Why Churches Die, a review

Mac Brunson & Ergun Caner, Broadman & Holman, 2005, 210 pp.

reviewed by: T. C. Pinckney                                                                    Vol. XIX, No. 2, February 2006

This excellent paperback deals with miseries of ministers, diseases of the dedicated, and symptoms of the saved. The authors are both well experienced, each having served at four churches. Brunson is now pastor of First Baptist, Dallas, and Caner is dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary of Liberty University. Clearly and interestingly organized and written, Why Churches Die, Diagnosing Lethal Poisons in the Body of Christ is valuable for both clergy and laymen.

The authors call on their biblical knowledge and pastoral experience to begin every chapter with an account of a real (and unfortunate) church situation. They then provide perspective with Scripture that address the same type problem and/or points to its avoidance or solution. Frequently the reader is amused because he recalls similar events from his own church experience.

Brunson and Caner say in chapter 1 that, “The purpose of this book is to expose the diseases, poisons, and ailments found in almost epidemic proportions in almost every church. ... Rather than waiting until the death of a church, fellowship, or friendship, and performing an autopsy, we believe it would be better to diagnose the problem while the church still has a chance of recovery.” The last chapter has some suggested questions for group study sessions, one way the book can be very helpful.

And that summarizes the book’s focus: to help churches cure dysfunctional situations and recover to healthy, centers of outreach, discipleship, and ministry rather than withering away.

You need to read this book and think about its lessons. Available from your Baptist Bookstore or online at www.BroadmanHolman.com $12.99.