It SHOULD be FREE!

At a loss as to how I should summarize my review for this book, I’m going to compare it to “Finding Nemo.” Okay, now that I’ve struck your curiosity as to how in the world this book compares to “Finding Nemo,” let me explain. I took my 3 and 4 year old boys to see “Finding Nemo” when it first came out…paid the hefty movie price…and walked out after ten minutes. Why?...What kind of children’s movie shows the mother being violently eaten by a barracuda in the first five minutes? It LOOKED like a fun and enjoyable movie! (okay, I’m not fond of Bambi either). Within moments…My kids were horrified. And that’s what I suspect will happen with most people who pick up a copy of this book. After the first few chapters, most readers will want their money back. Christians that are grounded in Biblical faith will find the messenger, his tone, his confusing theology, and choice of presentation to be offensive…and unfortunately, that keeps those who really need the message from hearing it.

Brian Tome, no doubt, has a heart after God’s and he has a message from God to those who are lost. The author wants you to know the love of Christ and grasp the price that He paid to free you from the things that bind you in this world. Brian Tome walks you through what it means to be alive and free in Christ. At times, his message is filled with the Holy Spirit. At other times, his message is corrupted by his drive to be a “straight talker.” (whatever that means) The first few chapters give the impression that as a Christian you don’t have to live life by any “rules.” You can be free! (This kind of freedom comes with a price.) Its message is dangerously careless. I get it. It’s Free Book…but it’s really not. Then the author says in Christ you’re free; stating in the first few chapters that God doesn’t want you to have rules and regulations! But WAIT…by the last few chapters there’s rules and regulations. What happened? Well, the author says there’s no sex before marriage, tithing is a must, and then there’s the ten commandments. (he dances around homosexuality by saying, “there’s a better way to live.) Oh, but drinking alcohol, smoking, and tattoos are okay…just in case you were wondering. In case you think I’m being unjustly critical, here’s an excerpt from the section titled:

FREEDOM IN GENEROSITY pg. 177
“My (Brian Tome) base tip amount is 20 percent. By the way, if you pray before a meal, please do the reputation of Jesus a favor and have a similar baseline tip benchmark. Nothing is worse than someone who advertises Christianity yet is stingy. If you can’t afford a generous tip, stay home with Chef Boyardee or just skip ordering dessert. And if you leave a Bible tract as a tip, it’s only a matter of time until you get hit by a truck. For some, 20 percent is generous. But what I really love is when I’m served by a single mom and I get to tip 25 percent.”

WOW. It leaves you at a loss for words. It’s a shame that any Christian would believe that God sees them as holy and then find it fitting to use offensive language and inappropriate examples to make a point. (now I’ll be labeled a “Bible thumper.”) An inappropriate example that was used would be: calling people “stupid” for only having 5% equity in their house…wow…well you can decide how to react to that one. The author relentlessly drives in the point that to obtain freedom…you need to basically ignore fear. But, isn’t it the “Fear of the Lord that is the beginning of knowledge?!” (Proverbs 1:7) It’s what tells us that our life is valuable in the eyes of God and we shouldn’t be so ignorant as to not wear helmet when riding a motorcycle. (accidents happen-i.e. Chapter 15) Unfortunately, this book just adds to the reasons that “Christianity” has a bad stigma today.

Would I recommend this book to someone who is lost and in need of a Savior…not a chance. (not even if it WERE FREE!) There are MUCH better messengers that have presented the “Good News” message in a way that glorifies God…not causes people to be more confused about Him.

*I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255