The Slumber of Christianity

Awakening a Passion for Heaven on Earth

By: Ted Dekker

Narrated by: Kelly Ryan Dolan

As believers, our walk with God is motivated by hope, not the bland, vague notion most people have, but the expectation of an exotic, pleasurable inheritance that guides us and fires our passion...or, at least, should.

Ted Dekker has written an expose on the death of pleasure within the Church. Because many of us have set aside hope and the inspired imagination that drives it, Dekker says we have been lulled into a slumber of boredom, even despondency. Our faith wanes, the joy at having been liberated fades, and we feel powerless. The Slumber of Christianity explores what robs us of happiness and how we can rediscover it and live lives that rekindle hope. The pursuit of pleasure is a gift to all humans, a function of the Creator himself, who is bent upon our happiness.

It's time for Christians to reclaim our inheritance of pleasure. The Slumber of Christianity will inflame hearts toward full-fledged, mind-expanding encounters with hope, through the imagination.

©2005 Ted Dekker (P)2005 Oasis Audio LLC

Life changing perspective for long time Christians

I am still chewing on this book. It’s very deep and meaningful and has changed my focus to the hope of heaven and the frustrations I’ve felt with “the church” and religion don’t bother me so much. Only one small criticism is it was a bit redundant and didn’t need to be quite as lengthy. Then again, I do have ADHD, which is why I listen to audiobooks!

An Outstanding Read

As a Christ follower I have been experiencing a revival in the depths of my relationship with my Creator. While drawing close I was perplexed why my experience, although glorious, also seemed blunted, lacking in day to day joy. It seemed mundane outside of my personal worship. I believe the direct answer to my prayer as to why this was came in the form of Ted Dekker's book.

I have dozens of Audible books from authors Yancey, LaHaye, and others. This book is among the best. It truly has renewed my vision. I believe it correctly points out what was ailing me and what is ailing the church today. It points out why we are not living in a radical manner. I want a radical life. This book has immeasurably helped me in my journey and the message has inalterably changed me. To the depths of my soul I enjoyed this book.

A word about the narrator. He totally knocked my socks off. He was, by far, the best of any I have heard. His interpretation was inspired and his reading was simply exquisite.

Great info, tedious performance

What made the experience of listening to The Slumber of Christianity the most enjoyable?

the ideas presented and the practical analogies

Who was your favorite character and why?

no characters - this is a nonfiction work

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator's voice is clear and understandable, but the listening is tedious because this narrator seems far more focused on his performance than on the ideas he's communicating to the listener. Three in our family have listened to this audio book, and all have the same opinion of the performance.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

The focus of Christians should be on Him, on the joy of the Hereafter with Him. We short-change our joy by failing to lift our focus heavenward.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend the printed version for this book rather than this audio book.

I'm waking up!!

I found Ted's book both tremendously refreshing and brutally honest. I appreciate how Ted shares quite candidly about his own spiritual journey and exposes ways in how the Christian church today so often encourages our spiritual slumber. This book has helped point me to a long and forgotten path of putting my hope in heaven rather than things that can never provide lasting and full satisfaction (full pension/401k, bigger house, no debt, obedient children, happy, snappy wife). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is not satisfied with their present spiritual journey.

Perfect timing

This books timing was perfect as I to believe that many Christians are in a slumber. This is the time to wake up. Wake up church, wake up bride make sure you have enough oil, be ready. He hit the mark. I love that he reads his own books so they are well read. I have read many of his books but this is one I know I will read again and again.