I completed a live interview today about Coffeehouse Theology with Ted Elm today on Northland Notebook, a radio show in Minnesota and the surrounding area that is syndicated. I had a solid 25 minutes or so to talk about the book and had a pretty good time of it. You can hear the whole interview here.
I’m in this place where I have just finished a powerful and compelling book, and simultaneously feel like I have too much to say and nothing to say.
Jesus for President is a book that is so stirring, challenging, inspiring, terrifying, and disconcerting that you cannot help but mull it over and over again in your mind, even if you can’t quite put your thoughts into words. I liken it, a little bit at least, to how I felt when I found out about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. I felt a bit devastated, as if I’d been foolish. My world needed to change radically and dramatically.
As a child I needed to give up on some of the magic that had taken root in my life. In this case, I am looking into my life and trying to untangle the American dream and its militant materialism from my relationship with Jesus.
It could be easy to dismiss Claiborn and Haw’s picture of Christianity as extreme, irrelevant, and naive. It’s not like there aren’t other Anabaptists out there calling Christians out of the army, out of government, and out of consumer society. There are others who take the Kingdom of God with equal seriousness.
What makes their approach unique is their direct application to American culture–they would call “empire”–today, and the way in which they make their case. In fact, the book is more than a collection of words. It is a work of art in and of itself. It has a beautiful, yet earthy art design that makes each page a delight. In fact, they illustrate one of their main points: Christians need to be creative.
At the heart of Christianity’s capitulation to American consumerism and militarism is a lack of imagination that fails to envision new, creative approaches to our situations today. I kept thinking these guys need to meet up with Tim Keel.
If anything, Haw and Clainborn take the lordship of Christ seriously. They treat the Kingdom of God as a true reality in our world. Christian community truly could be a powerful parallel culture that tells our world of another way to live. They are certainly not in danger of imitating the world as they seek to radically imitate Christ.
So while I didn’t exactly follow all of their interpretations of scripture, or find myself able to embody all that they charge Christians to do, I do believe you can’t find too much that is wrong with their take on Christianity. Can anyone fault them for loving others too much or serving the poor too much or possessing too little? I heard a respected theologian describe Clainborn as living a life that is above reproach, and I’d have to agree.
In a sense, Claiborn and Haw embody a new kind of Christianity that isn’t just aware of what our culture brings to us and isn’t just conversant with our culture’s categories, but actually looks radically different without retreating into a kind of Fundamentalist stronghold. They have found a way, a simple way if you will, of living in the world, but not being of it.
I find myself wanting to dig deeper into the vision laid out in Jesus for President. Perhaps the best move is to read the book again. In fact, I know I’ll do that. It’s just that kind of a book. I could say more, but I’ll wait until after the second reading.
I like the way Adam Walker Cleaveland, the latest stop on the Coffeehouse Theology blog tour, shares his take on my book. He shows the diversity of perspectives out there on theology and culture, reminding us that no one book could ever do all of the possibilities justice:
“Ed also points out that the work of coffeehouse theology is never done. He says that “While the core beliefs at the center of our theology - at the center of our web of beliefs - might never change, we will always be open to change” (209). I think I might be more open to the fact that we should remain open to the possibility that even some core ideas should be re-formed if the Spirit leads us that way, but I still appreciate Ed’s openness to the possibility of change, or progression and allowing ourselves the freedom to follow the movement of the Spirit.
I appreciate the work that Ed is doing through his book, and I would recommend it to the right group of people. It wasn’t a book that I found especially enthralling, but I think it is a good introduction to the ideas of contextual theology and the way that we think about our thoughts of God.”
I can’t remember when I first chatted with Derek Cooper during my time at Biblical Seminary, but it was pretty early on in my career. Soon our wives met and became fast friends, while Derek and I kept in touch at school. We continued to keep in touch after graduation.
Over the course of his seminary career, Derek attended a number of different schools. When he felt called to attend seminary, he spent time at a school with a very different theology from his own, assuming that things would work out.
They didn’t.
So he transferred to another school.
Then he moved. Another transfer.
Then he spent a semester checking out one school before settling in at the seminary where we met.
My chronology may be a bit off, but you get the idea. While entering seminary without too much knowledge about the schools out there, he quickly became an expert at evaluating the various schools out there. By the time he applied for his PhD at Lutheran Seminary, he became an encyclopedia of knowledge about every seminary. He even knows details about many schools outside of their theology departments.
So when I heard he was writing a book on picking the right seminary, I thought it was a perfect fit for him. His students at Biblical Seminary look up to him for advice and his insight has been nothing short of prophetic as my wife has explored her own graduate school options.
Now his book is out: So You’re Thinking About Going to Seminary. What’s great about this book is the sheer breadth of topics Derek covers. He begins with the basic question about whether or not someone should attend seminary in the first place, and walks readers right through the process to the point that he suggests possible professions and career paths.
While this book will undoubtedly help Christians decide whether or not seminary is the right choice or which seminary is the right fit (denominationally, theologically, etc.), it seems that Derek has left no stone unturned by providing guidance through seminary classes and other issues that will come up while attending seminary. He doesn’t just provide insight into step A, but rather goes from A-Z with his ideas, check lists, and questions.
If you really are considering seminary, then you will find this book an engaging read. Derek has made this topic as compelling as any human being possibly could, while the designers have done an amazing job pulling key quotes, inserting charts and graphs, and breaking down ideas into lists. Each appendix at the end is a gold mine of information.
So if you are considering seminary as a step into ministry or just to sharpen your theology, have a look at Derek’s book. With the information he supplies, it will be well worth its $15 price tag. Just think, even if he convinces you NOT to visit a prospective seminary, it’s much better to have spent the $15 on his book than $100 or more on that application fee and gas to visit all of those schools. And if he convinces you to attend seminary, then $15 is a bargain for such valuable, life-changing advice.
Geoff Matheson kicks off the November segment of the blog tour. I have a number of bloggers lined up to post on Coffeehouse Theology whenever they can. Many of these bloggers experienced shipping delays, so we’re not going to worry about a solid schedule to follow. I’ll just post the reviews whenever they come up.
Today (or did he post it tomorrow with the date line and Australia?), Geoff shares the following:
Despite a title that a friend called a little bit “touchy-feely-emergenty”, this book is a really worthwhile read. Up until now I’d have described Brian McLaren’s “A New Kind Of Christian” series as the best introduction to post-modernism and the ramifications for the church, but (with a completely different approach), Ed Cyzewski provides a very gentle, very thorough and balanced understanding of what post-modernism really is and how it effects how we think about God. Ed has a way of writing that makes him almost impossible to disagree with: you feel like he’s articulating the way you already felt, even as he takes you to places you’ve never been before.
If I could just drop in a quick aside… I love hearing the responses to the book’s title and cover. Some people love them and some really, really hate them. Since the cover and title were primarily the work of the good folks at NavPress, it’s been fun to sit back and see the responses. I pass along the positive remarks when they come, and chuckle when a reviewer says, “The book’s content is alright, but THAT COVER IS HIDEOUS!” I don’t pass those reviews on to NavPress.
We have variety of perspectives this week regarding Coffeehouse Theology on the blog tour.
Adam J. Copeland writes:
For me, however, the book didn’t particularly pique my interest for a simple reason. Ed and I come from very different backgrounds. I was encouraged to consider the veracity of the virgin birth in middle school youth group. It was at public school — not church — where I first heard that evolution was questionable. “Context” is practically my seminary’s motto.
I appreciate Coffeehouse Theology for what it is, though, an introduction to contextual theology in a clear, easy-to-read, and approachable way. If you’re new to the idea that people in different parts of the world will read the Bible very differently from you, or that the authors’ original intent is not always explicit, or that theology colors the way we read the scriptures, then pick up a copy, take it to your local coffeehouse, and enjoy.
Jamie Arpin-Ricci shares:
Ed’s ability to engage theological realities with intellectual credibility and authority are further empowered by the clear reality that his pursuit of understanding God is by no means academic, but stemming from a deeply relational, missional passion for Jesus. He does not attempt to give us all the answers (nor does he suggest he has them), but through stories, examples and clear explanation provides a much needed bridge between the complexities of theology and the people of God.
Benjamin Sternke really didn’t like the cover, which is fascinating because people either love it or really hate it, but writes:
I give this book high marks. Ed writes with an easy-to-read voice and has a knack for distilling large amounts of complex information into bite-sized packages of clarity and understandableness (not a word, but it should be), all without ever sounding condescending. Through a number of great examples, Ed shows the reader how theology is relevant to “normal” life, and quite convincingly re-frames how the reader thinks about theology.
UPDATE: Darryl Dash just posted his interview over at Dashhouse.com.
Today on the Coffeehouse Theology blog tour Jim Bonewald, a PC USA pastor, shares his take on my book:
Ed’s concern is that the way we think about God must first be formed by scripture, but then fleshed out and broadened beyond our own narrow perspective by listening to other voices of faith such as the ancient church and the global church.
Very helpful after each chapter is a list of resources for further reading and study. They are a very good place to start, though I personally would like to see the inclusion of some more liberal (especially in the biblical resource section) as well as female voices in his various resource lists.
Baptists Todd Littleton and Tripp Fuller also weighed in.
Fuller notes:
As many theologically interested people know we are in the middle of a Trinitarian revival of sorts and Ed not only joins the revival but talks intelligibly about the Trinity (as in your friend who keeps rolling their eyes when you bring it up could understand it as a substantive and positive contribution to theology). He does this by developing a rich missional approach to theology and examining how it is informed by God’s own nature. Ed’s missional focus is on the forefront throughout the book as he discusses other topics like scripture or culture.
Todd Littleton, a friend from my ETREK days, establishes the place of Coffeehouse Theology among the leading works in theology and culture today:
Ed combines the work of Guder on the missio dei, from Missional Church, with the epistemological proposal in Grenz and Franke’s Beyond Foundationalism, and the approach to reading Scripture described in Scot McKnight’s Blue Parakeet. Interestingly Ed does so without the benefit of the publication of Scot’s book. That means, for me, Ed and Scot think along the same lines. Not bad company for Ed from where I sit.
Ed’s book came at a good time as I was looking for a book to help my Sunday morning group discover how often they do theology and how this translates in their lives to give witness to Jesus. We do need to know, on a popular level, how we are influenced and what those influences are. The idea what we know is pristinated through our vaunted reason no longer holds much water, or coffee for that matter.
There are quite a few blog posts out there today reviewing Coffeehouse Theology. They all found some great points and some found weak points in the book, so I’d like to offer a brief overview of each blogger’s review.
Adam Malliet, a friend back from my days in youth group, offers some great reflection on dangers of continuous deconstruction:
Maybe its time to begin reconstructing. We have to build on something and that cornerstone will always require faith (and the accompanying doubt) whether it is in nothingness, yourself, capitalism, nation-states, etc… the list goes on. I am building on the narrative of God’s redeeming work, first through Israel and then through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Andy Rowell, a teacher and student at Duke Divinity School, clarifies my confusing use of “contextual theology”:
Darrell Guder’s Missional Church uses the term “contexualization” but not “contextual theology.” “The church relates constantly and dynamically both to the gospel and to its contextual reality. It is important, then for the church to study its context carefully and to understand it. The technical term for this continuing discipline is contextualization” (Darrell Guder, ed. The Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998, 18). Again, I do not think Cyzewski’s approach has the weaknesses of the group of theologies under the heading “contextual theologies” but I do think it is unfortunate he repeatedly uses that term to describe his own approach.
He also offers some kind words about the book:
Maybe McLaren’s A New Kind of Christian and Cyzewski’s Coffeehouse Theology should be given to all Christian college students–the former to get them intrigued about theology and the latter to nudge them toward further constructive reflection. Cyzewski’s book is ambitious–tackling a number of issues related to systematic theology.
and
All in all, Cyzewski’s Coffeehouse Theology is a fine introduction to a number of contemporary issues in theology in language college students or other beginning theological students will understand. I hope it will serve as the on-ramp for many into rigorous theological reflection.
Writer Heather A. Goodmam, who really liked the book, did mention the following weakness:
I would’ve liked to have seen more direct sources–thinkers, theologians, philosophers of the times of which he spoke rather than relying more on present-day historians. And in speaking of postmodern times, I would’ve liked to have seen a few more case studies. I think there were a couple of times that were almost repetitive and would’ve allowed for these developments instead. He does have some case studies in the global church section, mostly his personal experiences.
Goodman provided a great summary of the book, and shared the following:
Which brings me to the next sections: the historical church (or tradition) and the global church as perspectives and voices in the discussion.
These are two things I’m passionate about. Ed notes that we don’t blindly accept anything and everything, but we have to realize that this isn’t my discussion. While we need to be relevent to our culture, we need to be mindful of the perspective of the universal church. We all wear cultural glasses that affect our views (sometimes clarifying, sometimes distorting). I need the universal church in my study.
This book is informative, helpful, and personal. Ed shares his journey of learning about the process of theology.
So all in all, it’s been a great day for the Coffeehouse Theology blog tour. My thanks to the bloggers who have generously given their time to read my book and to present their careful reflections.
Blogger Molly Aley has today’s review of Coffeehouse Theology. She definitely wins the award so far for typing in the most text from the book onto her post! You’ll also enjoy what she has to say:
I will say that I found this book a warm and engaging walk with a friend, musing over what theology is and why we don’t have to be afraid of it. The recommended reading lists at the end of each chapter are excellent, and the content of each chapter is good solid food for the soul of the reader.
And in other news, endorser, author, and church planter JR Briggs shares an additional endorsement on his blog today.
Have you ever read a really good book, even a life-changing book, and then find yourself trying to remember what it said five years after you’ve read it? I’m like that. All of the time in fact.
I also see books on Amazon wish lists, Facebook profiles, and in book stores that look interesting, but I don’t quite have time to read them. While I could scope out some reviews or peek at a sample of them online, I rarely can tell if the whole book is worth reading. Many books start out with a bang and then fizzle amidst the meandering around one solid, but oft-repeated idea. Each chapter becomes a marathon where the author proves he can very well milk another chapter out of his central premise.
For both of these situations and in many other cases, Heather A. and Chris Goodman’s latest study resource, Solomon Summaries, is worth a look. Think of Christian cliff notes, summarizing important Christian books (such as Mere Christianity, The Divine Conspiracy, and Jesus for President) and offering some practical ways they can be used in Christian communities. They have some nice endorsements as of now, as well as book reviews on their site.
As to my dilemma with forgetting books, I read through the summary of Mere Christianity and found it a helpful refresher of the book’s main points, helping me recall the important bits that slipped my mind. As I read through the summary, I found myself learning a lot of information in a relatively brief amount of time, which is a real bonus.
And speaking of which, the summary I read for The 10 Commandments of Marriage was excellent. I don’t think I’d ever pick up that book, but the summary was excellent, as Goodman broke down the information into pieces that were easy to read and very informative. Only the author can tell how well she summarized the book, but as a reader of the summary I felt like I had a good grasp of the main points.
I see Solomon Summaries being worthwhile for Sunday School classes, students who need a solid study tool, and anyone who loves books and wants to keep on top of a wide array of books out there without necessarily reading them all. If you’re wondering whether or not Solomon’s Summaries will work for you, there’s a great offer below. Just be sure to mention you heard about Solomon Summaries from www.inamirrordimly.com.
Special Offers with this blog tour…
The summaries are being offered for free until 12/1/08. They’ll start charging 12/1/08. As a reader of my blog you are eligible to receive a year’s subscription for $100 (regular price: $120, ~15% discount), and you will be entered into a drawing for a stack of books with your subscription. Be sure to visit Solomon Summaries for more information.
For more information about Heather A Goodman, you can visit her web site: Heather’s Website.
And Another Special Offer…
Everyone who visits the Solomon Summaries website from the tour will receive a free sample summary. Additionally, be sure to reference www.inamirrordimly.com when signing up.
You can find out who else is blogging on Solomon Summaries by checking out this list of all participating bloggers and the master list of bloggers on the tour.
LT over at American Born Chinese Pastor has the latest review of Coffeehouse Theology. I know LT from seminary. He is one of those thoughtful guys who always had a heart for theology and ministry, seeing the value of both and always articulating his views with careful consideration and compassion.
He does quite a bit of reflecting on his own context, and offers up this gem of a paragraph:
Theology requires great humility from us. For those who have long held onto their beliefs and convictions the task of theology requires their willingness to be pulled out from the comfortable warm water they have been wading in and squirm out in the wide open sea. As we discover the weight of God’s truth and glory, submit to his values and mission I believe we experience transformation. Theology is far reaching and much more influential than we may realize. It must serve the mission of God and not simply fill our heads with more knowledge or just satisfy our questions. Then we may begin to embrace those different from us, become a little less homogeneous. Perhaps less White, less Chinese, less middle class or what have you. Instead what gives way is a new humanity as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 2:15 to a diverse church comprised of traditional Jews and Gentiles. Consider also what we find throughout Acts on the tensions between these two groups and the Gospel renewal we see in and through the life journey of Paul the Apostle.
Amy Spiegel, wife of theologian and author Jim Spiegel, has been doing an incredible job blogging at their relatively new site called Wisdom and Folly. I’ve really enjoyed reading Amy’s posts, and when it came time for the Coffeehouse Theology blog tour, she was at the top of my list.
Here’s a little sample of her reflections on my book:
As we neared the village, our faithful leader came thundering down the path to stop us. We had unintentionally offended our Ukrainian friends by shunning the prepared food and showing off our ability to buy an alternative. With great embarrassment and not a little righteous indignation, we returned to eat lunch with the rest of the group. (I believe humble pie was on the menu that day.) It was then that I began to reflect on just how ingrained certain values were to me as an American: independence, individualism and consumerism, to name a few. Not all bad in the proper context, but they nonetheless placed me in a certain context both culturally and economically. If I wanted to minister to these students I had traveled so far to meet, I was going to have to check some of these values like luggage at the gate, knowing I might never see them again.
This is the challenge that Ed Cyzewski gently but forcefully issues in Coffehouse Theology. If we are to attempt to understand God and his inspired word, the Bible, we must understand ourselves and the context in which we live, because our biases and cultural beliefs form a lens through which we see the world and the scriptures.
The latest stop on the Coffeehouse Theology blog tour is Tod Bolsigner who blogs over at It Takes a Church…
I enjoyed reading Tod’s review, but wanted to note that he was impressed with the design by the fine folks over at NavPress. So NavPress design team, this one’s for you. Tod says:
When I received the book, I didn’t even care if it was good. It was cool. It looked cool, the chapter headings were interesting and the diagrams in the book were actually helpful. It also looked like a book. A serious thoughtful, readable book. Not one of those “look at me, I have a neat design but nothing much really to say except for my personal rant” that seem to be all the rage.
Read the rest of the review here.
John O’Hara over at Emerging Pentecostal has the latest review of Coffeehouse Theology. I really liked his suggestion at the end of the review:
I enthusiastically recommend Coffeehouse Theology to anyone who is interested in learning how to do theology with their eyes open. My only recommendation is that you do what I hope to do after reading it solo: go through this text in community, and especially with people who may come from a different point of view than yourself.
Hold on to your hats folks, we have a lot of bloggers coming up in the next two weeks!
I’m keeping one eye on ESPN’s Game Cast tonight, lowly cable-deprived Vermonter that I am, to make sure the Phillies make it to the World Series. In between pitches I’ve been checking out some other blogs.
::INAMIRRORDIMLY:: A theology and culture blog with the Bible in one tab and a news feed in the other. Ed Cyzewski is a freelance writer, theologian, and a nonprofit employee in southern Vermont.
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