Title: Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus
Author: John MacArthur
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
Date: 2003
Rating: five stars out of five

What this book is / is not
Hard to Believe is a powerful, gut-punch examination of the church in America today, and how far it has gone astray of the true message of Christ in the quest to be popular and appealing. MacArthur says quite plainly what should be done about it: return to the Bible, where the cost of believing in Jesus Christ is high but the reward is priceless.

This book is not a soft-spoken call to action along the lines of a populist preacher like Billy Graham. Instead, it is a slap upside the head with a two-by-four. Like it says on the dust cover, “There is no user-friendly, seeker-sensitive gospel. There is only the truth.” This book does not treat “mainstream” Christianity with sensitivity or gentleness, but with bluntness and anger.

This is also not a political book, nor does MacArthur concern himself with American politics in any way. Instead, he attacks the “easy believism” that is destroying the church.

Main thesis
Hard to Believe is one of the hardest-hitting Christian books ever written, designed to force Christians to face the reality of the gospel, and not the dangerously cheap and easy—and ultimately futile—“Christianity lite” that has gripped so much of the church in America today. 

The author does not apologize for the hard truths of Christianity, nor does he water them down to appeal to a wider, more accepting audience. That would of course, defeat the purpose of the book.

There’s so much packed into this book that a brief review seems almost unfair. MacArthur examines several late 20th century/early 21st century phenomena that are undermining the church: “self esteem,” popularity, tolerance (the modern definition), chasing miracles, one-step altar calls with false assurances of salvation, the desire to be satisfied in this world, and so on. All of these trends, fads, social political movements, sincere religiosity based on either worldly matters or gross perversion of scripture, are undermining the Body of Christ. They're leading seasoned and new believers astray, MacArthur writes, because people are not adhering to what God has laid out in the Bible. 

So what is “hard to believe” about following Jesus? And what is the “high cost” and “infinite value”? The latter is easy, of course: eternal life with the Master Himself. But why is the gospel hard to believe? Aren’t millions upon millions of people around the world Christians? Well…yes, but as MacArthur says, many of them will be tragically surprised to discover that they really aren’t saved when they die, because they’ve bought into cheap grace or a false gospel or an easy answer. For example, saying a simple prayer asking Jesus to come into your life, but then living your life as if nothing had just transpired, changes absolutely nothing. Or calling yourself a Christian while you still pay homage to the Hindu gods earns you a place on the wide road to destruction. Jesus Himself warned that on the Day of the Lord many will call “Lord! Lord!” and cry that they had worshiped Him and performed miracles in His name, but Jesus Christ will send them away, saying that He never knew them.

But what makes the gospel hard to believe? The “foolishness” of the cross, for one, MacArthur writes. Paul faced this in his own day, by focusing on a crucified Savior—when crucifixion was the most shameful, degrading way for a man to be killed. Only criminals died that way, and "polite society" never even talked about it. But Paul would always come back to the cross. Even today, liberal scholars insist that Christianity must do away with the cross and try to discredit Biblical Christianity, to replace it with something that feels good.  (It is one reason why Christians owe a debt of gratitude to Mel Gibson for his movie The Passion of the Christ, regardless of what you think of Mel Gibson the man.)

The gospel is also hard to believe primarily because it makes people uncomfortable. In its true form, as Jesus and the apostles and Paul preached it, it is offensive. God, nailed to a tree? Turn the other cheek? He who will be last will be first? The wheat will be separated from the chaff? There’s nothing I can do to save myself? Being “good” doesn’t get me to heaven? I can’t go to God, He comes to me? Eat my flesh, drink my blood? (And for the modern man, God created the world, not "chance" and evolutionarty forces?) It’s all offensive to the human mind.

When Jesus was actually speaking the gospel, and challenging them on their religiosity, people were often so enraged at what He was saying—and thoroughly not understanding, to boot—that they tried to kill Him on several occasions! (See John 8 and Luke 4 for examples in full context.)

Liberal denominations, some mega-churches and some populist preachers often preach a feel-good gospel, a superficial faith, something that only scratches the surface. Their focus is on politics, or society, or feeling good, or health and wealth, or this world—instead of where it should be focused: the cross, Christ crucified for our sins and for our salvation. The full gospel itself is rarely preached; instead, a watered-down message is offered so people aren’t scared away. Hard truths aren’t taught, hard lessons go unlearned, and people remain ignorant of the truth of the gospel, MacArthur writes.

And the high cost comes from following Jesus as He meant it. It often means ostracism from some friends, and even some family. It means, today, being called “intolerant,” a “bigot,” “narrow-minded,” etc. It means being hated by some, even many, because the world hated Him first. Looking around the nation today at the incredible hate thrown at ordinary Christians by unbelievers, it’s not hard to imagine. It means destroying your old self and becoming renewed in Christ—which can lead to the above-named ostracism, “intolerance,” etc.

MacArthur concludes his book on a note of hope and ultimate victory, that although many will end up on the wide road to destruction—often unwittingly and tragically so—there are a few (relatively speaking) who are on the narrow path to salvation. It is the narrow path alone that saves, as there is only one true path: through Jesus Christ. 

Jaw-Dropper
It’s a jaw-dropper that a book like this need to be written today: not a defense of the exclusivity of Christianity against, say, Islam or Buddhism (see MacArthur's Why One Way?, also reviewed below), but a defense of Christianity against itself. The lack of proper Biblical education—nay, often the lack of any Biblical education in “mainstream” denominations—and the thirst for easy spiritual answers, easy spiritual comforts and easy Christianity that matches leisurely American consumer lifestyles is wrecking the church in America. Hard to Believe and similar books, sermons, and face-to-face talks between Christians are critical to renewing the church in America. 

Does the author succeed?
Yes. This is easily one of John MacArthur’s best works.

Criticism
First, a production criticism: a topical index would be helpful for subsequent printings.

Second: This is a well-reasoned and logically organized book. It is the culmination of four decades of observation and ministerial teaching of John MacArthur, and combines themes that can be found in sermons and other books, such as Why One Way?.

The only criticism is a relative dearth of examples from the Christian world on where things are going wrong; MacArthur relies more in general observations. I’m not necessarily looking for names (for example, see Hank Hanegraaff’s Christianity in Crisis and Counterfeit Revival) but more concrete examples of the problems. But the lack of examples is only a minor problem, and doesn’t detract from the overall theme, especially because some of the concepts are so well-known in America—and the church—today.  

Main takeaway lessons
There’s so much to absorb in this book that picking only a few lessons is difficult.  But here’s the biggest thing: Christianity is not about a physical building that you show up at on Sundays. It isn’t about a great-sounding band with excellent guitar riffs. It isn’t about making you feel good. It isn’t about your self esteem, nor is it about accepting your “lifestyle.” It isn’t about saying a one-time prayer and thinking you’re “covered” and will automatically go to heaven. It isn’t about making you happy. It isn’t about making you wealthy and healthy here on earth.

Christianity is not just one of many ways to God.

It is all about Jesus, with you destroying your old self and taking up your cross to follow Him. Doing so, in the way that He says, is difficult, but the reward is beyond calculation.

Do I recommend this book?
YES. If you are a “mainstream” Christian or one who would consider himself or herself  “open-minded” or “tolerant,” you will probably be offended by this book, because it most likely flies in the face of everything political you hold dear. Even though politics isn’t the point of Hard to Believe, it has a strong message for denominations that are primarily concerned with politics and the social movements of today.

But please understand, your faith isn’t about politics, or even about America. I recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about the church in America, and ultimately about his or her soul.