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Many features of contemporary American religion appeal to Wolfe's sensibilities: the way in which the desire to get along with others has created an ethic of tolerance and niceness; the way that Bible study has been so personalized as to effectively block its implications for radical social transformation; the way the fear of offending others has reduced most witness to "lifestyle evangelism." Wolfe also thinks the high degree of "religious switching" is "a kind of insurance policy against bigotry." It is harder to hold prejudices about Catholics or charismatics if you've spent a few years in each of those circles.

Wolfe's analysis correlates amazingly well with observations about the church in general made from different ends of the broad evangelical spectrum—from Will Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas to Michael Horton and David Wells. Something must be done. But what must not be done is to return to a reactionary or imperialistic evangelicalism. Rather, we must nurture an evangelicalism that is truer to its robust heritage.

That heritage includes Bible study that moves beyond personal encouragement to learning about God and his demanding vision for both individuals and society. This means reading the whole Bible and reading it on its own terms—not through the lens of the psychology of self-esteem.

That heritage includes an ethic of self-denial at the core of the gospel: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself." None of our movement's heroes—from Martin Luther to William Wilberforce—achieved what they did without sacrifice.

That heritage includes keeping salvation simple (John 3:16, Romans 10:10), but also keeping sanctification graciously rigorous. Growth in holiness is not an elective, but very much part of the core curriculum of the faith.

Evangelicals have been celebrating their growth in American society. Wolfe notes the way many features of evangelical religion (extempore prayer, small group Bible study, religion of the heart) have become common in both mainline Protestant and Catholic circles. In a sense, Wolfe argues, American religion has become largely evangelical, even where the label doesn't apply.

But success reduces religion to the lowest common denominator. And the pursuit of success often involves a Faustian bargain. Reading friendly critics like Wolfe will raise our consciousness. As Wolfe points out, "At least Faust knew the consequences of the pact he signed."

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The Transformation of American Religion: How We Actually Live Our Faith is available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers. The Free Press website has the book's table of contents and an excerpt.

Other reviews of the book have appeared in The Boston Globe and Martin E. Marty's "Sightings" newsletter

Alan Wolfe's biography is posted at the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College.

Wolfe has written several articles for Christianity Today sister publication Books & Culture, including "Desperately Wicked" and "Why Separation of Church and State Is Still a Good Idea."

In 2000, Books & Culture Corner discussed Alan Wolfe's Atlantic Monthly cover story, "The Opening of the Evangelical Mind."

Another Christianity Today editorial discussed a different Alan Wolfe book.

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October 2003, Vol. 47, No. 10