Rediscovered Real Christianity?: Thought for the week.
12 Apr 2004
This book is part of my doctoral programme, and we have been discussing it with one of the authors in my cohort, Alan Hirsch. He was so engaging, thoughtful and wise. This book has been profoundly impacting.
On page 14 the authors qoute John Drane, “No persecutor or foe in 2,000 years has wreaked such havoc on the church as modernity” (Evangelism for a new Age: Creating churches for the Next Century).
Whilst I think I understand the bankruptcy of Christendom, I think this qoute is so untrue. This brings us back to the golden years of the church 300 years then it all goes wrong, and the evangelicals think they rediscovered biblical Christianity with the reformation, and now this qoute is in danger of wanting to move it to after modernity.
I have not liked the tendency of Protestants to discount church history before the Reformation and evangelicals to discount church history much before their brand of christianity came into being. I have also been involved in evangelistic efforts where the presenters of the “method” think that this is the best thing that has happened to the church since Jesus.
Now that modernity has killed Christendom we are not back to the Golden Age of the church. Let’s not make the same mistakes again, and think that if we are into emerging church, we have found the church that was lost even after the reformation.
Contents ,
Introduction ,
Chapter one ,
Cover and precis
Christendom is dying and needs to be removed from its life-support system. Starting with this frank assessment of the current church, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch present an alternative model for ministry in today’s postmodern world. Instead of mourning the demise of the Western church as the center of society, the authors explain how the church can be reborn through incarnational mission, messianic spirituality, and apostolic structure. Church leaders who heed the authors’ call will see death turned into new life through the creation of a vital, missional church.
[Frost and Hirsch’s] contribution brings an in-depth theological reflection as well as providing a broad scope informed by their extensive reading in theology, culture and mission as well as their on-site visits to missional churches in the USA and the United Kingdom.
Eddie Gibbs, Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth, Fuller Theological Seminary
This book is a bountiful multi-course meal, each serving presented with charm and class. It will satisfy even eclectic appetites, and please the most discriminating palates. Four Stars.
Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, George Fox University
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Comment by dave the rave
9.23 am on 12 Apr 2004
Hey Jason, I think this quote from John Drane was more about how modernity has wrecked havoc on the influence church has on western society, as opposed to the church per se.
Comment by ScottB
5.12 am on 15 Apr 2004
Good thoughts. I just picked up the book and about a chapter and a half into it, so I can’t comment much on the specifics. But as to the dawning of a new “Golden Age”, as you say, I think your point is well taken. In fact, it seems more the case that we’re just starting to realize how badly we’ve screwed things up. To now take the stance of, “Whew! Glad that modernity crap is over!” puts us in grave danger of reenacting all of the mistakes that we’re now attempting to extricate ourselves from.
Comment by andy c
12.34 pm on 15 Apr 2004
Hi everyone,
Here’s a challenge for anyone today. Quoting from the text above can anyone explain to me, in simple terms what:
“incarnational mission” and
“messianic spirituality” and
“apostolic structure” actually means?
Thanks!
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