Spilt Grape Juice

by Mike Root

This book, like Radical Restoration, is one that is seen by some as a God-send and by others as blatant heresy. I’ll reserve the decision for you to make on your own.

To summarize it in the author’s own words: “Christians assemble because they need to be together. The elements of their togetherness should include encouraging, equipping and enjoying, things that cause evangelizing. When these things happen, God is glorified because of our obedience to His directions” (163). That may sound harmless enough, but he spends much of the remainder of the book hiring hits on all of our sacred cows, primarily the “temple worship” mentality that is so prevalent among Churches of Christ.

As I said in reference to Radical Restoration, there is a right way and a wrong way to read this book. And it is the same here as it was there. If you either jump headlong into his argument in its initial convincing sound without critically studying it, you’ve mishandled Root’s message. Likewise, if you dismiss it as heretical without giving it a proper hearing and considering it (and our traditions) against what the Bible teaches, you’ve mishandled his message.

It is entirely proper for things that we’ve always done to be questioned. It is the task of the reader, then, to honestly weigh that message against God’s word to see if change needs to take place. I found this book to be challenging and stimulating and very much worth my time to read. Beyond that, I’ll leave it to you to read and consider on your own.

The Editors do not advocate everything taught by the authors of the books we review. Like us, these authors are fallible humans and those who choose to read these books should measure them by the bible, the one true standard.