Letters from Francis Chan

I find Francis Chan annoying—and I mean that as a compliment. He takes the Bible with utmost seriousness, trying not to explain it away so that it better coordinates with contemporary life. He strives to apply its teaching in direct and effective ways in his setting. So he ends up challenging some of our beliefs and practices about church, social justice, evangelism, children, and so on. He forces me—a Christian of the liturgical tradition—to think more deeply about my own church preferences and practices to make sure they are biblical. This interview, occasioned by his new book Letters to the Church, gives a good flavor of his approach to ministry.