Any book with a ‘how to pull off a successful side hug’ on the cover is worth further investigation in my opinion. Jonathan Acuff begins his humorously satirical take on Christian behaviour with the words, "If you buy this book, God will make you rich," and doesn’t look back from there. Acuff is a pastor’s kid, long-time church attendee and popular blogger making him the perfect person to explore the funnier side of faith. Or at least prompt Christians to begin to see the funnier side of some of the stranger things we do.
In a collection of over 100 short essays (and several rather amusing illustrations), Acuff pokes an irreverent toe into the waters of issues like holding hands in church, prayer circle etiquette, side-hug techniques and those four famous fob-off words - “I’ll pray for you.” Acuff is not trying to be disrespectful in his keen-sighted observations, but rather attempts to get Christians to lighten up a little before challenging accepted religious behaviour that may lack authenticity.
Some may be offended by Acuff’s more barbed comments, but I found most of what he had to say genuinely amusing even when my own blind-spots were roasted. Acuff favours no one with his essay “Judging Fundamentalists For Being Judgemental” coming quite close to the bone. Acuff lampoons the competitive tendencies of churches in “Feeling Sad for Churches That Aren’t Mega,” while “Not Knowing How To Hold Hands” also cracked me up just because it was so close to my own awkward experiences.
While Acuff’s commentary is directed to the American church, there will be definite points of contact for most South Africans despite the difference in culture. The success of “Stuff Christians Like” is not only that it is funny, but that there is wisdom and insight behind the humour. The author’s satirical edge is founded not on cynicism but rather on a deep belief in the love God has for the church. Acuff desires to see Christians living more authentically within the context of that love. This is why "Stuff Christians Like" tries to declutter faith a little, revealing the wondrously graceful God working within it all. This book will probably challenge you and almost definitely make you laugh, but hey, at the very least it promises to make you rich!