For the Rest of Us

Recently, an old friend and former parishioner stopped by to say hello.  He also gave me a book he had read and thought I might enjoy reading. Generally I read fiction these days, but started reading this book anyway.  It is by Diana Butler Bass and is entitled Christianity for the Rest of Us.

The 'rest of us' referred to therein are the non-evangelical, non- Pentecostal, non-right-wing,  but are the mainstream, largely invisible denominational Protestants.   This book is extremely well-researched and well-written.  And it is a very hopeful book as well.  The main theme is the transformation of churches.  Bass clearly demonstrates how those mainline denominational churches which have transformed themselves can and do indeed grow and thrive.

My first reaction was to wish from the depths of my heart that I had read the book 15 years ago.  It wasn't published until 2006, so that really would not have been possible.  The reason why I felt that so strongly is that the book clearly describes the vision of church , the kind of community of faith that I always wanted to belong to and help create.  However, I would never have been able to articulate that vision with the clarity and specificity of this book.

I will include here just a couple of quotes, or part of quotes, or paraphrases that describe that vision.

'The primary job of church is to be a spiritual community that forms people in faith.'  (as opposed to a political machine)

....an open, nonjudgmental and intellectually generous community
....takes the Bible seriously but not literally
....about finding home and emphasizing acceptance (as opposed to exclusivity)
....comfortable with ambiguity and resists dogmatism
...searching for meaning and growth without saying it has to be one way or the other
...conversion is a communal event, and we must be "continually converted"
...learning that spirituality requires cultivation by means of habit and shared activity
...Jesus is not the way to get somewhere.  Jesus is the Christian journey itself
....churches should make pilgrims, not members
....the 'practices' always include hospitality and healing
....hospitality is not a recruitment strategy

The conclusion of this writer and researcher and teacher is that mainline Protestantism is not dying at all.  While some are in trouble, all still have the ability to transform themselves.  And that is good news indeed!