- ISBN13: 9780060859497
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
For decades the accepted wisdom has been that America’s mainline Protestant churches are in decline, eclipsed by evangelical mega-churches. Church and religion expert Diana Butler Bass wondered if this was true, and this book is the result of her extensive, three-year study of centrist and progressive churches across the country. Her surprising findings reveal just the opposite—that many of the churches are flourishing, and they are doing so without resorting to … More >>
Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith
Tags: Christianity, Church, decades, decline, diana butler bass, Faith, mainline protestant churches, Neighborhood, neighborhood church, product description, progressive churches, remainder mark, Rest, Transforming, wisdom
#1 by William J. Moore on April 15, 2010 - 1:15 am
This is probably well written, but I don’t really believe in many of the concepte she is proposing therefore I cannot consider it a good book. For those who are searching for something it would be a good read.
Rating: 2 / 5
#2 by Bill McCartney on April 15, 2010 - 3:11 am
This book had some intersting, informative points. However at times, it requires a supreme effort to continue reading in order to dig out the few nuggets the book offers; unless you also see the world through VERY liberal lenses.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Chas on April 15, 2010 - 3:37 am
I have spent time in both evangelical and “mainline” churches. There is a lot of discussion about growing membership and being relevant etc . and the point is missed. And this is why so many churches are foundering like damaged ships.
It is not enough to be happening and relevant as it where. The central gospel message needs to be preached. Unsaved people do not become saved by osmosis. They need to hear the message of unconditional salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and be given the opportunity to this.
And this message can effectively delivered in a loving way without condemnation. And here is a news flash many of these churches the author criticizes are doing just that.
It is that simple – the reason mega churches are become mega churches is for this reason. An unconditional invitation to receive the message of salvation is given every Sunday – HELLO! It is not about marketing or politics.
Many of these “progressive, mainline” churches stubbornly refuse to do this but they’ll try anything and everything else – oh well good luck.
Rating: 3 / 5
#4 by The Ponderer on April 15, 2010 - 4:08 am
I have been thinking about this book for awhile and my heart really goes out to the author and those she researched. They seem to have changed God’s plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to their own liking. I was disturbed by the repeated bitterness and resentment toward the mainline church and evangelicals in particular. I see Christians individually and in churches reaching out to all kinds of people in a loving, kind, and gentle way. I don’t think we have the right to rearrange the Bible to our own liking and reinvent what it says, which is easy to do if you just ignore parts of what it says. It was meant to lead us into a relationship with Jesus Christ that is intimate and personal and that transforms how we live, thus becoming more like him.
Rating: 1 / 5
#5 by P. Wayne Townsend on April 15, 2010 - 5:29 am
I am very tempted to call this book “Christianity for the Left of Us. Ok, I got that out of my system. Still, there is no doubt that this book begins with a “progressive” approach to religion, politics and society. It looks at theologically liberal/ neo-orthodox churches which, none the less, still attract people to membership. That, in itself, is interesting enough to read this book. The lack of theological clarity is joyously celebrated by Bass as Christians who stand between “Fundamentalism and Secularism”.
She documents 10 “signposts of renewal”.
Hospitality
Discernment
Healing
Contemplation
Testimony
Diversity
Justice
Worship
Reflection
Beauty
These are Christian practices (stripped of the historic theology which gave them birth) which substitute for definite theology in these churches. Each of them has merit and many more evangelical churches could find each of these a valuable asset and renewal point. Outside of the theological pluralism espoused here, each of the practices has a definite biblical grounding.
Read this book to be reminded that theological accuracy does not substitute for strong religious community and nurture.
[...]
Rating: 3 / 5