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What would the world look like – without Christians? How would it function? The Grace Effect – is a narrative into that world through the eyes of a young child waiting to be adopted. The Vast Differences that the family sees – while living abroad waiting for the paperwork to be approved. - The tag line – “How the Power of One Life Can Reverse the Corruption or Unbelief” refers to the opening and closing chapters of the book – as Larry Taunton shares openly his dinner conversations with Atheists, his public debates thoughts – and the opening and ending of those, and the effect on his colleagues.
This is not a highly Christian Theological Christian Book. There is not a lot of Scripture used to tell people why they should believe in Religion. After all – I know that you can’t use the Bible to prove a faith point to someone who does not have faith in God or the Bible – and so it seems so does Larry Taunton.
What this book is for me – is Historical. It opened my eyes to the history of Russia, the Ukraine, the leaders, WW2, Germany, the pool of decisions made that led to what their countries are today. The wave of Secularism, Socialism, and the extinguishing of religion – of Grace.
I have been pondering these words – had a long conversation with a couple of friends – I want to read the book again – But two facts firmed in my head.
1 – I will no longer call myself a Secular Christian. I’m not sure what I thought that was. Or that I tagged it to myself, but others have. I had done some research last year about Secular Homeschoolers – and really didn’t like what they had to say on their forums. Here I was, tolerating their decision to use curriculum that wasn’t Bible Based, but they were not tolerating my choice to live a faith in Jesus Christ. I realized through these conversations – that Secular came to mean – Absolutely Without the Influence of the Bible, God, Christ. In the book – Atheism and Secularism went hand in hand, not by the Author’s words, but by the words of those he spoke to, who lived in the freedom to stand and shout what they thought from the rooftops, and then created countries of people to follow them, not only in the 900 a.d. time, but today. I am not Secular.
2 – I will not longer tease about Socialism. I will learn more about Socialism, and share what I find with every. person. I . Talk. To. So beware. This is your warning. How Secularism, and Socialism work hand in hand, has been proven throughout hundreds of years to evolve with intention – has left me speechless. (almost). Teasing about wanting socialism because it means the government will mow the yard in front of my house because they want more tourists to come to town – hurts my heart even more. Do you know that you can go just about anywhere in our town, and use a heated lighted restroom with 2-3 rolls of toilet paper in each stall, numerous stalls, up and down the beach? It would be the perfect place for a pregnant woman to reside! I have heard people complain about the toilet paper being out at a beach spot that sees sometimes a thousand people on a Saturday. Really? Why don’t’ we be thankful for heated lighted indoor plumbing with numerous stalls and bring a roll of toilet paper? Sorry. Getting distracted – but I feel like a frog that has been placed in the pan of cold water, and the water is simmering to boil – and we’re all about to get cooked as we stand on what we are entitled to here in America – and we point fingers at who should provide it.
Sigh. Breathe. Focus – Book Review – Right.
The Grace Effect gave me a tiny line – to keep in the front of my mind – when talking to people of other denominations or ideas of how to interpret the Bible – in the end – does it point – to a Grace. A Saving Grace? Is the only objective in the end to have, receive, accept, lean on, the Grace given freely by Christ? And do you know – what people in America are free do do – because they have felt that Grace – that makes them extend Grace to others? The Grace Effect? Food Banks? Health Care? Cookies? Pot Lucks? Wait. Focus. I think I’m hungry.
I am going to read the Grace Effect with a highlighter Pen. It was another book that I read in a day and couldn’t put down. I am going to research more the historical claims made about the leaders in and around the Ukraine. I am also challenging you to read more about it too!
About The Grace Effect:
"Simply defined, the ‘grace effect’ is an observable phenomenon—that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes.”
What does Christianity give us beyond televangelists, potlucks, and bad basketball leagues? Not much, according to the secular Left. The world, they say, would be a better place without it.
Historian and Christian apologist Larry Taunton has spent much of his career refuting just this sort of thinking, but when he encounters Sasha, a golden-haired orphan girl whose life has been shaped by atheistic theorists, he discovers an unlikely champion for the transforming power of grace.
Through the narrative of Sasha’s redemption, we see the false promises of socialism; the soul-destroying influence of unbelief; and how a society cultivates its own demise when it rejects the ultimate source of grace. We see, in short, the kind of world the atheists would give us: a world without Christianity—cold, pitiless, and graceless.
And yet, as Sasha shows us, it is a world that is not beyond the healing power of “the grace effect.” Occasionally infuriating, often amusing, but always inspiring, The Grace Effect will have you cheering for the courageous little girl who shamed the academic elitists of our day.
The Grace Effect
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