We all struggle with it - the apathetic, "blah" attitude that creeps into our lives concerning our Christianity. What we need to do is stop going through the motions. Quit Going to Church by Bob Hostetler outlines 12 areas where Christians can struggle with apathy. Some of his chapters are "Quit Saying Your Prayers," "Quit Reading Your Bible" and "Quit Trying to Be Good."
In the introduction, Hostetler states the book is "about identifying and correcting the way we have forgotten - or departed from - the way of Jesus." It is about throwing off the fetters of religion and focusing on why we have faith in the first place. It's about losing the mindset of going to church or praying. It's about changing your mindset to fellowshipping and living out your Christianity with other believers and sitting down and having a chat with our majestic Father.
A word that Hostetler uses a lot in his book is "Churchianity." This is what our Christianity becomes when we go through the motions and forget the meaning and passion behind our actions. Readers are warned about following Churchianity because it is a religion with good intentions, but works become the focus. As Ephesian 2:8 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
Quit Going to Church is mainly for Christians who have been going to church for a good portion of their lives. It is meant to rekindle the passion that those readers may have had at the beginning of their introduction to the faith. Even so, the book is a great read for Christians at any level. It is humorous at times and convicting at others. The 12 chapters all end with a prayer and are perfect for a daily or weekly study.
Bob Hostetler is a pastor and speaker who has written 27 books. He is known for his book American Idols and the book he co-authored with Josh McDowell, Don't Check Your Brains at the Door.
Whether you are in need of a devotional study or something to read in the bathroom, you need to check out this funny, captivating and convicting book! ( )

This is truly a thought-provoking book. Rather than just going through the motions and doing things, Hostetler challenges people to consider the whys of the things we do for our church and for other people. ( )

The Christian church in America is mired in a Christian sub-culture and American culture. One thing that this book speaks to is breaking free from useless forms of religiosity, and practicing actual Christianity. This book confronts many of the reasons that people get comfortable in Christianity, without actually being Spirit filled people. As another reviewer noted, the final chapter really describes what the book is trying to convey.

Very readable book regarding how we often go through the motions of Christianity instead of actually following Jesus. With a bold title to get your attention - "Quit Going to Church" - the chapter titles take you aback a bit as well - 'Quit Saying Your Prayers', 'Quit Fellowshipping', etc.

The author is not actually saying to stop going to church per se, but rather to not just go to church out of habit or obligation. Same with praying, reading the Bible, etc. Not just doing it as an obligation, part of the Christian life that we signed up for. We need to be engaging with God and other people with authenticity. Not just putting on an act of being nice.

My favorite chapter was probably the 'Quit Enjoying Worship'. Too often we make our worship about us - what makes me feel good or what kind of music I like or can best worship with. Worship is not about us!
"True worship is worship that focuses on God. On his enjoyment, not ours. That is why I say: quit enjoying worship. Because your worship - if it is truly worship - should be focused not on what you 'get out of it' but on what God gets out of it.
"We tend to approach worship as consumers, in which the focus is on our experience. Sometimes, even as we claim to be singing for the glory of the risen King, we're actually singing for our own enjoyment and fulfillment." ( )

Bob Hostetler has startled us all with his latest title ‘Quit Going to Church’ don’t be thrown off by the title though, this book will take your beliefs to a new level. Those nicely packaged ideas and beliefs of what you should and should not do will be turned on its side and emptied out through each chapter. Just like the title, each chapter will give you a shock and sometimes make you apprehensive to continue reading, do not let that be a reason to stop you. With chapters titled Quit Going to Church, Quit Volunteering, Quit being Nice, and Quit Enjoying the Worship you will be challenged in each chapter realizing that we have allowed culture to define Christianity and fallen into a habit of how we believe we are supposed to act.

Hostetler tackles each chapter head on, you will laugh at his wit and humor that is thrown in the most unlikely places, be convicted realizing you’ve let yourself turn your faith into a habit, and grow in your faith because of this book. Hostetler uses scripture to support each statement and turns to the Bible to answer questions. Hostetler approaches each chapter sharing his own stories and experiences and shares ways to help us refocus and turn our eyes onto the Jesus of the Bible, not the Jesus we have squished into a box to fit into what we want Him to be. This is a very informative read that you will find relatable without feeling condemned. I highly recommend ‘Quit Going to Church’

This book was provided to me complimentary from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ( )