Pure Scum

This book, Pure Scum, by Mike Sares, details the history of Scum of the Earth Church. It was founded by Sares along with a member of Christian ska-punk band Five Iron Frenzy.

It certainly is an interesting book at times, particularly the thinking behind the church. However, it begins with a biography of Sares which seems rather overly self-focused. Then it switches gears to talk about the church, but mostly through Sares' eyes. Granted, the book is written by him but I felt as if he spent much of the book repeating the following three ideas:
1.) My church is awesome and so much better than all other churches
2.) I am awesome because I have major connections with Five Iron Frenzy
3.) Jesus has done great things throughout my life and the life of the church

When he focuses on point number 3, the book is excellent, compelling, and spiritually uplifting. When Sares becomes self-focused the book loses steam and was particularly annoying to me - a non-member of his church who isn't (and never was) a fan of Five Iron Frenzy.

It's not that bad, though. There's a lot of good stuff in the book and the church itself has some interesting characters and stories. I love that the church intentionally reaches out to those who don't exactly fit the mold of a "typical Christian" who often find churches to be unwelcoming places. Some of the initiatives carried out through the Scum of the Earth Church are unique. In the people and the stories of faith lie the magic of the text.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

completed 5/4/11....16 books, 65 days...at this rate I'll read 90 books