A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending our state's missional ministry conference. The focus was on how to reach younger generations and/or the emerging generation. The key speaker for the two-day conference was Dr. Alvin Reid, professor of evangelism at Southeastern Seminary in North Carolina. Dr. Reid did a phenomenal job. I am looking forward to hearing him again next year along with J.D. Greear from Summit Church in North Carolina.
During the conference Dr. Reid's latest book, which was co-authored with Mark Liederbach, The Convergent Church: Missional Worshipers in an Emerging Culture, was on sale. Since I am always looking for books, especially those on sale, that address the rapidly changing nature of culture, I bought one. It is here that I would like to provide a short review along with pertinent quotes that might offer some piece of the framework needed in order to penetrate the cultural wasteland that lies before our eyes.
The outset of the book offers an understanding of the nature of a convergent church. In the mind of Reid and Liederbach a convergent church is one that takes the best of conventional convictions relating to doctrine and truth and the best from the Emergin Church Movement (ECM) regarding cultural engagement and relevance. They propose that because cultural is changing so rapidly the church needs to adopt those aspects that assist in being relevant without losing the historical doctrines of the faith. The outcome of a convergent church will be a convergent Christian who will spend more energy on combining strengths rather than expend energy on the minute differences.
The book is divided into three parts. Part one, which are chapters 1-4, address the present cultural situation and its arrival. In these chapters, the worldview of modernity and postmodernity are constructed by discussing the works of Descartes, Hume, Kant, who represent modernity and Wittgensteing, Foucault, Derrida, who represent postmodernity. Understanding the influence of modernity and postmodernity upon the culture, a discussion regarding the ECM follows. It is here where Reid and Liederbach attempt to provide a working framework of the ECM. Next is an evaluation of the ECM. It is in this portion that the authors address those aspects that are strengths within the ECM and those that are weaknesses.
Part two, which are chapters 5-7, offer a discussion on converging missional worship. The purpose in these chapters is to provide a scriptural basis for the direction the church should be moving. There three aspects: worship, missions, and doctrine. The case is made that each of these are beacons that shine the light in the direction the church should move as it exist in a sea of modernity/postmodernity.
The final section of the book, chapters 8-12, address the practical aspect of living out missional worship. The authors offer a large discussion on the aspect of ethics. First, the difference between right and good. Secondly, the social gospel. The final three chapters are concluding thoughts on evangelism, discipleship, and culture. All three are discussed within the framework of convergence.
Let me provide a few quotes that may wet your appetite for a timely, relevant and well-written book attempting to address the need for relevancy and doctrinal integrity amidst a culture of relativism and pluralism.
"A convergent Christian is less concerned with reacting to what is wrong with the conventionals in their practice or with fussing about where the ECM misses the point theologically than with identifying the strengths of each of these movements and amalgamating them to bring maximum glory to the King of the universe and make the maximum possible impact on the world for Christ" (p.26).
"An overemphasis on orthodoxy can lead to an underemphasis on orthorpraxy. We must not make either/or what is meant to be both/and" (p.48).
"When viewed correrctly the shift from modernism to postmodernism is less an obstacle and more an opportunity for Christianity" (p.69).
"The reason we must move is not because the old house is broken down or useless or old-fashioned; we must move because there is a new and exciting context of life ahead of us" (p.114).
"A missional worshiper is measured by the unsaved people he or she influences daily for the glory of God, not by the church members he or she impresses weekly for the glory of self" (p.156).
"The reason the evangelical community is having so little transformative impact on society is not because we emphasize doctrine. It is because we do not emphasize it enough and do not disciple well in the application of it" (p.170).
In closing, I would like to offer two thougths regarding the book. First, I think the book has a great premise. It is imperative that the church learn how to be culturally relevant witout losing doctrinal truth. I think the book provides an adequate framework in how to do this. Secondly, I did not find the evaluation of the ECM greatly effective. There seemed to be more agreement than disagreement on certain aspects the ECM does. In the end, the book is very readable, immensely relevant and contributive in giving a framework in how to continue to reach our world for Christ.
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