Author PETER SCAZZERO
Publisher ZONDERVAN
ISBN 0310293359
On the front cover of this book, under the title, are the words “A strategy for Discipleship that actually changes lives.” I know that there are plenty of books on church, how to be a seeker friendly or effective or missional or incarnational and most of them have something to say but this is the only book I know of that endeavors to show how to be a ‘holistic’ church. I hesitate to use that word but whilst this is not filled with ‘how to’ ideas and is more based upon the testimony of one pastor and the pathway he and his church took over the period of about twenty years it is filled with helpful direction. Its author had pioneered a church in the Queens District of New York. Several congregations emerged and almost all were thoroughly multicultural. The pressure of ministry and pursuit of the idea of a successful church took a serious toll and this resulted in breakdown in his family life and led to a thorough going examination of what church really should be and what salvation is. What was revealed was simply that the gospel had not gone deep enough. It had not reached the emotional side of the people serving in the various ministries. This led to significant changes in attitude, in understanding and therefore in ministry. Among these changes were the complete willingness to be transparent and open and although it might annoy some readers there is a lot of the pastors transparency underlying the whole direction of this book. Confession is good for the soul and surely good for the church too and this is evident. As far as I know the book was first published in 2005 but has been expanded and the author tells us clearly that the passing years have done nothing but serve to corroborate and confirm the discoveries that were made in those earlier years of massive adjustment. Yes, there is a kind of schema presented here, but it nails certain factors of spiritual life and ministry. The main points are expressed in this way, first of all that we must look beneath the surface, what is going on in the emotional side of our nature? Have we recognized the molding power of the past, have we then let the Lord work to break the power of the past over our lives? Then the necessity of living in brokenness and vulnerability is emphasized as essential to a healthy manner of life for leaders and to be manifested in relationships in the church. There is a good section on the need to embrace limits and this is followed by one on embracing grieving and loss and the book closes with the idea of making the incarnation the model for living in love. The quotations used by this author show that he has read wisely, deeply and thoughtfully. The testimony he shares indicates that he and his family have been through deep waters and have learned of the Lord. For some this book might seem to be a little light on Bible Exposition, rather full of personal testimony and possibly leaning a bit too much towards a psychological approach. But those who have honest hearts will agree with what is written here and take careful note.
