Carter Conlon - The 180 Degree Christian: Serving Jesus in a Culture of Excess

I dont know of any subject that is more pertinent and relevant to the moment in which we live. It is something that, as true Christians, we observe in our daily life and are sometimes frightened by the way our culture has influenced the Church. This work is certainly timely and of benefit to any Christian who wants to walk the biblical way. I have known Pastor Conlon for many years, and he lives this life as well as the church he shepherds. His life and devotion to God attest to the fact that the subject matter hes dealing with is relevant for our times. I highly recommend the reading of this great work.

L. John Bueno

Executive Director (Ret.), Assemblies of God World Missions

I have had the opportunity to hear Pastor Carter Conlon speak on a few different occasions, and each time I was impressed at how he was always able to bring the message home to the people. He was discipled by my dear friend and spiritual father, David Wilkerson. I am just so thankful for the legacy of strong Bible-based preaching and ministry that Pastor Carter brings to Times Square Church.

Nicky Cruz

Nicky Cruz Outreach

I have great respect for Pastor Conlon and have countless times been blessed by Gods work through him.

Beth Moore

Living Proof Ministries

Pastor Carter Conlon is a true man of God who lives what he preaches. He has been given a special anointing of the Holy Spirit to deliver the Word of God with straightforwardness and authority, yet with mercy and grace. When this man preaches, you know you have truly heard from Gods throne.

David Wilkerson

World Challenge

I have known Carter Conlon for many years and have witnessed his fervent heart for Christ, his love for the alienated and the poor, and his uncompromising attention to Gods Word. You may not feel comfortable with everything he says, but he will force you to think and take your calling seriously.

Dr. Ravi Zacharias

Author and Speaker

THE 180 CHRISTIAN

2012 Carter Conlon

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Bethany House Publishers edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-6606-4

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version.

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NLTScripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

NKJVScripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To all of the precious believers in Christ who have held
to biblical faith and practice in these times. God has heard
every sigh of your hearts as you have watched some of professing
Christianity drift into powerlessness. Your love of truth
will keep you safely in His arms.

And to Teresa, the love of my life and wife of my youth.

by Jim Cymbala

For some years now, believers in Jesus Christ have been forced to face a sad fact: Christianity is on the decline across America. Almost all surveys conducted by Christian pollsters reveal disturbing downward trends as they check the vital signs of Christian churches, the clergy and professing believers. Nationally, average church attendance is decreasing, as is volunteerism to serve others. Hundreds of pastors are leaving the ministry every month, and few who begin as pastors make it to retirement still in the ministry.

Several surveys now confirm what many have suspected: the lifestyles of men and women regularly attending evangelical churches are almost indistinguishable from nonbelievers, as evidenced in their priorities and value judgments. Bible study is less and less part of the normal Christian life. Instead of the Church evangelizing the world, the world and its influence have made deep inroads into Christs Church. In addition, and not surprisingly, some of the largest evangelical denominations have experienced negative growth over the past decade.

In some places, thankfully, signs of Gods grace abound. There are churches that are effectively spreading the gospel and growing numerically. There are many believers who are still clinging to the eternal truths of Gods Word and confessing Jesus Christ unashamedly. But any objective analysis of the big spiritual picture must result in some sobering conclusions: the Christian Church faces radical challenges and problems as we move through the early decades of the twenty-first century.

Radical problems often require radical solutions. In The 180 Christian, Carter Conlon, who pastors The Times Square Church in New York City and travels widely around the world, presents a powerful answer to the current decline of Christianity in our nation, our churches, and even in our own lives. He masterfully analyzes the core spiritual problems that bog us down and shows the way out so we can return to Gods will and blessing on our lives. He makes a clear and convincing case for the need of a 180 turn back to God.

If you tend toward accepting a shallow spiritual lifestyle, this book will make you feel uncomfortable. But if youre hungry for more of Jesus, it will feed your soul and impart fresh inspiration.

Jim Cymbala

Senior Pastor, The Brooklyn Tabernacle

The last word had been preached and the last song had been sung, yet nobody moved. Our Sunday afternoon worship service was over, but it wasnt at all.

Without warning, an overwhelming presence of God moved through our church. Hundreds of people stayed and prayed. Some fell to their knees, others sat almost motionless straight through to the next service.

At that evenings gathering an even more unusual thing happened: Silence. The choir was assembled on stage, but no one was singing the usual praises. Instead, a solemn hush fell over the entire sanctuary. At that point, everyone at Times Square Church, New York City, knew that things would not be going as planned. We put aside every agenda that night other than to seek the face of God.

During that season, we felt led of God to cancel all church eventsour upcoming missions conference, guest speaker appearances, every ministry activity. The Lord was clearly calling us to pray. In fact, months prior, as one of our associate pastors and I were traveling back to the city from upstate New York, I was reading aloud from the book of Hebrews as he drove. The more I read, the more both of us were gripped with an urgency to study this book as a congregation, particularly Hebrews 4:16, which admonishes us to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. We knew it was a mercy call. Something was coming, and God was preparing us so that