Book Reviews (by Kim Gentes)
In the past, I would post only book reviews pertinent to worship, music in the local church, or general Christian leadership and discipleship. Recently, I've been studying many more general topics as well, such as history, economics and scientific thought, some of which end up as reviews here as well.
Entries in restoration theology (1)
The Next Christians - Gabe Lyons (2010)
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 10:18AM 
In his book "The Next Christians", Gabe Lyons articulates in layman's terms the practical outworkings of creational/restorative theology for the postmodern era and a post-Christian America. Lyons is particularly well acquainted with the struggle of Protestantism to survive and thrive in the increasingly secular foundations of Western society, especially America. As a participant behind intentional studies of the American Christian community and its efforts (and failures) at evangelism, Lyons became convinced that we were entering an era that would fully expel Christian morality as its foundational framework. He saw this in his studies and began looking at what might be done to equip the postmodern church to live powerfully in a post-Christian America.
Lyons pins his hopes on a vision of Christians, as God's people, who have a call to every society (including our North American one), to penetrate the culture and to live as lights within it, while bringing the restorative nature of God's kingdom to bear in our normal, everyday lives. He sees this as a commission to which our salvation has sent us. This is in contrast to a gospel story which calls people out of culture to focus on a coming distant heaven. Lyons says it well:
The next Christians believe that Christ’s death and Resurrection were not only meant to save people from something. He wanted to save Christians to something. God longs to restore his image in them, and let them loose, freeing them to pursue his original dreams for the entire world. Here, now, today, tomorrow. They no longer feel bound to wait for heaven or spend all of their time telling people what they should believe. Instead, they are participating with God in his restoration project for the whole world.[1]
"The Next Christians" is very inspiring and very practical. It could have quickly become a treatise for a "social gospel" and left Jesus behind, but he harkens often to the practicality that Christ has called each of us to lay down our lives within our very real contexts. For example:
I’m also not suggesting that every person’s calling is to start a nonprofit organization to address a huge global problem. For you, it probably doesn’t mean leaving your job or career at all. It simply means restoring right where you are.[2]
But along with being practical, the book retains its moorings in the larger story of Christian scriptures. Lyons fields the tension between ancient texts and current realities by proposing that we are a sub plot within the ongoing narrative of God's plan.
Instead, they enjoy Scripture as they believe it was meant to be: a grand narrative that tells a story of a God who loves and pursues, rescues, gives grace, and goes to any length to restore relationships with his most prized creations. Without robbing the Scriptures of their timeless, propositional truths, the next Christians are also rediscovering the thematic Hebrew stories of exodus and liberation, exile and return.[3]
The church of tomorrow can’t be identified by the architecture of their buildings or the styles of worship music they practice. Although many of them have a few similar qualities (like the ones described throughout this chapter), their most significant attribute can be found in the type of people they produce.[4]
Like many of his contemporaries (Dallas Willard, NT Wright, Chris Seay, Tim Keller, Sean Claiborne) Lyons is a hopeful voice while provided a needed a critique. Lyons is particularly helpful in his critique and recommendations because be provides details to seeing how society works and how we might influence in a more natural way. His "Seven Channels of Cultural Influence"[5] are particularly insightful in this regard, but it is just one of many examples where Lyons does his homework and isn't just throwing out lofty ideas without practical application.
Lyons further gives plenty of good wisdom for the "leaders of leaders", helping to outline how to prioritize "first things first" and make sure that the order of understanding and approaching ministry in post-Christian America is most effective. "The Next Christians" also gives plenty of examples of "success" stories (and a "failure" stories, thank God). Including failure stories is refreshing and honest- and in doing so Lyons also critiques for us possible pitfalls of "Christians influencing culture" approach by showing us that impact in society without spiritual character will often lead to moral and family collapse.
This book is one of my new favorites, not just because it is a practical guidebook with thoughtful premise, but because (in the spirit of restoration that he preaches within it) Lyons reclaims his place inside of the Christian tradition, instead of distancing himself from it. This, more than anything, shows a profound sense of wisdom. Lyons says :
No longer embarrassed to claim the label, these Christians have finally recovered what many who have gone before them always understood about the faith: namely, that the Christian view of the world informs everything, that the Gospel runs deep, and that the way of Jesus demands we give our lives in service to others.[6]
This is nothing short of humble (yet brilliant) honesty. By reclaiming the Christian label he enters not only into the story of the New Testament believers, but places himself in the tradition of the 2,000 year old Church. He is effectively both offering a some new thoughts for our current age, without rejecting the historic community of the church through the ages. This is the kind of thoughtfulness that should not be missed (though it will be by many). Lyons is again providing a powerful self-critique to the "postmodern" changers who have been throwing off the Christian moniker in hopes of gaining a few members who might not like the baggage that comes with the label "Christian". Lyons doesn't buy it. Thank God. In doing this one thing, Lyons accomplishes what Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Peter Rollins, Mark Driscoll and others have failed to do- he calls us forward as a unified Christian community, rather than splintering us by parsing new "palatable" labels for a future brands of faith in Jesus. And more than that, he provides restoration to those on both sides of the discussions within the Christian communities by reclaiming the name we've had since Acts 11:26, when we first became known as Christians.
"The Next Christians" is the best new book I've read, and is probably one of the top 5 books in the last 10 years. This book wins my Editor's Choice Award as the 2010 Best Book.
You may find deeper theology and philosophy books, but nothing as practical and wisdom filled as Lyons wonderful work here. Seriously. Read it. You won't regret it.
Amazon Product Link: http://amzn.to/so2cG9
Review by Kim Gentes