EricNentrup.com

I’m going to experiment a bit with the notion of doing “Book Reviews” periodically at EricNentrup.com. A good chunk of these are books that either one of my readers, peers, or mentors has recommended to me or I’ve come across by way of the other blogs I read. The actual task itself helps me to glean more from the book and the commitment to posting my findings as a “book review” on my site is the accountability I need in order to follow through. Plus, I’d like to think I might be able to offer some insight towards your next reading choice!

So, without further ado…

BOOK REVIEW “Revolution” by George Barna – Tyndale, 2005 Reviewed by Eric Nentrup (eric@ericnentrup.com)

THE FACTS.

In “Revolution” (Tyndale, 2005), George Barna brings his statistician’s expertise to the topic most are calling “The Emerging Church.” But to Barna, “emerging church” is too small a descriptor to capture what he claims is an historic movement. He prefers to call it a “Revolution,” and sets out to define what type of Christ-followers are playing active roles as “Revolutionaries,” reshaping the institution of church and doing so in a grass-roots fashion: > “…the Revolution is about recognizing that we are not called to go to church. We are called to be the church.” Barna reminds us: > “…the Bible neither describes nor promotes the local church as we know it today.” And that conventional church as we know it, “is neither Biblical nor unbiblical. It is abiblical–that is, such an organization is not addressed in the Bible…We made it up. It may be healthy or helpful, but it is not sacrosanct.” Barna spends most of the book describing this Revolution subjectively, not focusing on the data of his research, but rather on the data’s implications. And Barna’s interpretation is that people seeking to follow Christ in the present are eschewing modern methods in favor of returning to a first-century lifestyle. The result, eventually, will be a DECREASE of emphasis upon the established local church for filling the need of spiritual community and growth. Later, Barna substantiates the Revolution with benchmarks that align with Jesus’ teaching and example, quoted chapter and verse. Barna is both convinced and convincing in this quick read, posing a credible forecast that the landscape of the church is undergoing considerable, if not monumental change.

THE OPINION.

All in all, I’ve found another log to toss on the fire that started with McLaren and Miller’s core texts for the church that is emerging. Another reviewer of “Revolution” in the latest issue of Christianity Today panned Revolution, citing Bonhoeffer’s “Life Together” as not only more edifying but more relevant (and even more revolutionary). My thoughts are still more towards the “fix what needs broken” regarding local church, as I believe there’s TONS broken. And thereby, I don’t feel the need to be “glass half-full” with comments towards denominational church. That’s just too much like sticking your fingers in your ears and la-la-la-ing our way through the things we don’t want to hear. So, like McLaren’s books, I think Revolution is an essential missive in understanding just WHAT it is that we’re currently experiencing and soon to experience. That said, I’m working HARD on not being “anti-institutional.” I’ve taken to heart the truth (which I THINK I got from McLaren’s “Generous Orthodoxy, but I’m too lazy to fact check this tonight) that it “takes an individual to start a movement, but an institution to sustain it.” That helps me spend less time curling my lip towards institutions, corporations, denominations, and the like. I’m more intrigued with “new growth” in the midst of so much dead wood, and Revolution doesn’t disagree with that thought. So…Rudy lent me Rob Bell’s “Velvet Elvis” and I think I might weigh in on it next. So, if you get an Amazon.com gift certificate for Christmas, and are curious enough about Revolution, McLaren’s books, or “Velvet Elvis,” do me a favor and click through the link above to snag a copy for yourself. Merry Christmas, everyone….Christ is born!

narniaposter
Originally uploaded by Eric Nentrup.

Just a quick note to say Kim and I saw “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” this weekend, and neither of us were impressed. It was just flat story-wise. There were neat moments, the effects were spectacularly believable, but overall, the movie was just unimpressive.

I have to blame the fact that the bar has been raised considerably by what was acheived (I feel) in balancing technological acheivement with taut story-telling in the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy of films. Which is doubly interesting considering that Lewis and Tolkien were contemporaries.

But Narnia was somewhere in between the Harry Potter movies and LOTR, not feeling all that original in scope or acccomplishment.

Thoughts?

I’m continuing to be compelled with the the single notion (and invitation) to “follow Jesus.” To desperately work at being a follower of Jesus’ teachings, lifestyle, the way He interacted in the Gospels with others. The Way. That’s really the crux of it.

Just exactly, where’s He going? One of the neat things made known to me this year was that Jesus doesn’t set up camp too often. In all He taught, “staying put” wasn’t ever one of His lessons. He’s a long-distance hiker. And yet for each of us, He sets a pace. Not necessarily a comfortable pace, but a pace we have the capacity and ability to keep. The past few years, I have felt like I haven’t been keeping up. Much like the dawdling toddler at the mall who doesn’t get his way, I’ve dragged my feet way too often.

A sense of “Urgency” is an issue of being called to follow Christ, for certain. When dragging my feet, I’m not tuned into that. And as I’ve learned that Jesus isn’t “sedentary” in relationship with us, but always on the move with His command “follow me,” I’ve found myself wondering where He is here at a moment where I need Him most. The answer is, He’s always WHERE HE’S CALLING ME. His voice is always my beacon–that’s His intent, at very least.

Now, if only I’d obey and FOLLOW, I might find him there! And He’s called me to be in process, not setup and established somewhere, planting roots and building some sort of spiritual homestead. And yet I’m tempted to do that–especially with a group of others who are like-minded, and try to build some sort of Jesus Colony or village. Just gather together, claim a piece of property and declare permanence.

Now that I’m aware of that, I realize that those places which ARE more settled are like visitor’s centers along the way, there for a quick break and stretch before heading back out. Base camp, the Holiday Inn, a Guest Home, a Jellystone campground.

But our calling is on the road, the path, the trail, the WAY–not at or “to” any one of these temporary stopping points.

Personally speaking, Kim and I have learned that by eventually moving to Denver to work at Kingdom Building Ministries, we are simply acting upon our call that we have ALREADY answered. We are in process, we are progressing, we are ON THE WAY, and therefore we’re doing our best to follow Jesus by interpreting what He’s asked us to do. And so, for the past 7 weeks, we’ve been without a permanent residence of our own. We are in a state of transit more than in a state of transition, and I’m convinced that seeing that and living with that understanding for a period of weeks is essential to our growth. It surely is needed for me.

We don’t know when we’re moving to Denver. We do know we have a long way still before we have enough financial support from partners to afford to move and live there. We aren’t complacent, and we have to keep our attitudes and patience in check, and we have to stay present in what God is doing in the lives of those around us. We have to be content with where we ARE, which always takes precedence over any anxiety about what the future holds.

And I’d hate to be too simplistic, but “Follow Me” doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for making Jesus’ teaching complicated. So, that’s my intent. To keep on following Jesus.