"Firsthand: Ditching Secondhand Religion for a Faith of Your Own" by Ryan & Josh Shook

Many months ago I was alerted to a new book in development, challenging those who have grown up in church to not settle for secondhand faith, but to boldly grasp for a deep and personal faith of their own. We're all aware of the statistics that show many young people are leaving the church and their faith after high school and college. Ryan and Josh decided they would try to address what is likely the root of this problem: young adults who know the "right" words to say and the "right" way to act, but have never formed a knowledge of God on their own. Merely following a path doesn't bring joy or fulfillment, and now these are left seeking something more.

Very early in the book the Shook brothers address emptiness, and how often God allows our emptiness to be a gift that draws us to Him. We have to know we're empty before we can treasure being filled by Him. I thought this was an excellent point! I also enjoyed the chapters on divine disturbances (when God puts something on your heart) and community (relationships with other believers in the local church). It's so true that a good church is vital to a believer's life. I loved the following quotes on this subject:

"What should young people be doing with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities." - Kurt Vonnegut

"...We're prepared to make this claim: You can try to live out a firsthand faith on your own for as long as you want, but until you live out that faith in a community, you will never realize your full potential in Christ." - Ryan & Josh Shook

I thought this book was written with every good intention, and was very pleased to find encouragement for myself right where I am now. I enjoyed the short films online that accompanied some of the chapters, particularly the one called "Control." That's a reminder I need every day! To be honest, though, because I'm not in the book's target audience and have already developed a firsthand faith of my own, I couldn't tell you how well this book will received by its intended audience. The goal would be to reach inside and stir something within the reader, and I join the Shooks in praying it will. As I said, it was a blessing to me.  

I received a copy of this book in exchange for participating in a survey by the authors while the book was in its final writing stages. This review is entirely my own honest opinion.