Together For The Harvest
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Week of Prayer 2009
Book Review
SO YOU DON’T WANT TO
GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE
Wayne Jacobsen with Dave Coleman
Reviewer Neil Cook
Two things initially grabbed me about this book: first its arresting title and second its brevity. It’s a fictional narrative about a jaded assistant pastor, Jake, whose world is turned upside down the day he meets the mysterious John, who just might be one of Jesus’ original disciples still alive in the 21st century.
The book chronicles the conversations they have over a turbulent four year period
of Jake’s life which transform his attitude to God and to church. The author uses
the conversations between Jake and John to discuss his views on what is wrong with
institutionalised Christianity and to present his clarion call to refocus on authentic
relationships with God and people. He successfully identifies many of the reasons
why we feel frustrated with church and critiques the way we so often run activities
such as children’s church and so-
Whilst it is written from an American evangelical perspective, the debate often feels
real and the underlying principles generally relevant to church in this country.
The use of narrative makes the discussion accessible and the fact that Jake’s initial
attempts to implement what he’s learnt from John go so horribly wrong add to the
authenticity. On the downside, Jacobsen’s vision for church (or “body life” as he
calls it) is perhaps too individualistic and narrow. Also, the narrative can be very
contrived: at some points Jake appears little more than the stupid foil to allow
John to espouse Jacobsen’s wisdom. Nevertheless, as an easy, quick read, this book
succeeds in asking some big questions and challenges us to re-
Published by Faith Words, 2008
ISBN 978-
