Review: Your Church Is Too Small

John Armstrong's new book, Your Church Is Too Small published by Zondervan has drawn my interest for at least a couple of reasons. First, John and I go back a ways. I attended his church when he was in the sectarian stage of his faith journey during the 80's. Both of us left sectarianism but we traveled separate paths to arrive where we are today. Second, is my deep-rooted interest in friendship. Jesus called his disciples friends. Friendship in the Christian story is at the heart of marriage, community, mission, and reconciliation--not just with the world outside our Christian communities but also within. If we don't trivialize or sentimentalize friendship as Protestants are often tempted to do, a robust vision of friendship as communion summons us to deep oneness in community and solidarity. Friends who love each other deeply don't treat each other as projects, "causes," or stepping-stones to something more important. Friendship challenges "impersonal" community. Friendships are nurtured not just for the sake of the church or community. Friendships are nurtured for the sake of the particular other, for Christ, and for the kingdom. I see friendship as a metaphor describing complex social bonds that compel us to move beyond parochialism, sexism, sectarianism, and many other walls that separate "friends of Christ."

This leads me to John's driving vision for what he calls "missional-ecumenism." He dives into Jesus' prayer, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17: 20-21). John believes Jesus prays for relational unity. That resonates with me. As a matter of fact, my own book was motivated by understanding Jesus' prayer for relational unity and the deep repercussions for nurturing and cultivating relational oneness between men and women as friends within our communities. So John did not have to convince me that Jesus prays for relational unity. We've come a long way, John!

In fact, one of the interesting facts in my own journey was the warm support and encouragement I have received from Catholics--theologians, nuns, and priests--to write a book on cross-gender friendship.

I gladly welcome any book that pushes us to consider the wonder and beauty of relational oneness as friends of Christ--within the evangelical/Protestant world--and our Orthodox and Catholic friends. Sadly too often, our evangelical worship/community reflects such a deep inward focus. Its about our church's mission, our vision, our distinctives, our prayer concerns, etc.  Its all about us. One of the most refreshing things I ever experienced week in and week out for seven years in an Anglican church was to hear genuine, authentic prayers for unity, for Christ to make us one. That shaped me. Its a prayer of Jesus. Praying for unity is no small thing for a disciple of Christ. If communities don't hear that from their leaders this prayer and passion for unity often as a habitual practice they're much likely to perpetuate a tribal  inward focus.

How do we nurture and cultivate a spirit of catholic diversity?

John writes, "So how should unity and diversity seen within the Trinity impact our relationships? I suggest we consider more deeply how each member of the Trinity cares for the other with love and tenderness. Such a social and relational understanding of the Trinity will impact profoundly how we treat each other if we put it into practice."

There are three major sections in the book divided into looking at the past, the present, and the future. John fully recognizes the challenge before him as he argues his case: to affirm unity, a meaningfully rich unity, one must also affirm diversity--a catholic diversity. For a personal example, John writes, that when someone has asked him about a particular friend or ministry, he tries to find positive ways of expression to bless that person. This indeed, is one of the chief marks of fidelity and friendship. Some of the most positive and practical examples John gives--they are expressions of authentic friendship.

Of course, writing on something so complex as relational unity between Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox, is a huge major undertaking.  I am thankful that John had the courage to take up the challenge.

 

Comments

[John H. Armstrong]

We do go back a long way my friend. We both had to learn how to love well before we could be friends like we always truly longed for deep within our spirit. I am convinced this longing is a part of the created order and renewed by the Spirit. I am also grateful for your kind comments about the book. Knowing you enjoyed it and related to it pleases me much more than you can know.