(e)mergent Voyageurs

I was quite excited to get to Part III of of the book, which is entitled "Dangerous Criticism", as the chapter headings promised to address the issues of injustice, the environment and persecution/oppression.  Each of these three topics are important areas for the Body of Christ to address, especially in the Western world, where the means to do so are readily available and the guilt of complicity is significantly present.  However, while each chapter was excellent, it was the first section of the book where I was disappointed.  Let me go through each chapter:

Affirming the quick and admirable response of millions of people worldwide to the crises of the 2004 tsunami or Hurricane Katrina, Frost challenges that these bursts of generosity, while important, do not replace the greater responsibility of coming against the systemtic injustices that are so rampant in our world which victimize millions daily.  Spending much of his time on the demonic (my word, not his) systems of massive corporations, we are introduced how many of us unwittingly (though often knowingly) participate in vast injustices.

My criticism of this chapter is that the emphasis on corporate or govermental advocacy takes too central a position at the expense of exploring other systems of injustice that we all so often contribute to.  One example would be the incredible racialization of Western Christianity, which impacts us on a bredth and depth few of us realize.  (As I have done many times before, I cannot be strong enough in my endorsement of Anthony Smith in this regard.  His is, in my opinion, one of the more important voices in the church to hear).  So while I feel Frost failed to engage the topic on a more grassroots level, the approach he tooks was valid, practical and necessary.

10. Exiles and the Earth - The Critique: You Have Not Cared for God's Creation

In this chapter, Frost challenges the shallow rejection of the environmental movement that so often is used in Western Evangelicalism and politics.  He rightfully points out that the dangerous disregard for Creation often stems from a negative eschatology where everything is bound for destruction anyways, exposing the weakness of this premise.  He calls Christians- all people- to examine the history and evidence of our destructive behaviour towards Creation and make changes on every level in response.

However, on a subtle level, Frost falls prey to the very eschatology he critiques, even if only slightly.  By framing the call to care for Creation largely as a response to the abuse against it, environmentalism become yet another battle or cause on an increasingly growing list.  Rather, I had hoped Frost would have spent more time developing a theology of Creation, one in which the importance of Creation in our spiritual (and even missional) formation was central.  This is why I continually advocate what I call "sacramental ecology", as the motivation to fight the abuses will be directly connected to the level in which we paricipate with and relate to Creation as God intended.  That being said, the chapter still offers an excellent introduction to the realities of what we are facing and some ideas for change.

11. Comforting the Oppressed - The Critique: You Have Not Protected God's Children

Of the three chapters in this section, this was probably the best.  In a time when Christians often live in the cushioned bubbles of our own cultural and national realities, Frost challenges to see that millions of people, very often Christians, are suffering and dying unjustly around the world.  He call us to become globally minded and locally active to affect real change.  As he did in all of the chapters of this section, he warns us that this may come at a very real and personal cost, but that this is what we "signed up for", so to speak.  A good introduction to the global issues of of human rights and religious persecution.

Later this week I will finish my review of the book.  The time it has taken me should reflect on the quality of book, except that I wanted to read it carefully and fully, as it is so rich and full.  Additionally, our ministry is moving to a new office in the neighbourhood which will not only consume time, but also limit my access to the internet while the service is changed over.

Emerging Church