Losing Our Religion

An Altar Call for Evangelical America

By: Russell Moore

Narrated by: Russell Moore

Former Southern Baptist pastor and Christianity Today editor-in-chief Russell Moore calls for repentance and renewal in American evangelicalism

American evangelical Christianity has lost its way. While the witness of the church before a watching world is diminished beyond recognition, congregations are torn apart over Donald Trump, Christian nationalism, racial injustice, sexual predation, disgraced leaders, and covered-up scandals. Left behind are millions of believers who counted on the church to be a place of belonging and hope. As greater and greater numbers of younger Americans bleed out from the church, even the most rooted evangelicals are wondering, “Can American Christianity survive?”

In Losing Our Religion, Russell Moore calls his fellow evangelical Christians to conversion over culture wars, to truth over tribalism, to the gospel over politics, to integrity over influence, and to renewal over nostalgia. With both prophetic honesty and pastoral love, Moore offers a word of counsel for how a new generation of disillusioned and exhausted believers can find a path forward after the crisis and confusion of the last several years. Believing the gospel is too important to leave it to hucksters and grifters, he shows how a Christian can avoid both cynicism and complicity in order to imagine a different, hopeful vision for the church.

The altar call of the old evangelical revivals was both a call to repentance and the offer of a new start. In the same way, this book invites unmoored and discouraged Christians to step out into an uncertain future, first by letting go of the kind of cultural, politicized, status quo Christianity that led us to this moment of reckoning. Only when we see how lost we are, we can find our way again. Only when we bury what’s dead can we experience life again. Only when we lose our religion can we be amazed by grace again.

©2023 Russell D. Moore (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Russell Moore tells it straight about how the church has lost its way. Then he shows a path forward, to a Christianity that’s not about fear or anger or political power but about really Good News for all people. This book can help a new generation find the way back to what really matters." —John M. Perkins, civil rights activist, minister, author, One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race

"Russell Moore's gentle, courageous voice has a way of cutting through the clamor of the age, right down to the marrow of what matters—and it’s clear that what matters to Moore, whether he’s writing about theology or politics, comic books or country songs, is Jesus.” —Andrew Peterson, singer/songwriter and author of Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making

“Russell Moore’s Losing Our Religion is head-shakingly good. By the time I’d underlined at least one sentence in every paragraph of the first two chapters, I knew I was reading a book I’d keep within easy reach for years to come. Russ writes with a remarkable blend of clarity, color and candor. More importantly, the ink on these pages is drawn from a deep well of biblical conviction that drives the author’s decisions. Here you go: a gift of gospel-centered sanity in a culture gone utterly mad.” —Beth Moore, author of All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir

An Honest and Hopeful Book

Russell Moore is a stand-out character. He reminds me of Paul, as he could also say “follow me as I follow Christ.” He is aware of his shortcomings and freely admits them, while at the same time freely boasting in Christ and resting in his identity in Him. It gets so wearisome listening to Christians who seem to think they have a charge to take up some sort of fight for God. I think they’ve forgotten that God does not need their help; it is a twisted and worldly view of strength. What a joy to watch Russell stand firmly in His faith, girded with spiritual armor, loving his neighbors well. His speech is always kind and gracious, never belittling others or tearing them down. I would say he is meek, like our Savior: truly strong, steadfast, and self-controlled. I will read this book again and will commend it to others. It is honest and hopeful and important for our age.

An honest internal look at one’s beliefs

The writer has clearly gone through a journey of soul searching of his beliefs and a critical review of the business of Christianity at least within evangelical circles. He gets a bit preachy but it’s his way of making his points and that’s ok. It’s a good read. I fear though that the people who need it most are not likely to pick it up. It’s sad how right wing political operatives have so deeply infiltrated the Christian faith.
My only feedback is he should spend more time with secular people. We are not as lost as he may think we are.

An Amazing Book!

A must read for all!! New believers and old believers. We are never to old to learn truth. Don’t think you know it all! Let the Holy Soirit guide. Ask God to give you a teachable spirit as you listen or read.

A Clear and Needed Call

If you only read one book this summer, make it this one. Dr. Moore diagnoses where we are (as a culture, as The Church, and as Evangelicals in particular), how we got here, and where we are going. Moore speaks with the gentleness of a pastor, with no anger or resentment, no ominous threats, but with the clear, firm warning of a father or a friend. Profound, yet understandable, filled with Scripture references, Moore makes a clear and compelling case, with concrete steps at the end of each chapter. If you have at all felt disoriented or disillusioned or isolated by the social, political, and religious winds blowing through our churches and culture, you will find this book especially reassuring and helpful.

I pray we all heed this doctor's prescription.

Wise, incisive, timely, necessary

Dr. Moore gives us the perfect proportions of personal narrative, in-house critique, and cultural analysis to understand where evangelicalism is and where it might go if followers of Jesus will walk down the aisle again, repent, and surrender ourselves to him.

This made me feel like I’m not alone

Russell Moore put into words what I’ve been silently feeling for years, but felt alone and unable to express. I’m so grateful. I highly recommend this book if you’ve been struggling with “church culture,” and the way it blends with political and social culture. Bonus: Moore’s voice is very pleasant to listen to!

His heroic stance about politics and Trumpism. How he demonstrates the pitfalls of mixing politics & religion.

I loved the explanations of God through the Bible. How he recognizes the need for separation of church and state in a free, democratic society.

A Prophetic Call to Renewal

Losing Our Religion is a Scripture-based appeal to the American church to turn from tribalism to truth, from culture wars to conversion and from nostalgia to genuine revival. Dr. Moore challenges us to put our hope in Christ rather than political power, embrace our identity as exiles and live out our faith in a way that showcases the goodness and beauty of the Gospel. Candid, witty and authentic, this book is a prophetic call for our times!

I appreciate this book & its message

As an evangelical from since the time I can remember, I have found myself unable to fully put into words the frustration and disappointment I feel about my “tribe”. I’m baffled by many of their unbiblical stances and hypocrisy. This book helps put words to my feelings, but not in a way that bashes our tribe, but in a way that is truly calling for their repentance. I will join him in praying for this too.

The American Church is in crisis...

...And this is a powerful discussion. I appreciate the clarity and truth in the diagnosis. im grateful for the encouragement too.