The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives

by Leonard Sweet (Editor), Brian D. McLaren (Contributor), Erwin Raphael McManus (Contributor)

What should the church look like today? What should be the focus of its message? How should I present that message? We live in as pivotal and defining an age as the Great Depression or the Sixties–a period whose definition, say some cultural observers, includes a warning of the church’s influence. The result? A society measurably less religious but decidedly more spiritual. Less influenced by authority than by experience. More attuned to images than to words. How does the church adapt to such a culture? Or should it, in fact, eschew adapting for maintaining a course it has followed these last two millennia? Or something in between? These are exactly the questions asked in The Church In Emerging Culture by five Christian thinker-speaker-writers, each who advocate unique stances regarding what the church’s message should be (and what methods should be used to present it) as it journeys through this evolving, postmodern era. The authors are: Andy Crouch–Re:Generation Quarterly editor-in-chief Michael Horton–professor and reformed theologian Frederica Mathewes-Green–author, commentator, and Orthodox Christian Brian D. McLaren–postmodernist, author, pastor, and Emergent senior fellow Erwin Raphael McManus–author and pastor of the innovative and interethnic L.A.-based church, Mosaic Most unique about their individual positions is that they’re presented not as singular essays but as lively discussions in which the other four authors freely (and frequently) comment, critique, and concur. That element, coupled with a unique photographic design that reinforces the depth of their at-once congenial and feisty conversation, gives you all-access entrée into this groundbreaking discourse. What’s more, general editor Leonard Sweet (author of SoulTsunami and AquaChurch, among several other acclaimed texts) frames the thought-provoking dialogue with a profoundly insightful, erudite introductory essay–practically a book within a book. The Church In Emerging Culture is foundational reading for leaders and serious students of all denominations and church styles.

Genres: Theology, Church, Nonfiction, Leadership, Religion, Christianity, Christian

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 19, 2003

About the author

Leonard I. Sweet is an author, preacher, scholar, and ordained United Methodist clergyman currently serving as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School, in Madison, New Jersey; and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Decaf Catholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five stars to Matthewes-Green: cogent, clear, and a good response to culture, even now (and least dated of the essays).
Andy Crouch's essay is good, and the ideas he presented have stuck with me much more than expected. The inter-text comments are annoying, and most especially against his essay: Crouch is correctly responding to culture as actually consumerist rather than properly postmodern.

The others can be skipped.

[Andrew Neveils · Rating 2 out of 5]

The content is worth reading, but the presentation is horrific. McLaren has an opinion on everything it seems, and the conversation-like style might have been better presented as a dialogue rather than an interruption in writing.

If you are a sophisticated reader, this may work for you.

[Joshua Smart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is everything by emerging church people like this? Do they ever actually say ANYTHING?

[Royce Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leonard Sweet edits an interesting look at the church from five very different perspectives. Good read for anyone wrestling with post modern church.

[Josh Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frederica Matthewes-Green gets all the stars. The rest tries to be innovative, but is mostly a pissing match.