Daniel Harrell, senior minister of Colonial Church, Edina, Minn., wanted to do more than preach about Leviticus—he wanted to live it. He records his online Levites-for-a-month experiment in How to Be Perfect: One Church’s Audacious Experiment in Living the Old Testament Book of Leviticus.

Harrell and a likeminded group of 18 church members share insights into their desire to be holy and their need for much grace. Although the pastor admits he doesn’t always understand Levitical law concerning food, clothing and skin disease, he explains such regulations are given because God wants to be involved in every area of life.

The book, which will appeal to younger readers, vacillates between a serious attempt at holiness and an excuse for lightheartedness. However, Harrell addresses with insight some social issues such as homosexuality and poverty. He also successfully relates Jesus’ teaching to Old Testament law, and underscores getting to the heart of God’s commands rather than mere appearances.

Readers of similar titles such as A.J. Jacobs’ The Year of Living Biblically may be interested to see how Harrell’s congregation approached the subject, and how the church used social media to start this movement.

—Eilene Ishler

How to Be Perfect

Daniel M. Harrell

FaithWords

hardcover, 224 pages, $19.95

978-0-446-55717-7

January 2011