Ancient–Future Faith – Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World
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Paperback / softback
£17.99
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780801060298
Number of Pages: 240
Published: 01/11/1999
Width: 15.8 cm
Height: 22.7 cm
In 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 church's effective response to a postmodern world will benefit from this paradigmatic volume. Informative tables and extensive bibliographies enhance the book's educational value.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part 1 Setting the Stage
1 Paradigm Thinking
2 From a Modern to a Postmodern Paradigm
3 The Return to Classical Christianity
Part 2 A Classical/Postmodern Christ
4 Christ Within the Paradigms of History
5 Christus Victor in the Apostolic Writings
6 The Theology of Recapitulation
7 Christ, the Center
Part 3 A Classical/Postmodern Church
8 Church Within the Paradigms of History
9 Restoring the Theology of the Church
10 Recovering Our Historical Connection
Part 4 A Classical/Postmodern Worship
11 Worship Within the Paradigms of History
12 Recovering the Theology and Order of Worship
13 Recovering Symbolic Communication
Part 5 A Classical/Postmodern Spirituality
14 Spirituality Within the Paradigms of History
15 Classical Spirituality
16 Christian Spirituality in a Postmodern World
Part 6 A Classical/Postmodern Mission
17 Evangelism as Process
18 Education as Wisdom
19 The Church in the World
Appendix A Classical/Postmodern Authority
Epilogue
Notes
Recommended Reading
Index
Acknowledgments
Part 1 Setting the Stage
1 Paradigm Thinking
2 From a Modern to a Postmodern Paradigm
3 The Return to Classical Christianity
Part 2 A Classical/Postmodern Christ
4 Christ Within the Paradigms of History
5 Christus Victor in the Apostolic Writings
6 The Theology of Recapitulation
7 Christ, the Center
Part 3 A Classical/Postmodern Church
8 Church Within the Paradigms of History
9 Restoring the Theology of the Church
10 Recovering Our Historical Connection
Part 4 A Classical/Postmodern Worship
11 Worship Within the Paradigms of History
12 Recovering the Theology and Order of Worship
13 Recovering Symbolic Communication
Part 5 A Classical/Postmodern Spirituality
14 Spirituality Within the Paradigms of History
15 Classical Spirituality
16 Christian Spirituality in a Postmodern World
Part 6 A Classical/Postmodern Mission
17 Evangelism as Process
18 Education as Wisdom
19 The Church in the World
Appendix A Classical/Postmodern Authority
Epilogue
Notes
Recommended Reading
Index