Robert Sutherland's Reviews > Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough

A pretty affected rant, Bethke gets the essence of the gospel and how many think incorrectly that a works based religion will make one right with God.

His theology is ok but his writing is quite frankly annoying. Maybe it's the 20 something west coast style but he over uses the dramatic triplet. For example

It's free.
And it's life giving.
Will you trust him.

That's ok once or twice but by the 20th time it had gotten on my nerves.

That said he made several excellent points.

All sin is paid for either by Jesus on the cross or by the sinner.

We pray for the presents of Jesus when we really should desire his essence.

His treatment of the unhealthy separation of sacred from secular, especially in the areas of music and art was quite good.

His message was true but I think premature for someone married less than a year to be touting the merits of marriage to the love of his life.

Overall the book was long on the what and very lacking in the how.