Befriend (a book review and giveaway)

BOOK DESCRIPTION::

Is real friendship too risky?
We live in a world where real friendship is hard to find. Suspicious of others and insecure about ourselves, we retreat into the safety of our small, self-made worlds. Now more than ever, it’s easy to avoid people with whom we disagree or whose life experiences don’t mirror our own. Safe among like-minded peers and digital “friends,” we really don’t have to engage with those who can challenge and enhance our limited perspectives. Tragically, even the church can become a place that minimizes diversity and reinforces isolation.

Jesus models a much richer vision of friendship. Scott Sauls, pastor and teacher, invites you to see the breadth of Christ’s love in this book, BeFriend. Join Scott on this journey through twenty-one meditations to inspire actively pursuing God’s love through expanding your circle of friends.

Scott has met too many people whose first impulse is to fence off their lives with relational barriers that only end up starving their own souls.

Yes, it’s true: Real friendship is costly. Love does make us vulnerable. But without risk, our lives will remain impoverished.

Join Scott in BeFriend as he summons you toward diverse friendship that can enrich your life and, in the process, reveal a better version of yourself.

MY THOUGHTS:::

BeFriend: Create Belonging in an Age of Judgement, Isolation, and Fear was an interesting read. BeFriend offers different ways of belonging to different groups and argues that at it's core we need to "befriend" all people because all people are from God. Author Scott Sauls explore different groups that we may shy away from befriending because they are different than what we deem to be normal in our own lives. Sauls makes the argument and shows us how to examine our lives so that we can befriend all including ourselves, the shamed, sexual minorities, children, family members that we may not get along with, bullies, strangers, refugees and more. 

I appreciate Sauls' approach and he does raise many difficult questions. However, I did not agree with some of his arguments as in certain chapters there seemed to be an underlying theme of judgement against those he argues we are to befriend (ie. being gay is wrong, but who are we to judge even though it is wrong, etc.). That just really did not sit well with me. I did, however, like how each chapter offered personal stories and ended with a summary, a scripture verse related to the chapter and questions to consider. Overall, I would recommend this book if you are looking for a thought provoking look at relationships in your life.

GIVEAWAY:::

If this looks like a book you would like to read, I have an extra copy to give away to one of you. All you have to do is comment that you want to read the book. If more than 1 person comments, then I will use random.org to pick a winner. Unfortunately I can only mail to readers in the USA. Giveaway will end next Friday October 21, 2016 at midnight EST. 

DISCLAIMER:::

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Buzzplant and Ravu Collective. All opinions of this book are my own.