Exiles by Michael Frost - Book Review 1
Did you know if you go to the Post Office you can annoying them into giving you your package a day early? It's true! Why would I do such an obnoxious thing? Very simply, I wanted my advanced copy of Michael Frost's new book "Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture" (Hendrickson Publishers, 2006, 333 pages) to review here. Since reading the excellent and essential "The Shaping of Things to Come" that he co-authored with Alan Hirsch (Hendrickson Publishers , 2003, 236 pages) and corresponding with Frost, I have been eagerly awaiting his next title.
In this multipy-post review my hope is to reflect on the book specifically within the context of my own role as a missional practitioner in an inner city community. This is an unusual approach for me, but it is an attempt to subvert my own tendency to process and write about material intellectually. In the end, I hope it will be more personal and engage the contents in a praxis approach that will benefit others. If I fail to do this, I would direct you to the excellent and superior review of my friend, Len at Next Reformation.
In his introductory note to readers, Frost affirms an important stance he holds towards the established church, one that I think everyone in the emerging church conversation needs to adhere to. Referencing his writing and lecturing around the world, he says:
"Some of my listeners have reviled it as 'church bashing,' while others celebrate is as prophetic. I have never claimed to be doing either. I have no stomach for unsophisticated church-bashing. Announcing that the church is like an emperor with no clothes is easy enough. Any fool can do it. And besides, the church seems altogether unchanged by such announcements... Neither have I ever made claim to being a prophet... I claim no greater insight or higher knowledge... Thus, as a member and lover of the body of Christ, it is my hope that in this book I will engage and edify the entire church and 'speak the truth in love' (Eph. 4:15). Wherever I fulfill that marvelous directive from Ephesians, I give thanks, and wherever I fail it, I ask forgiveness"
He then enters into the heart of the book. Here is a glance at the contents:
Part I: Dangerous Memories
1. Self Imposed Exiles
The Memory: God Will Rescue the Exiled People
2. Jesus the Exile
The Memory: Jesus Was a Radical and a Subversive
3. Following Jesus into Exile
The Memory: Jesus Is Our Standard and Example
Part II: Dangerous Promises
4. Exiled from a Hyper-Real World
The Promise: We Will Be Authentic
5. The Exile's Esprit de Corps
The Promise: We Will Serve a Cause Greater Than Ourselves
6. Fashioning Collectives of Exiles
The Promise: We Will Create Missional Community
7. Exiles at the Table
The Promise: We Will Be Generousand Practice Hospitality
8. Working for the Host Empire
The Promise: We Will Work Righteously
Part III: Dangerous Criticism
9. Restless with Injustice
The Critique: You Have Been an Unjust Empire
10. Exiles and the Earth
The Critique: You Have Not Cared for God's Creation
11. Comforting the Oppressed
The Critique: You Have Not Protected God's Children
Part IV: Dangerous Songs
12. Exiles at the Altar
The Song: To God Be the Glory
13. The Songs of Revolution
The Song: Jesus Ain't My Boyfriend
Epilogue
Resources
It will be well worth the wait.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Thanks for the review- reading Len's and looking forward to yours.
Dana (Comment this)
That is why I am so blessed to have received this one for free. This blog seems to be supporting my book habit. I'd love to hear what you picked up in San Diego. Hope all is well!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Definitely looking forward to your review (my copy is on it's way!), and was encouraged by your highlighting the following by Frost:
"it is my hope that in this book I will engage and edify the entire church and 'speak the truth in love' (Eph. 4:15). Wherever I fulfill that marvelous directive from Ephesians, I give thanks, and wherever I fail it, I ask forgiveness."
Good stuff. No. Great stuff!
Blessings,
Chris (Comment this)
I agree. Great stuff and a needed introduction for such a work.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
Finished:
Lost Message of Jesus
Embracing Grace
Generous Orthodoxy
In the middle of:
Climax of the Covenant (didn't get that at SD but need to finish!)
Reforming the Doctrine of God (LeRon Schults- I so wish I could take his classes)
Out of Bounds Church
The Sacred Way
Yet to come:
Free of Charge
No Perfect People Allowed
Messy Spirituality
Emerging Churches
Tough to pass up sales, and to have your books signed by the authors ;) That's just SD- I have a few others waiting for me too. Books and chocolate are definitely good things that slip into vices for me.
Really need to work on reorganizing my day to more of a monastic schedule so I can actually study, rather than read hit-and-miss. Pretty undisciplined right now.
Great Moses parable. I identify with the privileges, still very scary for me to incarnate among, though I take stabs at it (helping in the reading program in an elementary school). I believe I could do it with a better will With people who would help and encourage me. I crave a church where I'm not the one just trying to get a hearing for these ideas.
Dana (Comment this)
Wow, great list. Here's my take:
Lost Message of Jesus - need to finish, but have put it aside for a while now due to other projects.
Embracing Grace - Excellent book. One of my favs of late. What did you think?
Generous Orthodoxy - Also a fav for me. Need to reread it.
Out of Bounds Church - In the middle of this myself, as Scot McKnight's suggestion. Enjoying it.
The Sacred Way - Own it, haven't started (sorry Tony)
Free of Charge - Received it as a gift, pending read.
Emerging Churches - Pretty good intro.
As with you, books & chocolate are a weakness for me as well. Could be worse, except in combo together.
The Moses parable came to me while reading "Exiles". I struck me deeper than I was able to communicate it, but I had to get it down before it was gone. Glad you appreciated it. (Plus, I had to include my dear Michelangelo again).
My church is VERY active, even in the community, but its size changes the flavour of involvement. Not a criticism, just not a good fit for me. Keep on with the reading program! You have the power to "corrupt" another generation with a love for books!
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
The year I studied in Europe, I was on a personal pilgrimage to see all the Michelangelo works I could find in each city I visited. I've loved his stuff since I was about 12. A memorable time I have been surprised by beauty was when I was taking the Vatican Museum tour and was climbing some stairs between the rooms, and suddenly came upon the Doni tondo in a little alcove in the stairway at just about eye level. Awesome.
Like your story, something you can't really put words to the whole of, but have the need to build an altar somehow.
Embracing grace is good, better now that I know what Scot's actual voice sounds like- (one of the best parts of meeting people FTF). Very accessible, should be on every US Christian's reading list.
I've corrupted my kids, at least; oldest and youngest always have their noses in a book, and middle child sees the good in reading but is mildly dyslexic so it's something of a chore for her. My husband and I both came from not very wealthy families who valued printed matter and always had it around; in fact, father-in-law was a freelance writer for a while and had a longish run with "Power Boat" magazine. So it's "genetic".
Dana (Comment this)
Have you read "The Agony & The Ecstasy"? If not, you MUST and soon. I have yet to visit any of his works in person, but have always loved the depth and complexity of his works. The movie is more commonly known, but it is a mere shadow of the book.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)
I hope you will one day get to experience the immensity of M's vision and spirit seeing the works in person.
D. (Comment this)
I long to see it. I also hope to discover just the tiniest bit of his inspiration for myself.
Peace,
Jamie (Comment this)