God is perfect. Unfortunately, those who populate his Church are not. The result is disillusionment among many church followers which, in turn, leads to cynicism.

Andrew Byers confronts Christian cynicism head-on in a book that has a dual purpose: firstly to point out that cynicism is the wrong way to respond to our disappointment and frustration, and secondly to show us how we should respond to the practices of less-than-perfect churches in a constructive manner.

The book is subtitled: “Following the cynic-saint,” and Byers explores the fine line that exists between outright cynicism and a constructive biblical response.

He points out the failings of the “Pop Christianity” that turns many into cynics in the first place, before exploring the alternatives seen in the Bible – prophets who express anguish rather than anger, sages who expound biblical wisdom, the poets who express worshipful lament, and Christ himself who showed sacrificial embrace rather than cynical rejection.

The Bible contains a number of books that have natural appeal to the cynic – Jonah, Job and, of course, the most depressing of all biblical books, Ecclesiastes. Byers dedicates plenty of space to all these and others as he presents the correct way to respond to the challenge of disillusionment.

Thoroughly recommended to all who have moments when they feel like giving up.

– Duncan Pardon