I Will: Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian

Statistics on American church membership and attendance are dire, writes Rainer, president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, but don't blame the institutional church or denominations. In this little volume, which enjoins the reader to develop a habit of saying "I will" to church commitment, the working assumption seems to be that church members, left to themselves, treat church like a club that exists to serve them. Instead of focusing on what may be wrong in a congregation, members should assume positive attitudes and resolve to attend church more, share time and finances with the church more generously, and bring friends to church more often. Members should also participate in church groups; Rainer suggests that, if one is not in a group, it's possible that one is an "incredibly lazy and uncommitted Christian." While the basic concept is reasonably sound%E2%80%94people are generally happier when they think less about themselves and more about others%E2%80%94Rainer neither shows the limits of the unconditional "I will" nor addresses alternatives to this affirmation in light of serious church dysfunction or abuse. (July)