Book Review: Renovate by Leonce B. Crump Jr

Many in the Christian community, in particular the United States, think that they can not be missionaries because they do not believe God is calling them to leave their home to a foreign land. There are some pastors who love serving their churches but have not love for their city. They love the position, but not the potential in seeing the gospel spread in their city.

What will it look like if our lives reflect the glory of God where we live? I am not just talking about our homes, but the city where we live, the place we work, and the stores we shop in. Leonce B. Crump Jr. address this in his book, Renovate. This is not a self-help book where we want to work things out to make a better version of you or a new you. This book is about going about in our daily lives for the glory of God. Christians should desire to make their cities better.

Christians think why should we seek to make our cities better or even our world better. They think God will wipe it out. God loves the world so He sent Jesus, and now He sends us. Crump writes, "God wants to win the world, not destroy it! God's ultimate desire is to restore the world, not wipe it away. The world is not an evil place needing to be renewed, to be restored, to be renovated."

Crump goes on to say that when you and I are gone, history will continue. Jesus will return to consummate the world, yet while we are here, we need to reflect the glory of God. While we are here, we need to share the gospel with everyone. The church has a responsibility to be salt and light to the world. The church is the embassy of heaven on earth and, as Crump puts it, "God's redemptive agent in the world and nothing less." The church is also a new community, a new people based on the finished work of Christ on the cross.

The challenge of the book is for the Christian to engage in their neighborhoods. The challenge is for Christians to love where they live. This is challenge is not just for Christians who currently live their cities but also for ones who are moving to new cities whether in America or another country.

Thanks Waterbrook Multnomah for letting me review this book.