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Loading... Prodigal Christianity : ten signposts into the missional frontier (edition 2013)by David E. Fitch, Geoff Holsclaw
Work InformationProdigal Christianity: 10 Signposts into the Missional Frontier (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) by David E. Fitch
   None No current Talk conversations about this book.  DubiousDisciple | May 3, 2013 |  no reviews | add a review
An engaging and thoughtful book that guides readers into the frontiers of being a missional Christian Prodigal Christianity offers a down-to-earth, accessible, and yet provocative understanding of God's mission of redemption in the world, and how followers of Christ can participate in this work. It speaks into the discontent of all those who have exhausted conservative, liberal, and even emergent ways of being Christian and are looking for a new way forward. It offers building blocks for missional theology and practice that moves Christians into a gospel-centered way of life for our culture and our times. Offers a compelling and creative vision for North American Christians Puts forth a theology and ten critical signposts that must be observed to follow a missional way of life: post-Christendom, missio Dei, incarnation, witness, scripture, gospel, church, sexuality, justice, pluralism Asks questions and points to issues that trouble many leaders in the post-modern, post-denominational, post-Christendom church This book can fill the gap for the average Christian left discontented with the current options "after evangelicalism." No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)262.001Religions Christian church and church work Church Polity; Ecclesiology Ecclesiastic Polity Philosophy and theoryLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (5)
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Wikipedia in English
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One quote on page 69 helped set the tone for me: “New Testament scholar E.G. Selwyn notes that the term for witness (marturian) is used six times more frequently in the New Testament than the term for preaching (kerygma) when discussing the gospel. In other words, New Testament writers more easily thought of the gospel being carried into the world through the process of witness rather than by any singular act of pronouncing or proclaiming.”
But how do we witness? Toward the end of the book, we read: “We do not go to our town councils and dictate what we think should be done based on our interpretation of the Bible. We must inhabit a place and listen. We must come to know people as friends. We must presume we have much to learn about God through them. And then God will use our joining in with the neighborhood to bring fresh eyes and fresh words and Christ’s authority against oppression and evil.”
The book’s humble introduction isn’t really indicative of what you’ll find inside. This really is intelligent writing and probing discussion. The experiences of the authors, planting their little Life of the Vine church near Chicago, are relevant and eye-opening. Which approach is best in a post-Christendom culture no longer dominated by guilt: presenting a (personal) “plan of salvation” or a (communal) “story of salvation?” Does a substitutionary view of atonement trivialize the Gospel, leading Christians to become preoccupied with the afterlife and treating day-to-day living as an afterthought? What does the Eucharist really mean in today’s world, in terms of welcoming outcasts to the dinner table?
As a liberal Christian seeking common ground with my more conservative brethren, this is a book I can endorse. Luckily, it’s also an engaging read. (