Book Review: Be The Message by Kerry & Chris Shook

Kerry & Chris Shook are the founders of Woodlands Church formerly known as Fellowship in the Woodlands in The Woodlands, Tx, which is just outside Houston. There church is one of the fastest growing church in America which now has a television ministry. Together they have written a book called, Be The Message, which is about living for God more and talking about him less.

The idea of this book is to communicate that "You are the gospel." Meaning God has giving you a life message to live out among those who do not know him. Shook begins the first chapter by stating, "I am sick of sermons." Coming from a pastor this is disturbing. Continuing on, Shook says, "I am tired of talking about God. I am tired of hearing about God." This is starting to sound like the confession of one who has turned away from God not someone who loves Jesus and proclaiming the Word. What Shook is communicating in this book is we need to let our actions speak louder than words and even uses the infamous quote (more like misquote) from St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

The rest of book continues to share that our lives are the gospel and how God will give us a life message. Last time I checked, no where in the Bible does it say God will give us a life message. He gives us a gospel to proclaim. Also, since did we become the gospel? The message of this book seems like another attempt to make people feel they do not have to speak when witnessing which is nothing short of laziness and cowardness.

Should our lives reflect the gospel? Absolutely but nothing should replace words. Our demonstrating the gospel follows our proclamation not the other way around. We are not evangelistic mimes using our bodies to communicate the gospel without the use of words. I feel this book is trying to get us to do that. As I mentioned earlier, what Shook said about getting tired of sermons, hearing about God, and talking about God really concerns me. What does this communicate to his church where he preaches? What does this say to the readers that read this book or any of the other books he and his wife have written?

In conclusion, Be The Message is not a book on evangelism. It is a book only to appease what itching ears want to hear. I cannot recommend this book to anyone.

Thanks Waterbrook Press for letting me review this book.