Testimony

Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation

By: Jon Ward

Narrated by: Jon Ward

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Jon Ward's life is divided in half: two decades inside the evangelical Christian bubble and two decades outside of it.

In Testimony, Ward tells the engaging story of his upbringing in, and eventual break from, an influential evangelical church in the 1980s and 1990s. Ward sheds light on the evangelical movement's troubling political and cultural dimensions, tracing the ways in which the Jesus People movement was seduced by materialism and other factors to become politically captive rather than prophetic.

A respected journalist, Ward asks uncomfortable but necessary questions, calling those inside and outside conservative Christian circles to embrace truth, complexity, and nuance. He recounts his growing alarm and grief over the last several years as evangelical conservatives attacked truth, rejected personal character, and embraced authoritarianism and conspiracism. He shares his search for a faith that embodies the values he was taught as a child.

Ward's experience and reflections will resonate with many listeners who grew up in the evangelical movement as well as all those who have an interest in the health of the church and its impact on American life.

©2023 Jon Ward (P)2023 eChristian

A well articulated ground level account

As an “old” millennial born in the 80’s and raised in a very conservative home, Jon’s story really resonated with me. His account of the non denominal church’s changes mirrored my own experience very closely. Though I’ve since left the faith, I very much appreciate Jon’s obvious pursuit of truth and dedication to honest seeking. Highly recommend.

A honest look at the modern evangelical church

Jon Ward gives an honest review of the downward spiral of the evangelical church. At one time I saw the rabid support of Trump as the genesis of this phenomenon. I’m coming to the realization it’s only the product of generations of wrong teaching and lazy exegesis to “tickle the ears” of sinful, blind churchgoers. May God have mercy on us.

Best book I’ve read regarding current issues with the evangelical church

So many of the author’s experiences struck a chord with me. And his faith is still intact. It is now much clearer to me why I had to shift from an evangelical church to a more traditional and historically grounded church.

SURPRISINGLY GOOD

Was not expecting the raw honesty about the current church from evangelical Christian. It rips the bandaid off and addresses how the church has sought power over discipleship and salvation. I just wish someone would be honest about the foundation of racism and oppression the whole movement is founded on. Blaming the lies of the current leadership is not the root cause for how they are leading a whole generation to hell.

A great account that many of us identify with.

This is a therapeutic read for someone who feels disappointed and abandoned by the church over recent years. I may never understand why the church changed into what it is now, but this book clearly outlines the events that brought us here.

Read it for the SGM commentary...

...Stayed for the thoughtful critique of western evangelicalism and Trumpism. Just a few years younger than the author, I grew up in the same era of sovereign grace churches and experienced spiritual abuse as a woman in that context that I'm still recovering from. It is validating and healing to hear other's stories, and in turn, part of my story told. I appreciated how he wove together his personal story with the larger narrative occurring historically and politically. Great read!

Was Jesus Conservative or Democrat?

I like the wide ranging analysis of the pitfalls of fundamentalism and the exploration of what it really means to live as a Christian and take the Bible seriously. Not just in verse by verse application but it’s full message. Jesus was partly Democrat - served the poor, supported the marginalized loved all to brung the too Him. And Conservative never ever supporting sin. Abortion should not be the only important value. Providing education about relationships and the self worth of a sexually moral life would go far.
Thank you Jon
I don’t live in the US so it was good to hear a “local” address a phenomenon which seems incomprehensible.

He read my mail

I came to Christ at age 28. From age 31 to 65 I was a first hand witness to the Sovereign Grace ministries saga. The refusal to accept an outside, independent investigation on the issues the ministry faced was the last straw. Our Frisco, TX church pulled out of Sovereign Grace. I’d witnessed an absolute lack of grace when it came evaluating pastoral performance so the mere where numerous pastors I liked and respected that were suddenly gone. I spent years pushing aside my suspicions of leadership abuse on CJ’s part, being suspicious of my own long time problems with authority figures. I’m grateful to Jon Ward for writing this book, for the details I didn’t know that he provided,for the 20,000 foot perspective on the broader trends and errors in the evangelical movement, and for his advice to be a people that thinks deeply, and doesn’t follow leaders blindly, whether in the church or in the secular realm. If we are truly to be salt and light, we have to engage the world thoughtfully.

I’ve been waiting for a book like this!

I felt so alone and confused among my evangelical friends and family during the election and presidency of Trump. When he was running for office it’s like they were living in an alternate reality that never set right with my spirit. My own church went through upheaval at this time as well and I’m still recovering from it and trying to find a new church home where I fit in. This book is a must read for anyone who has been involved in Evangelical Christianity, loves someone who has, or just wants to understand how our country has devolved into a fight to hang on to the democracy we’ve take for granted. Thank you Jon for sharing your testimony.

A MUST read for Christians

This is the book that attached dialog to my frustration about current events in the Christian community. Especially in regards to our current political climate. So well done! Thank you Jon and please keep writing. We’ve never needed your insights more than now. God bless ya pal.