{"product_id":"baal-and-the-gods-of-more-rescuing-church-growth-from-idolatry-paperback","title":"Baal and the Gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eAndrew Root\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy the Endless Pursuit of \"More\" Won't Save the Church\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn an era of church decline, pastors and ministry leaders face intense pressure to grow--more attendance, more influence, more reach, more budget. But what if this relentless pursuit of \"more\" is actually a form of modern idolatry?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eBaal and the Gods of More\u003c\/i\u003e, leading practical theologian Andrew Root challenges everything you thought you knew about church growth and success. You'll discover how to\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e● \u003cb\u003eidentify the hidden idolatry\u003c\/b\u003e embedded in modern church growth strategies and learn why bigger isn't always better in God's kingdom;\u003cbr\u003e● \u003cb\u003eunderstand the historic roots\u003c\/b\u003e of America's church growth obsession through economic theory, cultural philosophy, and the industrial revolution's lasting impact;\u003cbr\u003e● \u003cb\u003ebreak free from toxic comparison\u003c\/b\u003e and the exhausting cycle of innovation, influence-seeking, and numbers-driven ministry that's burning out church leaders;\u003cbr\u003e● \u003cb\u003erediscover biblical wisdom\u003c\/b\u003e from 1 and 2 Kings that reveals how ancient Israel's fertility god worship mirrors today's church growth addiction; and\u003cbr\u003e● \u003cb\u003eembrace a radical alternative\u003c\/b\u003e focused on divine action, relational encounter, and theological depth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRoot reveals how Protestant churches have become dangerously dependent on growth-driven stabilization, a mindset inherited from the industrial revolution's golden era. He draws striking parallels between ancient Israel's worship of Baal and other fertility gods and the contemporary church's obsession with expansion. Just as the Israelites turned to false gods promising abundance, today's church often looks to secular methodologies, innovation strategies, and growth techniques as saviors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis provocative book argues that creativity, innovation, and endless strategizing won't save declining churches. Instead, Root calls the church back to dependence on divine action and genuine relational encounter with the Word of God.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePerfect for pastors, church leaders, students, and anyone concerned about authentic ministry in a post-Christian culture, this book offers a theologically grounded path forward that trades growth metrics for God's presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy the Endless Pursuit of \"More\" Won't Save the Church\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this moment of church decline, we often believe that what will save us is getting more--more people, more influence, more reach, more money. But this modern temptation opens us up to an ancient idolatry. This book reorients us toward a deeper relational and theological way of thinking about the future.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Root delivers a stinging rebuke to Western Protestantism, exposing how our fixation on growth has succumbed to a relentless logic of escalation that mirrors the ancient worship of Baal. He argues that our frantic obsessions with innovation and identity politics are merely two sides of the same capitalist coin, driving the church to trade the obedience of faith for the exhausting pursuit of 'doing better.' Root calls leaders to look to Mary as the clearest teacher of a noninstrumental, relational ecclesiology revealed in the scandalous weakness of the cross.\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eGerardo Mart?\u003c\/b\u003e, Davidson College; coauthor of \u003ci\u003eThe Church Must Grow or Perish: Robert H. Schuller and the Business of American Christianity\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Root interrogates the pastoral temptation to turn from Christ toward the market ideology of escalation as a means of salvation for our congregations. Drawing on 1-2 Kings, he exposes the seductive allure of modern fertility gods and urges pastors to recognize that these gods cannot produce the deep, abiding sense of God's presence found in relational ministry. Root calls pastors to trust in the God who gives rest, to practice relational ministry as the work of the Spirit, and to believe that such faithfulness is enough.\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eRev. Carol McEntyre\u003c\/b\u003e, senior minister, First Baptist Greenville, South Carolina\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Paul says plainly of the church, 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.' Yet few concepts and phrases are as fraught with misunderstanding, idolatrous hopes, and lousy theology as the discourse about church growth. In this tour de force, Root shows how our chasing of the fertility gods ancient and contemporary underwrites a sterile faith. Take and read!\"\u003cbr\u003e--\u003cb\u003eDerek Nelson\u003c\/b\u003e, Wabash College\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAndrew Root\u003c\/b\u003e (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He writes and researches in the areas of theology, ministry, culture, and younger generations. Root is the author of \u003ci\u003eEvangelism in an Age of Despair\u003c\/i\u003e, the six-volume Ministry in a Secular Age set, and more than a dozen other books. He also serves as staff theologian at Youthfront, is a frequent speaker, and cohosts the \u003ci\u003eMinistry in a Secular Age \u003c\/i\u003epodcast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 272\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.72 x 8.94 x 6.1 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 21, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52043893014829,"sku":"9781540970060","price":30.89,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/baal-and-the-gods-of-more-rescuing-church-growth-from-idolatry-paperback-9024509.webp?v=1780171025","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/baal-and-the-gods-of-more-rescuing-church-growth-from-idolatry-paperback","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}