A book that looks at the culture-controlled church in which many of us have been raised and are seeking to walk our Christian lives. Each chapter is not very long and is written by one of the authors (usually Mclaren) who examine a topic whilst the other author comments briefly to corroborate, elaborate or on odd occasions to critique his co-authors view. Topics covered include, salvation, the Bible, Being Postmodern, Truth, homosexuality and many more. You must remember that this itself is somewhat ‘culture-controlled’ book. I always get the sense of a slight dishonesty as the subjects are looked at, a willingness to avoid certain matters in the effort to be relevant, or to under-estimate them in order to be helpful. This means that overstatement is used to enforce argument, for instance, ‘all theologies are major or minor heresies’. In the chapter on leadership the movie “The Wizard of Oz” is cited extensively and Dorothy is given as a leadership example. Actually Campolo does balance the picture Mclaren draws on in his short response on the leadership issue. For the thoughtful reader there will be things that resonate in the points made but there will also be dissatisfaction as you wonder if in their adventures with their topics they have ‘found the point’. The chapter on sin and the response is illustrative of this, it is short and there is lack of definition as there is with the chapter on worship. Everything tends to be left rather open-ended. There is a skeptical edge in what they write as critique the church of North America in which they have grown up and ministered. So much you can agree with. Probably, the point of the book is to make us think, to stretch our minds and there is a discussion guide at the end of each chapter to prompt group considerations of the topics. That the Christian community is heavily westernized is beyond dispute. That there is a cultural shift-taking place is clear also. That the church must examine itself is essential. This means you and me taking stock deeply but this must be done before the Lord and the book He has given us, it must be done in profound fellowship with the Spirit of God. He will steady us in the currents of our times. Books like this prompt us to thought though but will not be so helpful to those frustrated with church as they view it, it will encourage negative attitudes whilst not furnishing them with too much in the way of direction. It expresses part of the quest though and so has its place I am sure.
