Too often, Christianity is presented merely as a set of propositions or as a philosophy of life. Although this is no doubt true, it is not the whole story. Christianity is also something to be “experienced.” Unlike other world religions, the founder of Christianity is alive and victorious, and He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside every believer (1 Cor. 3:16). How could this not produce what is otherwise known as “experiential Christianity”?

The Christian world is hungry for clear, sane, balanced, and scriptural teaching on the subject of warm orthodoxy. You could also call this “living” orthodoxy, as opposed to an orthodoxy which is dead or dry. Modern Christianity has had much to say about a great deal of topics, but when it comes to spiritual experience, it has been strangely quiet. Thus, most Christians are malnourished in this area. We seem to believe that the only two options out there are the radical enthusiasts on the one hand, or a god of deism and rationalism on the other. Little wonder, then, that the average Christian is so hungry for a balanced treatment.

Such hunger was shown to me by the great interest and appreciation that two articles I wrote for DesiringGod have generated both publicly and in private, along with a series of articles on “hyper-cessationism” which I did for Reformation21. Numerous conversations I’ve had with both well-respected and less-known Christian leaders over the last several years have demonstrated the same thing. People are starving for treatments on warm and experiential Christianity. Whether this book answers the call or not, I will let the reader decide.

The purpose of this book is not to berate those whose Christianity has grown cold and censorious, or hard and sectarian, since this is a temptation for any of us. Rather, it seeks to identity sources of dead orthodoxy for the sake of restoration and renewed vitality in the spiritual life. It seeks to awaken what is asleep. It seeks to soften the hard edges of tribalism, sectarianism, and pride. It seeks to point people to God, since He alone can work in us “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

This book is written for myself, first and foremost, knowing how dry and calloused my own Christianity can be. But perhaps it can also be useful for others, especially those whose Christianity needs to be channeled in a more “vivified” direction. Each chapter concludes with several study questions to be used corporately or for personal edification.
Whatever our shortcomings are at present, God is not done sculpting the Christian into the image of His Son. Such a fact makes the writing of this book worthwhile, no matter how the Lord uses it. To Him alone be the glory.