I just finished another book (please hold your applause) that held a deeper message than I originally thought. Anytime I read a book by an author that I haven’t heard of, I tend to put a wall up of cynicism so that I don’t get misled. Not that this wall is always effective, but it can work. The good books generally tear down the wall without any trouble at all.

I had never heard of R.T. Kendall before this book, but I don’t know why. Based on what I read, I should have. I’ll be completely upfront, I figured the book would be a radical run down the church aisle, shout, jump up and down every time the name Jesus is mentioned type of book. Without getting into whether that is right or wrong, that is not me. I am pleased to be wrong about my initial thoughts. “Being Unashamed to Bear His Name” deals with a different type of shame, one that will affect the quiet and loud Christians alike.

R.T. Kendall uses the term stigma to describe the shame that Christians will bear. He breaks it down into different areas, such as being thought of as flat wrong, or even a lunatic. He warns that no Christian is safe from stigmas, they may miss one, but they won’t miss all of them. With each stigma, he explains the reasons behind it, and why it should be held in high esteem.

With all that, I do not share his view of the Toronto Blessing. Admittedly, I have no first hand information on this, but what I have heard does not fit in with what I believe. As R.T. Kendall mentioned, many who read the book will quite possibly find something “offensive.” I would not go so far as to say I’m offended, I just don’t agree.

Overall, the message of being ready for people to not like you because you believe in Christ is something that we all need to be reminded of. I received this book for free from Chosen Books in exchange for my review.