Fallen

This was a wonderful and well written book. It deals with everyday and sad occurences in a church. It tells that we are human and that Jesus only can give forgiveness

What a tangled web I read. ..Wow. Fallen grabbed me immediately and did not let go until the final silken strand. Matthew Raley has written a book that may need to become part of seminary curriculum. Maybe Fallen should be required reading for elder or deacon boards. Without heavy discussions regarding theological ideology, or overwhelming use of scripture, Raley manages to wind the reality of truth around cheap grace, religiousity, legalism, licentiousness, grace, forgiveness and accountability. And pride gets the life sucked out of it. Two male characters from different circumstances and generations interact with affection, wariness, concern and pain. I found myself agonizing with Raley's main character ,Jim while he got more entangled with his own thoughts as well as the series of facts and perceived realities. I have been Jim, and I dare say I've been a Dave. I know many will think this is a story about dangerous pastors, but don't miss the point that wound its way around my heart. Our lives are woven and God doesn't miss a stitch. He'll use whatever means to make sure my life is one that glorifies Him. No matter how painful or costly, God will shape the ones He loves and died for. This story is overtly Christian. But with an honest look at religion vs. relationship and enough mind games to entice readers who don't claim Christianity but love cat and mouse games. I'd suggest it to anyone who has ever been burned in church politics, too. Raley is a new author to watch. I'm looking forward going to get my hands on his next novel. I hope it will be soon. Note: Do a Google search for this book because it went through a blog tour. Some didn't like it quite as much as I did and a few didn't even finish it. My opinion is subjective, of course, and I happen to love very introspective reads, especially if they are well-written. Chances are if you have enjoyed other books I've loved, then you will likely eat Fallen up. But if you are drawn toward breathtaking action or bodice ripping romance...maybe not so much.

Fallen by Matthew Raley is a surprisingly good read. Jim, a banker and chairman of his church, sees his pastor, Dave, getting out of a strange woman's Mercedes. First, Jim weighs the pros and cons of talking to Dave about appearances and propriety, then when the bombs start dropping, he has to decide not only what to do about Dave and the church, but also has to re-evaluate his own life and faith. This book started out a little slow for me, Jim does an inordinate amount of internalizing. But as he started making choices, the plot moved forward rapidly, and when I finished reading, I was stunned by the depth and honesty of Raley's writing. The story is told in an almost steady stream of consciousness from Jim's point of view, and as he remembers lessons he's learned, he educates the reader (gently) as well. The themes Fallen addresses: the superficiality of churches, fallen leaders, the fake self we show to the world have been addressed in other books, but rarely with this amount of punch-you-in-the-gut frankness. Jim realizes through seeing Dave's sins that he is equally as guilty of living a lie. He presents a face for the world to see that isn't who he is on the inside. When the mask slips, especially in front of his family, he feels threatened and attacks. The kind of Christianity that Jim (and Raley) embraces at the end is frightening in its authenticity. No masks, no pretenses, just true compassionate, loving Christianity that isn't afraid to talk about sin and death. Raley took my breath away as he took the verse Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one. This book is a wake up call to reject the false Christianity that's easy to embrace and turn to genuine faith that lives each and every day knowing that we are fallen and are only saved by the grace of God.

The office of "Church Elder" does not typically bring to mind images of cloak and dagger operations and political intrigue. But Matthew Raley's "Fallen" taps into the upheaval, deception and doctrinally-charged interpersonal fights that can surface in churches when sinful human natures clash with Biblical commands. I never thought I could learn so much about church leadership by reading a work of fiction. A fun and captivating page-turner, "Fallen" offers a refreshing literary retreat from both the doctrinal treatises of the likes of John MacArthur (I'm a big fan), and lighter fare `flavor-of-the-week' books on Christian living. This narrative by Pastor Matthew Raley teaches while it entertains, providing the escape of a good story -- complete with a believable plotline and well-developed characters -- while at the same time challenging us to consider our own beliefs about church leadership and what it means to obey God. Throughout the entire story I was intrigued and taught by the straightforward and methodical approach to life exhibited by the story's mundane hero, "Jim," who as chair of his church's board of trustees painfully assembles not only the scandalous actions of his pastor, but also the hidden, godless doctrines underlying them. The huckster's milk toast approach to such core Christian doctrines as sin, purity, truthfulness and fidelity lead him to run headlong after wicked vanities while maintaining a pastoral facade. The plot thickens for Jim when his fellow trustees decide that keeping the peace in his church and not rocking the boat is more important than divulging the truth about their pastor's tangled web of lies to the congregation. Raley's own brilliant insights into the thought patterns of present-day American Evangelicals are expressed through the commendable, first-person observations of the story's protagonist, contrasted against the woeful semi-convictions of the shallow pastor. Complete with a casual approach to ministry and post-modern indifference to Law, "Pastor Dave" embodies all the irreverent crowd-pleasing antics and personal licentiousness that have become commonplace in churches today. "Fallen" shows us just how easily a church pastor might abuse his position and even justify the actions with unbiblical, man-centered doctrines. It also vividly displays the dire consequences on churches, families and friendships that similar breaches of trust can have in the real world. This book is a must for any Christian who appreciates theology, but sometimes just needs to decompress with a fun and captivating novel. For my part, I have always recognized the value of non-fiction theology books and have studied a fair number of them. At the end of the day, however, my favorite books have all been stories with good character development and substantive plot lines. "Fallen" accomplishes all objectives, making it a truly original, insightful and entertaining read.

Fallen is a thought-provoking, page-turning novel that will cause you to see things differently by book's end. As with peeling an onion, layer after layer of deception is removed as the cover is stripped away and the truth is exposed. The insight this author has is impressive. The process of uncovering the truth will make you question things. Sticking with your convictions may be unpopular, but what is more important, stating the truth or allowing sin to continue? It's hard to say much more about this story because I don't want my review to be a spoiler for the reader, but I can say that Fallen truly exposes the darkest places in a man's heart. It also helps you to see that sometimes Christians have ulterior motives based more on pride than Christ. You'll never see accountability in the same light after reading this book. It's truly sad how warped things can get and how easily deceived people can be. But in the end, if you allow God to expose the sin in your heart, and you are willing to follow his lead, change is possible. But humility is a key ingredient, because if you don't think you've sinned then you have nothing to confess, right? This book will blow your mind and stretch your thinking, trust me. I especially appreciated how the author used the situation to make Jim see how he'd hurt his own family and how he used that knowledge for the benefit of the people he loved.