I’m going to be spending some time over the next few days looking at the book The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons.
In the first part of the book, Lyons describes the changing nature of Western culture, especially as religion is concerned. He describes the traditional religious landscape by breaking it down into two large categories, what he calls “separatist” and “cultural.”
Within the category of separatist, Lyons includes the following groups:
- Insiders: Christians who focus their interactions on other Christians by using Christian lawyers, Christian bankers, sending their kids to Christian schools, listening to Christian radio, etc.
- Culture Warriors: These Christians focus on “taking back our country.” They fight for prayer in schools and organize against gay rights and abortion. If you disagree with them, they will label you as unpatriotic or ungodly.
- Evangelizers: For these Christians, the only legitimate activity for Christians in this world is recruiting others to the faith. They want to win souls, no matter who they offend.
Within the category of “cultural,” Lyons includes these groups:
- Blenders: Accepting historic Christian beliefs, these Christians seek to blend into the cultural mainstream. Their lives mirror the culture around them.
- Philanthropists: For these Christians, the only Christian activity that matters is helping others. They lack the message of the gospel from which these works should spring.
Lyons sees “The Next Christians” as following into another category: Restorers. (Yes, those of us in the Restoration Movement find a bit of irony in the use of that title) Lyons calls them restorers because they are actively seeking to restore the world to what it once was. He’ll spend the rest of the book fleshing out what that looks like.
Any reaction so far? I see a lot of similarity to James Davison Hunter’s To Change the World, which we examined in several posts earlier.
(Disclaimer: The links to books in this review link to my Amazon Associates account and I will receive a small commission should you purchase via this link)
Biblically, the story of scripture is God creating and then restoring his creation back to its created intent (from the destruction done by sin and evil). So I think we are on to something when we see ourselves restore life as God wills it to be. It does raise an interesting question for the heirs of the Restoration Movement: what does it mean for us to be restorers in the 21st century? Is the task of trying to restore the primitive or ancient church really what we are biblically called to be about? Or are we called to the same mission Jesus was called to…the kingdom (God’s will done on earth as in heaven) mission which seems to be about restoring life to its created intent?
Grace and Peace,
Rex
P.S., for those who might think this is purely social-gospel, for people’s lives to be restored they will still need to hear the only gospel that has the power to set them free from the sin and evil that enslaves them and contributes to a degenerated life.
Sounds interesting. Not sure where I would fit. I like Restorer to a degree though I still see it more from a traditional Church of Christ mindset which might surprise some. I am interested in restoring the intent of the Christian faith and Jesus Christ to be salt and light, to show a better way.
I look forward to when Jesus will fully restore his creation and think that is what we should show. A glimmer of what is to come upon His return.