{"product_id":"baal-and-the-gods-of-andrew-root-9781540970060","title":"Baal and the Gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry","description":"How should we think about church growth in our current cultural moment?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe golden era ushered in by the industrial revolution led the Protestant church in America to experience unprecedented growth and prosperity in the twentieth century. This environment has formed our understanding of and dependence on growth for stabilization: It's assumed that if we aren't growing, we are stagnant at best, and declining at worst.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eBaal and the Gods of More\u003c\/i\u003e, leading practical theologian Andrew Root challenges our assumptions about growth, offering a deep analysis through the lenses of cultural philosophy, economic theory, and theological examination. Turning to 1 and 2 Kings, he shows that our desire for growth is an idolatry that mirrors the ancient idolatry of the Israelites in their worship of Baal and other fertility gods.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBaal and the Gods of More\u003c\/i\u003e argues that looking to innovation, creativity, and other secular methodologies in the endless pursuit of \"more\"--more influence, more people, more reach, more money--will not save the church. Instead, the church needs to return to dependence on divine action and a relational encounter with the Word.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Andrew Root\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 154097006X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781540970060\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Baker Academic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/21\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 256\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback","brand":"Andrew Root","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47637498134783,"sku":"9781540970060","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_03a66df5-bdbe-4ad1-b2df-550f3dc2d660.jpg?v=1765116580","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/baal-and-the-gods-of-andrew-root-9781540970060","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}