This book proposes a third way to the current debates between the traditional church and emerging church in contemporary American culture. Belcher’s first task is defining “traditional” vs. “emerging or Emergent.” This is pretty hard, and he is able to make generalization while being aware that these are not blanket statements. He also summarizes arguments of books he has read to try to understand the debate and the many perspectives. He then illuminates 7 areas where the third way helps to achieve the Deep Church rather than further divide the Church. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it was much more graceful than other books on this subject, as it can easily lead to being polemical. One thing that troubled me was that in trying to get to “mere Christianity” Belcher proposes a system of Tier 1 and Tier 2 beliefs. Tier 1 being essential, Tier 2 as more peripheral. The trouble is that these two constantly butt heads and I don’t think it resolves as easily as he suggests. For instance, Baptism (adult vs. infant) is a Tier 2 belief, but many would argue that it fundamentally shapes their Tier 1 beliefs about covenant, sovereignty, justification, etc. Well, I guess I’ll just have to ask him at Jubilee in a couple of weeks.
Fifty Two Fifty Two
52 Books in One Year