Product Description

Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant traditions drink from the well of a common Christian tradition rooted in the early centuries of the Church. Many Evangelicals are now reengaging with the faith and practice of the early church as they seek resources to live as disciples in a postmodern world. Remembering the past is essential for facing the future. As evangelicals recover from their amnesia they are discovering that they have more in common with orthodox Christians of all traditions that they ever realised. This re-engagement of different streams of the church with a common tradition rooted in the Early Church is what Lewis termed 'Deep Church' and it provides the foundations for a contemporary Christian ecumenism. In this volume church leaders and theologians reflect on a range of issues for which a vibrant contemporary faith requires a careful listening to the past. What is the place of tradition in the life of the Church? How should we interpret the Bible aright? How should we worship? What is the place of baptism and the Eucharist in spiritual renewal? How can Charismatic and Sacramental traditions unite? What should discipleship look like in our pagan cultures? How can we invest our mundane, ordinary lives with spirituality? What, in other words, might 'Deep Church' look like?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #389340 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Andrew Walker is Canon Professor of Culture, Theology and Education at King's College, London; Luke Bretheton is Lecturer in Theology and Ministry, and DMin Programme Director at King's College, London

Customer Reviews

Strong on analysis, weaker on what to do next
Like its predecessors, including the definitive 'Charismatic Renewal: The search for a theology' this is a thoughtful, timely and well argued analysis of contemporary Christian spirituality. The 'Deep Church' emphasis is a welcome one for anyone disenchanted with the faddish and often 'theology-lite' approach that characterises many aspects of popular evangelicalism and the charismatic renewal.

I suspect it'll end up preaching to the converted, though. There are an impressive range of contributors and, in keeping with the authors' intentions, many of them are drawn from the ranks of the do-ers and the practitioners - church leaders, ministers, pastors etc. - as well as the academics and the reflective thinkers. We need both of course. Whilst I found that the analysis resonated well with me I was left wondering what I could actually do to work out some of the issues raised. More practical examples and suggestions would have been welcome.

As with other books written or edited by Andrew Walker, it's very eirenic. It's difficult to see how mainstream Christians from any tradition other than extreme radical liberalism or extreme fundamentalism could argue with its central thesis. So whilst I found myself nodding my head in agreement I also found myself wondering, 'Well, what do I do now?'

It's a book that would certainly repay repeated readings. It provides no quick-fix solutions or easy answers and avoids negative stereotyping and a strident tone. A more polemical note might not have gone amiss in some sections, but then a trumpet-call to occupy the radical centre, although welcome and well-intentioned, isn't going to attract as much attention as it deserves. I'd make it compulsory reading for church leaders, though. We need 'Deep Church'. We need depth. The contributors are clearly living that out.

But why are they all male? Some female contributions wouldn't have gone amiss.