| The Master Plan of Evangelism - Robert E. Coleman This book is a quandary to me. The ideas -- the actual teaching within it-- is quite excellent. Mr. Coleman's study of the strategy of Jesus in building up disciples is solid, and feels like the missing piece in the foundation of the modern church. I truly wish more people would consider this plan for discipleship, as demonstrated by Jesus and exposited by Coleman. But I hesitate to lend this book to anyone, as much as I want to spread the good ideas, because the writing is absolutely horrendous. At times his style feels like doctoral dissertation, at times just paranoid and defensive. His language is sexist ("Men were his method"), combative (Jesus' plan for "the conquest of the world") and sometimes downright forbidding. I know many people who have gotten so caught up in the language, the valuable teaching gets entirely lost. So. Read it for the ideas, and ignore the language, if you can. I don't think any of Coleman's offensive habits are ideological problems, just careless and sloppy writing. It's one thing to have a good idea; it's another to put it on paper in a way that will reach a million people of varied demographics. The first is here; the second isn't. But let's try hard not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. |