Restored Christianity

By Hayden J. Lane and Donna E. Lane

Book Overview

Restored Christianity, co-authored by a Christian counselor and an historian of early Christianity, integrates historical analysis with an in-depth examination of the current state of Christian belief toward restoring the earliest known, foundational beliefs of Christianity and applying those restored beliefs to contemporary life in order to bring healing to the aspects of today's church that can be detrimental to its members or may keep non-believers away. The authors don't shy away from controversy, challenging both the Church, and individual Christians and non-Christians, to evaluate currently held beliefs and embrace an intimate relationship with God. The authors confront current beliefs about such topics as the nature of God, the mysteries of God, the intention and use of the Bible, the meaning of faith, the sovereignty of God, our purpose, suffering, and the efficacy of prayer. The authors use Paul's letters for their evaluations, based on these documents standing as the earliest known Christian writings. According to the authors, "It became apparent to us that historical knowledge is vital for understanding Christianity, both at the time of its conception as well as today. At the same time, we have witnessed how some of the present-day beliefs espoused by the Church have wounded its members, and given those individuals outside of the Church a negative impression of Christ's character. We wrote this book with the hope of planting a seed that could grow and blossom into a renewed understanding and experiencing of a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ."The 2nd Edition adds 200 pages of information, including a new chapter devoted to prayer. It is like getting two books in one.According to William Houser, Ph.D., author of Who Is This Jesus Christ?, "Restored Christianity may be likened to a purifying process, where the authors, like patient jewelers, heat and purify their material until all the dross has been removed and the simple precious metal remains. Of course, their project and scope is giant in size: finding the elemental core of the Holy Scriptures after separating out centuries of wrongful, if well-intentioned, interpretations which have reduced the pure and simple content of God's Word and Will. The authors work in tandem, one dealing with the linguistic and historic roots of the original Bible writings, and the other setting them in a context of Christian living for today. The effort works, and is gratifyingly successful in helping the earnest reader understand God's intentions, His plans and hopes, and greatest of all, His unconditional love for humankind represented forever by the incarnation and sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ. This is not a Reformed work, or a Protestant work, or a Catholic work, this is a Christian work and is refreshingly focused on the Gospel basics that ignited the world when the Good News was first preached in its truest and most earnest forms to a desperate world." Dr. Colin Harris, Professor Emeritus of Religion, states, "The serious reader...will be led on a theological and historical journey that will both inform and sharpen the perspective for participating in what I'm sure will be one of the major conversations of the twenty-first century. It is an excellent and systematic treatment of central areas of theological concern - a unique blending of rigorous historical/critical scholarship, careful and penetrating analysis of...theological themes and concepts, and creative application to contemporary human experience through a wholesome partnership of theology, philosophy, and psychology. A careful and attentive reader will be rewarded with a new window, or "lens," through which to see and think about concepts that have been a part of religious life for a long time. A reader who has not been around church much will find a challengingly and refreshingly sensible presentation of Christian faith with an appeal not unlike C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1491028092
• ISBN13: 9781491028094
• Release Date: October 2013
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 462 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An enriching, spiritual guide to rethinking one's understanding of faith

Christian counselor Dr. Donna Lane and her son Hayden Lane (a specialist in ancient history) present Restored Christianity, a historical analysis grounded on Paul's letters that calls for men and women of faith to pay heed to the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ. Questioning the modern-day church, and highlighting the value of forming a personal relationship with God, Restored Christianity spotlights the value of historical understanding as well as a rational approach to faith. "I cannot listen to a voice that is not present within me. Thus, before there can be behavior change, there must first be belief. I must receive the gift of the presence of the Holy Spirit in my heart. No amount of effort on my part to make behavioral changes is going to create a "Holy-Spirit equivalent" in me. Highly recommended as an enriching, spiritual guide to rethinking one's understanding of faith, Jesus Christ's teachings, and worship in the light of the Holy Spirit.

Authentic Christianity

The authors of Restored Christianity, Donna and Hayden Lane, have made an earnest and scholarly effort to peel away the layers church groups over the ages have superimposed on top of the original teachings of Jesus and his followers. Very much like a skillful set of technicians viewing a painting in need of restoration, they dissolve these layers with a careful and very readable search for Scriptural truths and foundations, relating Christian beliefs in the context of modern life and thought. This is not a Bible commentary. It is a thoughtful presentation of the Good News without dogma, or creed, or prejudice. Not for the closed minded. Very much for the person in search of truth and grace as offered by Jesus' words and deeds. Highly recommended for the serious Christian reader, and by those seekers genuinely curious about the roots and truths of the Christian message.

Restored Christianity represents the truth and nothing but the truth!

This book will touch your heart. It is my privilege and honor to know the authors and to have experienced the joy of being Cody's friend. He was a wonderful young man who knew God and his savior, Jesus Christ, in a very special way. Donna and Hayden have done a wonderful job in telling you and me(as readers)about the love of God. At Cody's going home ceremony it was my honor to tell the attendees why Cody Lane was my only living hero prior to his passing. The 146 Psalm tells us not to put our confidence in mortal man because if we do we will eventually be disappointed. Cody was truly different and he, in my opinion, was holy and deserved to be a hero as a mortal man. In Leviticus God says: "Be holy for I am holy!" That's a very tall order for we humans; but,Cody Lane was holy and Donna and Hayden explain why. Enjoy the read as I did and Cody will also become your hero! You will be blessed! Jim Adams, Lawrenceville, GA

Who are they talking about?

If you have ever sat in a church service listening to a sermon or had a conversation about Jesus and either of these experiences have left you with the question, "Who are they talking about?"--that's not the Savior that I know and love, then you want to read this book. The authors have an amazing approach to examining and discussing "widely held beliefs" in the church today that don't tell the truth about who God says He is and who God says we are. Above all it is not a "how to book" for knowing Christ but rather an insight encouragement to know that there can be more to your Christian walk than you may currently be experiencing. I would highly recomment this book for small groups and other seekers that would like to examine these "widely held belief" with an open heart and mind,

What a journey

From the very beginning to the very end, your mind and your heart will be captivated by this book. The authors challenge you in ways you never thought of, yet write in such a way to engage you in their journey so you can create one of your own. Extremely deep and insightful, any serious reader must have this book!