Review of Real Church

Real Church: Does It Exist? Can I Find It? By Larry Crabb

Real Church is a great work. Larry Crabb accurately portrays the problems with western Christianity. He does not demean or tear down the “Church”, he just challenges the assumptions that many have about the church, but were afraid to share. Larry says what others are not brave enough to voice. He becomes very transparent sharing his feeling about and toward church. This work does more than just diagnose the issues and problems facing “the church”, it challenges the reader to do some deep soul searching and to evaluate church not from the perspective of how well does it make one feel, or if its meeting felt needs but to evaluate church in regards to what does church mean to God. Crabb writes: “Is it possible, is it conceivable, that going to church and pasturing a church might mean to God something very different from what they mean to us?” p. 6. As Larry Crabb continues to unpack this question through out the book, the reader will find himself or herself asking some very soul searching questions.

This book is not for the faint of heart, neither is it another book on church health. This book will leave you scratching your head, asking questions, and maybe even downright mad. This work is a call to all church leaders, pastors, that are tired of doing to church to look and realize that there is more to “church” than just going, doing, or acting like the church. Be ready to think, and pray as you read. This book will challenge you to see church like you never have before.