Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age By Andrew Root

In the past 5 years, one series of texts that I have considered “can’t miss” in relation to the church and ministry of the church has been Andrew Root’s “Ministry in a Secular Age Series.” It started back in 2017 with Faith Formation in a Secular Age, continued with book two in the series being The Pastor in a Secular Age (2019), and was followed with The Congregation in a Secular Age (2021). Each book builds off the others, but they also work as stand-alone texts- each having it’s own worthy discussion about ministry in the secular age. I thought that after three great books that Root’s series was done. However, I was delighted to learn I was mistaken, and today I am writing about the fourth book in this series Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age. I previously reviewed Pastor in a Secular Age on this blog, and whereas I thought it would be impossible to top an engagement with Jenson and ministry, I believe Andrew Root has outdone himself here.

Keys to Bonhoeffer’s Haus – A Review

So, I have a confession.

The first biography I ever read on Bonhoeffer was Eric Metaxas’ book, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy. Now granted, this wasn’t my introduction to Bonhoeffer, I had already read Discipleship, Life Together, and Creation and Fall but aside from a few biographical notes I’d picked up in classes, Metaxas was my first “deep dive” or dive at least into Bonhoeffer’s life. You are likely wondering why I feel the need to  confess such a thing or why I feel the shame I do about this, so let me explain. First and upfront, I think Metaxas tells a pretty good story, a World War 2 thriller involving this “Pastor” this “prophet”, this “martyr”, this “spy”. It wasn’t a story though nor should it have been a thriller. It was sold as a biography, and what it was instead was a fan fiction about who Bonhoeffer might have been had he been an American Conservative.

The book which started this blog (Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker by Andrew Root ) opened my eyes to the shortcomings of Metaxas’ story. Root’s book set some aspects of Bonhoeffer’s life straight from the crooked story Metaxas told and whet my appetite to start anew in coming to learn the story of Bonhoeffer’s life. So when I found myself sidelined by an appendectomy, I decided to tackle Bethge’s biography of Bonhoeffer; what a joyous labor that was. Much that was missing or falsely framed in Metaxas’ story gained clarity, Bonhoeffer the person started to shine through. Next I read Marsh’s biography of Bonhoeffer, A Strange Glory, and appreciated more the complex but beautiful person Bonhoeffer was. My interest in Bonhoeffer resembled an obsession as I started collecting his works.  I read His Letters from Prison, Ethics, even his first two dissertations more and more of his world opened up to me a world I want others to see.

 

 

Some, but not all of my books by and about Bonhoeffer

I understand though that not many have time nor the desire to read the thousands of pages from the material mentioned above, (Some may be losing steam a few hundred words into this too long introduction.) so into this void steps Laura M. Fabrycky’s text, Keys to Bonhoeffer’s Haus (KTBH), a wonderful tour into the life the wisdom and the world of Bonhoeffer, one which I happily recommend to Bonhoeffer veterans or newbies alike for it’s fresh perspectives and its wholly satisfying (and challenging) approach to Bonhoeffer. 

 

What Metaxas did to Bonhoeffer (molding him into his own agenda) was not unique to how Bonhoeffer has been used since his death. Dietrich’s good friend Bethge spoke out at various times against the efforts of those who would hijack his message or make him the hero of their cause. One thing I truly appreciated about this book was the constant and honest effort by Laura Fabrycky to name the areas where she might be tempted to do likewise and avoid those pitfalls. What ends up emerging is one of the most enfleshed versions of Bonhoeffer that I have encountered in my studies- a look at Bonhoeffer that I am grateful for in the present times of uncertainty. Writing into what was already the chaotic state of our world she tells the reader ”

Above all, I wrote this book as a sign that I have chosen hope and invite you to do so too” KTBH- p.28 

Now, granted Laura Fabrycky chose hope before a pandemic and riots around the country but I believe she would continue to choose hope, I know I am trying to.

One aspect of being a hope filled people is speaking hope and truth into the world. Early on the author explores how the Nazis reformed and repurposed language to fit their needs. Alongside this tendency came a similarly disturbing tendency for those living in that time to use passive language which denied the ugliness of their actions or the actions of the state and euphemized atrocities. Into this world Fabrycky reminds us that Bonhoeffer called for the church to drive a spoke in the wheel of oppression. I am worried that as the church we function more as a lubricant for the machines of oppresion be they political, racial or capital. We sprinkle our vocabulary on top of the American dream in order to make it’s selfish aims seem Holy. Instead of amplifying the voice of the hurting we dampen it down with switching the word “all” in for the word “black” when discussing who’s lives matter. A rather passive practice.

I want to say here that Bonhoeffer would say “this” or Bonhoeffer would say “that” but as I am brought through this story of Germany and Bonhoeffer I am reminded by the author that to do so wouldn’t be fair. Our times are not Germany’s. So instead as she puts so wonderfully

“we can take counsel from the wisdom of his life, but it is our responsibility to act wisely in our own lives” p. 51 (KTBH)

And that’s just it, no matter how many books on Bonhoeffer or by Bonhoeffer one reads we are reminded that we can’t have him do the work of today. That needs done by us; as we seek counsel and wisdom in prayer and Scripture.

Keys To Bonhoeffer’s Haus, has eight chapters, or keys for consideration as  Laura Fabrycky seamlessly weaves between her experience as a volunteer tour guide at Bonhoeffer’s haus in Germany, and engagement with Bonhoeffer.  The keys aren’t cheap tokens from a shallow dive into Bonhoeffer, but instead are hard earned insights from careful consideration, study and time spent in shared places with Bonhoeffer. That matters to me the reader because it would be a shame to see Bonhoeffer tokenized or watered down, rest assured that doesn’t happen here.

I won’t discuss each key (Read it yourself!), but one of my favorite chapters/ keys was Chapter 4 The Watchwords. With the key: “When we hold on to the truth, we find the truth holds on to us, even when we are tempted to despair”(KTBH 91). I liked this chapter most because of where I am; a bit overwhelmed with the hurting all around, and feeling unable to do much if anything to help. In this chapter, Laura Fabrycky explores Bonhoeffer’s engagement with Scripture and prayer in his adult life. She reminds us what a powerful practice prayer was for him and his students.  As she puts it so wonderfully,

When Bonhoeffer joined his heart in prayer, whether when traveling before his arrest or after, when he was in prison, even though he was very alone, he joined the prayers of the scattered Confessing Church community and the company of heaven and earth. (KTBH, 117)

I am reminded that though I may feel isolated (I am quarantining extra due to my health.), I can find community in prayer and in Scripture. These may not seem to be very profound insights for an ordained elder in the church, but believe me I needed and appreciated the reminder. No where was this reminder more striking than in some words she had on the Psalms while reflecting on Bonhoeffer’s book Prayerbook of the Bible she tells the reader

“The Psalms don’t offer an escape from life; they offer a way to avoid escaping it— a way back from stone into flesh”120

 

I’ve not done justice to many aspects of Fabrycky’s work; she opens up Dietrich’s neighborhood, home church and house through stories of her time lived in Berlin that gave so much more depth to the story than I had gleaned elsewhere. There are 8 keys and I really only dove in on one, but towards the end of the book she has some poignant words of reminder that we are not Dietrich! But that is okay and reading this book can give the reader a picture of Dietrich’s life that can “be a helpful model, a sturdy bannister, that can help us expand our moral imaginations in our life and times” (KTBH, 211).

So then, read this book. Consider the keys, and expand your imaginations to how you can be active truth tellers today, tomorrow and in each valley or peak in life.

Jesus In the Trinity: A Beginner’s Guide to the Theology of Robert Jenson- A Review

When my wife saw me opening (with much excitement) my package from Amazon containing Lincoln Harvey’s Jesus In the Trinity: A Beginner’s Guide to the Theology of Robert Jenson she was a little confused. “Why do you need a beginner’s guide to Robert Jenson?” she wondered as she looked over at a shelf stocked with Jenson works and supplemental texts.

The shelf that caused my wife pause

 

I answered quickly, “We are all beginners when it comes to reading Jenson’s theology”. Now that may be a universal truth, or it might just be a personal confession that I am a slow learner in regards to Jenson.  I think, however, that my take is supported from the likes of David Bentley Hart and Stanley Hauerwas who marvel at how Jenson says so much so succinctly.

the pastor in a secular age – a review

If you haven’t read Faith in a Secular Age by Andrew Root, then you missed out on one of my favorite books that I read in 2017. Never fear! It is not too late- the book can still be purchased here . Recently Volume Two of Root’s Ministry in a Secular Age series came out (The pastor in as secular age) and is an early contender for my book of the year for 2019. One does not need to read volume 1 to read this book, but both deserve to be read. I started my blog years back reviewing Root’s book, Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker, and am happy that years later his work continues to shape and challenge the way I do ministry.

On Reading Well, Karen Swallow Prior

 Of course with a title like “On Reading Well” this was a book I was anxious to get my hands on. I love the idea of a book that reinforces my bookish ways! This text proved to do more than just that as you will see in the review that follows.

The Pastor a spirituality

As a pastor, each week often looks different for me, random lunch meetings, study times, pastoral tasks and building maintenance rarely prove to be repeatable or routine. There are a few exceptions however, and one exception that I have come to treasure as a source of life, encouragment and learning is my Tuesday meetings with the Reverend Doctor Matt Rundio.  Matt and I started meeting a little over two years ago, I was interviewing for the position I currently hold as Sr  Pastor of New Hope and feeling overwhelmed I asked Matt if he would be willing to meet and talk about ministry, he agreed and two years later the meetings continue (and hopefully will for years to come). I had the pleasure of spending the early part of this week with Matt at PALCON and while there he lent me this book that I now blog about.

Thanks Matt!

I have a working theory regarding underlines in a book; often it is the case that if a book is heavily underlined in the beginning, I can guess without looking that this over-eager underliner likely did not finish the text, and in turn after the first few chapters the book will look new, untouched. I have a few ideas regarding this; first heavy underlines give me the impression that the reader was overwhelmed. Reading so many new ideas, while stimulating can also be tiring, and even if early highlights are a sign of excitement, it is a posture that can be hard to maintain– information overload.  Second, heavy underlines can also indicate confusion or need of clarity when all ideas seem to be good ideas, it may just be the case the book is not communicating to the reader what the author intended to communicate, and confusion is a frustrating experience in reading, leading one to put the book down until another time. So when I get a book off Amazon that is heavily marked early on, I can usually assuage my disappointment in this by telling myself it can’t last.

Of course my theory doesn’t always pan out, sometimes the highlighter isn’t overeager or overwhelmed, they just happen to have in their hands a book that warrants such markings. Such is the case with this text from Lathrop. Prior to my borrowing of this text it was well loved and marked by my friend Matt, and I love seeing what excited, challenged and gave him life in this book, even if at times it was “ALL THE WORDS”

An Example of the highlighting love this book has received

Matt may have underlined more than he didn’t while reading this but it was not without warrant, Lathrop beautifully captures the role of Pastor as symbol, pastor as table server. I recommend any in ministry read this book. It is a relatively short book clocking in at about 134 pages, but where it lacks in lenght it more than makes  up for in content. Broken into two parts Lathrop first addresses “Learning the Tasks by Heart”- in which Lathrop explores the act of prayer, preaching, table fellowship and caring for the poor as the defining practices and symbols of pastoral ministry, part two then explores living from the liturgy, “A Little Cathechism for the Pastor”, in this part Lathrop dives into the pastor in sudy, daily life, and tending to death, which we all ought do more since it is a guarantee in life right along with taxes.

It would overwhelm this blog post to share all the gems and truth that Lathrop communicated in his book so I will stick to quoting from on section which I wanted to share, a section on the pastor as reader. The fact that this struck me ought not surprise many considering the title of this blog. All the same his words here proved to be more eloquent or pastorly than I have ever managed to be with my colleagues regarding my desire for them to read, or read more.

I have often thought that I might like to write a book on the pastor as reader- a piece of persuasion trying to communicate the necessity of reading for our task. I have also understood the beautiful irony that for more than one reason that book would not be read).

I first want to share this word on the delight of reading-

The reading of books ought be no grim duty. Delight is the operative word. And the study that is called for is by no means only attention to the useful subjects of immediate and pragmatic application to the next sermon, the next adult forum, or the next parish meeting. Pastors do really need to pay attention to what is—with curiosity following questions that genuinely interest them, apart from all the utility, with joy delighting in the play of words and their interesting mediating relationships with other people’s experiences of the world.

Lathrop, Pastor, 101

I told in an earlier post the story of reading becoming drab for me, and how I paradoxically overcame that season by reading books that weren’t assigned to me. Nothing can kill the joy of reading more than reading with an agenda can. Often the agenda you bring to a book is foreign to the point the author desires to communicate, so in turn you become unfairly frustrated with the author and the book. Deadlines gnaw at you and so you skim where it would be more appropriate to pause. Bringing an agenda to a book, or demanding out a book a satisfaction of a need of yours is unfair, imagine doing so to a friend or in a conversation with another. Many of you have probably felt the sting of finding out there was an agenda to an old friend reaching out to “catch up”, as miraculous as their anti-aging cream might be, you can’t help but feel used, objectified, even if this person thought they meant well by you. Don’t do this to your books! Good books were written as a gift, receive them with grace and allow them to open up the world to you.

The next quote furthers this cause of mine and does so in a pastoral and gracious way that communicates the beauty of the text and also the heart I wish I brought to this conversation.

“How can I possible (sic) do this, given my schedule” says the busy pastor. “Do you know how guilty I would feel?” Ah, dear sister or brother pastor, let the gospel of Christ deal with your guilt. Work hard indeed. You need to do so. But then let that gospel call you to rest. Take time off, sabbath tim. And let creation faith form you to pay attention to what is, take new delight in your own encounter with parts of the world beyond your immediate orgainzing responsibility. Beside you do not need to pick up the whole library of books. One book at a time– or maybe two—read even just a little every day—even just a page or two before you go to sleep—will lead you farther than you might imagine into the possibility of holding utterly new ideas together in your mind. And—the pastor may say to herself or himself—may I please let myself be open to thinking a new idea

Lathrop, Pastor, 103

Much more should be said about how beautifully Lathrop speaks of the task of pastor as co- beggar at the table, but this blog is long enough as it stands. I will say in closing that I do believe that if the Ragamuffin Priest from Bernanos’ Diary of a Country Priest were to have written a theology it would read a lot like this book does, and in my book it is hard to give it a more ringing endorsement.

Blessings,

Pastor Matthew Codd

The New Copernicans- a review

“You know somethings happening but you don’t know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones” – Bob Dylan “Ballad of a Thin Man”

Though Bob Dylan penned those lyrics in the 1960s, it is a sentiment that has proven true for many an author/ pastor/ business guru et al. that has sought to explain millenialism. Though the perspectives and reasons for trying to understand millenials have varied, there has typically been one trait common in these “Mr (and Mrs/Ms.) Jones; they aren’t millenials nor do they seem to know millenials.

The Nazarene Pastor’s Record Player

This post is a review of the recently released The Monk’s Record Player: Thomas Merton, Bob Dylan, and the Perilous Summer of 1966 by Robert Hudson. I feel the need to give a shout out to the Borgers and their excellent blog/ book store who first brought my attention to this work. They can be found here . It appears that they have sales pretty regularly, and they do well to blog about books that you mightwant to check out! Lastly they let you pay by check after they send the books! Who does that?!

I am “Inspired” by Rachel Held Evans new book!

So I have a theory. A theory that if true is very exciting; people are starting to read their Bibles again. Don’t get me wrong, sword drills, Bible Quizzes and daily tweets or emails of Scriptures have ensured that the Bible has been read in bits. Books on the Prayer of Jabez, and Reflections on Jeremiah 29:11, have abounded ensuring that we as proper Protestant Evangelicals could give lip service to our love of Scripture, our love of the Word of God– nevermind the dust on our Bible that says otherwise.

You see, the “hope for a future” while beautiful, is often robbed the context of being a promise given a people in exile a people who ignored the weeping prophet and in turn were displaced by Babylon. These people knew after all they were “God’s chosen people” and they had plenty of soothsayers encouraging them that they needed no more than to just be a better version of themselves and not worry about that whiny prophet telling them otherwise. Nevermind the hungry widow at the edge of town, the homeless orphan or the neglected foreigner; after all they had a wall to protect them!

As people are reading their Scriptures more faithfully they are noticing that these promises that hang from banners and decorate the bumper of many of their church going peers don’t seem to tell the whole story. What of Jeremiah 29:10 they might wonder, are we the people stepping into the great promises of the future or are we the people in the midst of the 70 year exile? Or perhaps we are the people ignoring the weird weeping prophet sure that we are God’s chosen people with a yuge wall on the way.

I think the newfound Scripture reading phenomena can be tied to a journey that is beautifully detailed in Rachel Held Evans book Searching For Sunday. Searching for Sunday is a book that deserves a post on its own, but it is a story that resonated with many who started feeling displaced in their home churches, longing for more, more depth, more tradition, more room for questions, ultimately more room for doubt. In this place of tension, works of Richard Rohr, Annie Dillard, and (pre-marketing) Donald Miller started finding homes on many a wanderers bookshelves. These displaced believers started reading about new practices of Scripture reading, Lectio Divina, Daily office, and the Lectionary, to name a few. For the first time in their lives they began reading Scripture on the regular, and unlike those few weeks (days) after church camp this new practice of reading had staying power.

Now if my theory is right about more people reading Scripture than I am indeed excited however I am also well aware of the “Odd World of Scripture” these people are venturing into. You see the Lectionary is not as carefully crafted as your run of the mill evangelical recommended Scripture list. You read not just about an Ark, but also about a naked drunk old man after the ark. You read about genocide, about killing people for gathering sticks on the sabbath, you read about “uncleanly discharges” (shudder). These stories can easily lead to those already feeling displaced in their homes of worship to feeling even more confused and unsettled, why hadn’t they heard these stories before, what do they do with it? How is any of this the Inspired Word of God.

Enter Rachel Held Evans (RHE) new book Inspired (Due out June of 2018). Armed with some impressive reading partners, (Brueggeman, Enns, Ellen Davis, and N.T. Wright to name a few) she brings the readers along with her own journey of doubt and frustration with Scriptures. In heartbreaking accounts, RHE tells of how her doubt was met with simple platitudes, accusations, or being snubbed by those close to her.

Platitudes aside the questions remained, what of the violence, what of the seemed endorsement of slavery?  RHE does especially well to name the portions of Scripture that seem to treat women as subhuman, whether Esther or Jephthah’s daughter. RHE doesn’t white wash these stories but rather comiserates with them, she talks about a liturgy of lament in which she and an artist friend creatively honored the female victims of Scripture, and considered the plight of many oppressed women today (Inspired p. 77). RHE wraps up her discussion on the challenging parts of Scripure that leave the reader with unanswered questions stating

I am in no rush to patch these questions up. God save me from the day when stories of rape, violence, and ethnic cleansing inpsire within me anything other than revulsion. I don’t want to become a person who is unbothered by these texts and if Jesus is who he says he is then I don’t think he wants me to be either. There are parts of the Bible that inspire, parts that perplex and parts that leave you with an open wound. I’m still wrestling, and like Jacob I will wrestle until I am blessed. God hasn’t let go of me yet.”

-Rachel Held Evans p. 81

I couldn’t say it better myself.

Recently, when talking to a friend, lamented that for too long the Bible has remained an unread resource in the church. He confessed that reality was true for him, he paused from reading it because he wasn’t sure what he believed with the Bible, and feels like he is still developing his thoughts on the matter. But ultimately he believes he should be reading it as he wrestles with these questions.

I think Inspired is for people like my friend. Rachel Held Evans does a wonderful job showing the beauty of the journey of doubt, questioning and wrestling. Through her experience, and impressively cited resource of Biblical Theologians and authors RHE opens up the possibility of falling in love with the Bible again, and for that reason alone the book is worth reading.

There is so much more I want to say in praise of this book, it is written with incredible voice, her stories of family, pregnancy, and moments of self deprecation “the legacy of valor continues”( you have to read it to get that line on p. 15) have the reader feeling they know her better than they do. I have never met her, I follow her on Twitter, and she follows me (because she likes random tweets about Colorado sports teams?) but I am glad to count her as a fellow doubter a sister in Christ and a voice of Christian sanity in a world of Falwell Jrs. and Metaxases.

As a pastor I won’t hesitate to share this book as a resource to a congregant looking to read the Bible better, more faithfully and from a place of comfort in discomfort, I am grateful to have it as a resource for just that.

I can’t close this review up without mentioning one of my favorite parts of this book, between each chapter are beautiful short stories, dramas, creative flannelgrams in writing depicting stories in Scripture from varying perspectives. They are wonderful journeys of creativity that had me laughing, and even at times a little misty eyed. I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase a compilation book of reflections just like it (so go ahead and write it whenever RHE).

TLDR: I hope you are excited for June 12th 2018 when this book will be available to all, because it is a book that should be in your library.

Blessings,

Pastor Matthew Codd

You’ll never believe the outrageous thing Rob Bell says in Chapter 7!!

A few weeks back I had a post of mine “go viral” so to speak. I had preordered a book and upon receiving it in the mail, I took a picture of the book and said simply “I am excited to read this Rob Bell book.” 80 comments later I was surprised to learn so many had an opinion of what I do or do not read, especially since most of the book reviews  on this blog average around 5 readers a post (props to my mom and my wife).