Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern WorldIn a world marked by relativism, individualism, pluralism, and the transition from a modern to a postmodern worldview, evangelical Christians must find ways to re-present the historic faith. In his provocative new work, Ancient-Future Faith, Robert E. Webber contends that present-day evangelicalism is a product of modernity. Allegiance to modernity, he argues, must be relinquished to free evangelicals to become more consistently historic. Empowerment to function in our changing culture will be found by adapting the classical tradition to our postmodern time. Webber demonstrates the implications in the key areas of church, worship, spirituality, evangelism, nurture, and mission. Webber writes, The fundamental concern of Ancient-Future Faith is to find points of contact between classical Christianity and postmodern thought. Classical Christianity was shaped in a pagan and relativistic society much like our own. Classical Christianity was not an accommodation to paganism but an alternative practice of life. Christians in a postmodern world will succeed, not by watering down the faith, but by being a counter cultural community that invites people to be shaped by the story of Israel and Jesus. A substantial appendix explores the development of authority in the early church, an important issue for evangelicals in a society that shares many features with the Roman world of early Christians. Students, professors, pastors, and laypeople concerned with the churchs effective response to a postmodern world will benefit from this paradigmatic volume. Informative tables and extensive bibliographies enhance the books educational value. - Amazon. |
Contents
Preface | 7 |
A ClassicalPostmodern Christ | 43 |
A ClassicalPostmodern Church | 75 |
A ClassicalPostmodern Worship | 98 |
A ClassicalPostmodern Spirituality | 117 |
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affirmed apostolic tradition authoritative authority baptism became believe Bible biblical body of Christ Catholic century chapter Charles Jencks Chris Christian faith Christian metanarrative Christian thought Christian tradition Christus Victor church fathers classical Christian confessions creation culture death and resurrection Didache divine doctrine early Christian earth Eerdmans emphasis Enlightenment Eucharist evangelism example experience gnostic God’s gospel Grand Rapids heaven Hippolytus Holy Spirit human incarnation interpretation Irenaeus Jesus Christ John kingdom liberals Lindbeck liturgy live Lord Marcion meaning medieval metanarrative mission modern mystery Nicene Creed Orthodox Paradigms of History Paul person philosophical postmodern world powers of evil prayer preaching presence problem reality reason recognize redemption Reformation relationship restore rite Robert Webber Roman rule of faith salvation Satan Scripture shift society speak spirituality Stanley Hauerwas symbolic teaching Tertullian theology things tion truth understanding unity universal Vincent of Lérins whole church words worldview worship writings York