul became the Apostle Paul, a chosen vessel, who received his sight and was filled with the Holy Ghost, which enabled him to complete the mission God had planned for him.
—BP, Georgia
Wonderful! Seems one never tires of reading truth as it is presented. It is a moment of reality in this otherwise muddy world of religion and theology.
—PM, Wisconsin
Thank you so much for your manuscript!! We printed it out at church and I am currently reading it. How wonderful that you’ve taken the time to write all your thoughts into a book. I am greatly enjoying reading it and meditating on your words, and just wanted you to know we have indeed received your labor of love and are being blessed through it.
—DB & MB, Nebraska
I just got it! It came in the mail this morning. You really nailed it; I love everything about this book; I can’t put it down. Could you send me two more copies? I don’t want to let mine go anywhere. What a blessing and a joy to revisit our past walk together written in a book I can hold in my hands. Thank you from the bottom of my nephish and chaiim. (Editorial comment: This refers to two Hebrew words for “life” used in the book).
—ES, New Mexico
This is a book that captures the essence of the Christian walk and that will change lives. I am so excited about this book and so glad you finally did it; I want several copies before Christmas.
—PR, Montana