A Peculiar People: The Church As Culture in a Post-Christian Society

by Clapp, Rodney

• ISBN13: 9780830819904
• ISBN10: 0830819908
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-11-01
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr

Summary

Voted one ofChristianity Today's1997 Books of the Year!Christians feel increasingly useless, argues Rodney Clapp, not because we have nothing to offer a post-Christian society, but because we are trying to serve as "sponsoring chaplains" to a civilization that no longer sees Christianity as necessary to its existence. In our individualistic, technologically oriented, consumer-based culture, Christianity has become largely irrelevant.The solution is not to sentimentally capitulate to the way things are. Nor is it to retrench in an effort to regain power and influence as the sponsor of Western civilization. What is needed is for Christians to reclaim our heritage as a peculiar people, as unapologetic followers of the Way. Within the larger pluralistic world, we need to become a sanctified, subversive culture that develops Christian community as a truly alternative way of life. Christians must learn to live the story and not just to restate it.Writing inclusively with considerable verve, Clapp offers a keen analysis of the church and its ministry as we face a new millennium.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	9	(11)
Where I'm Writing From	11	(5)
The Church as Unchurch
How Christians Became Useless	16	(17)
The Church as Private Club
Irrlevant for Constantine's Sake	33	(11)
The Church as Nation-State
Why America Is Not the Issue	44	(14)
The Church as Type
Why Christians Should Thank God for the Culture Wars	58	(18)
The Church as Church
Practicing the Politics of Jesus	76	(18)
The Church as Worshiping Community
Welcome to the (Real) World	94	(20)
The Church as Parade
The Politics of Liturgy	114	(12)
The Church as Listening Community
The Performance of Scripture	126	(14)
The Church as World
On the Faithfulness of Pagans	140	(18)
The Church as Mission & Message
Evangelism After Constantine	158	(14)
The Church as a Way of Life
Liturgy After the Liturgy	172	(15)
The Church as a Community of Friends
About Beginning Where We Already Are	187	(26)
Notes	213	(36)
Index	249