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davehershey's review
4.0
In this solid little book, Hart paints a picture of what being a disciple of Jesus in a post-Christendom world should look like. Christendom still looms large in the background of Western (and probably Eastern). From the beginning in the time of Constantine through a few centuries ago in Europe and still today in some way in America, our culture is still shaking off Christendom. Some Christians, especially in America, are having a truly hard time with this. They think Christendom is the norm and thus sacrifice their morals and principles in the hope to “make America great again” which just reveals the failure of Christendom...
But I digress.
Each chapter in the book centers on one theme within Christian discipleship: dogma, Bible, unity, evangelism. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this book is how much of it is merely Hart describing the basics of Christian faith. For example, in discussing the Bible he explains what the New Testament is. In some ways this was disappointing, but it reinforces his point that we’ve often lost the basic point. In showing what the Bible is, complete with contradictions and different genres, he pushes against “Biblicism” which flattens the whole thing out into some perfect book (which it was never meant to be) from which we can draw out of context quotes to prove our points (which is bad interpretation).
Likewise, he does not reject dogma but he rejects dogmatism. He shows how early church dogmas were broad and gave much space for theologians to explore within the parameters of the dogma. But later dogmas focused on such mundane points they could only lead to division. He cites Catholic dogmas surrounding Mary in the 1800s which only served to further divide; Protestants surely have their own minor issues we divide over. This ties in with his work on unity, which he argues the earliest church centered on eating together (communion) as Jesus did with people throughout his life. Christendom though pushed us to be untied on abstract beliefs.
Overall, this is a helpful and well-written book. Hart shows the way Christendom took wrong turns and that the church prior to Christendom has a lot to teach us. That said, he does not write as if Christendom is wholly in error and the ante-Nicene church was wholly perfect; he recognizes the good in Christendom. His work here could be helpful for pastors and teachers seeking to help people learn to live as disciples of Jesus in our current culture.
But I digress.
Each chapter in the book centers on one theme within Christian discipleship: dogma, Bible, unity, evangelism. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this book is how much of it is merely Hart describing the basics of Christian faith. For example, in discussing the Bible he explains what the New Testament is. In some ways this was disappointing, but it reinforces his point that we’ve often lost the basic point. In showing what the Bible is, complete with contradictions and different genres, he pushes against “Biblicism” which flattens the whole thing out into some perfect book (which it was never meant to be) from which we can draw out of context quotes to prove our points (which is bad interpretation).
Likewise, he does not reject dogma but he rejects dogmatism. He shows how early church dogmas were broad and gave much space for theologians to explore within the parameters of the dogma. But later dogmas focused on such mundane points they could only lead to division. He cites Catholic dogmas surrounding Mary in the 1800s which only served to further divide; Protestants surely have their own minor issues we divide over. This ties in with his work on unity, which he argues the earliest church centered on eating together (communion) as Jesus did with people throughout his life. Christendom though pushed us to be untied on abstract beliefs.
Overall, this is a helpful and well-written book. Hart shows the way Christendom took wrong turns and that the church prior to Christendom has a lot to teach us. That said, he does not write as if Christendom is wholly in error and the ante-Nicene church was wholly perfect; he recognizes the good in Christendom. His work here could be helpful for pastors and teachers seeking to help people learn to live as disciples of Jesus in our current culture.
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