POSTMODERN PILGRIMS (HC): First Century Passion for the 21stCentury Church [Hardcover]

 

 

Create your own review

I had quite a lengthy debate about the book with a fellow seminary student, and I think that some of my comments from that back and forth will best illustrate what Sweet's book is about:

"We must remember Sweet's authorial intent here: "This book begins with chapters of cultural analysis devoted to what each of these words means in the acronym EPIC. The book ends with a more theoretical analysis of the social forces and intellectual figures fashioning this EPIC model" (Sweet, 30). He is not attempting to give us a systematic theology of how to approach the culture. He is giving a broad overview of the culture which we must engage: this is an introductory work to a much larger issue; by nature it is a survey..."

"Scripture is not commanding that we up and leave this culture and do everything the opposite that everyone else does: scipture admonishes us that while we're in the midst of this crooked and perverse nation, that we ought to not touch the unclean thing... in other words, be separate in that we do not participate in things that are evil: not just culture in general. Was Paul wicked for "...mak[ing] [him]self a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible" (I Cor. 9:19)? Paul continues by saying, "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (I Cor. 9:20-23). Would we be out of line saying, "To the Postmoderns I became as a Postmodern?" I do not think this to be the case. Yet Paul here was clearly conforming to these cultures. How could he justify that? The reason was that he wasn't doing things that were 'unclean' in God's sight...just as there are many things in the culture that in and of themselves are not unclean, and the church can safely advocate those things, in books like Sweet's. Paul also uses culture to further the gospel in Acts 17:22-34, where he first assesses the culture (vs. 23) and then uses quotes from their own poets as an introduction to the gospel (vs. 28 - quote #1 is probably from Epimendes of Crete, and quote #2 is from Aratus's poem, "Phainomena")..."

What this book is really for is enabling us to understand better our culture so that we too can follow in the footsteps of Paul and "to the Jew be a Jew to the Greek be a Greek, and to the Post-modern be a post-modern." In this regard, the book is excellent.

I really enjoyed this book. His EPIC paradigm is a very accurate assesment of where things are at these days, and actually provides some good handles for how to embrace postmodernity. I got sick of books on postmodernism a few years ago since they all seemed to say the same exact things, and few offered anything helpful. This happened shortly after I bought this book, so I had it on my shelf for a few years until I recenetly had a conversation with someone who mentioned it. Thought I'd give it a read and wished I had back when it came out. The book is built around Sweet's contension that today's culture is EPIC...Experiential, Participatory, Image-Based, and Connected. In terms of those observations, Sweet it out of the park. Even in most of his ideas he is right on. I'm not crazy about how a lot of "pomo" writing talks about "going back in history"...and making things more liturgical. I get some of it, but it's just not me. I'm not that emotional/contemplative of a guy to get it I guess. It actually seems like things aren't leaning that way too much anymore, which is cool to see. It just felt to me like a lot of people said, "hey postmodernism is a problem and we've got the solution", in their books, which turned me off. Sweet pretty much stays away from some of those temptations in this book and offers a practical, helpful, easy-to-read book! He also gives some great insights into why the younger generations act why they do, which is very insightful, and probably worth the price of the book. Definitely worth reading...

The premise in this book is that the world is moving forward and may be passing Christians by. Newsmakers, technological advances, media figures and language are all changing at such a rapid clip that the church is apt to speak and act in ways that miss those who need to hear the Gospel the most. It is Leonard Sweet's contention that we must appropriate the best of the new if we are to have an authentic witness in the postmodern world. What is the postmodern world? While Sweet does not trace its origins, the term "postmodern" has been in common usage since the early 1970s and was popularized first in the world of architecture by Charles Jenks. Claimants for coining it range from Charles Olson (early 1950s), Leslie Felding (1968) and Jean-François Lyotard (1984)-R. Albert Mohler, Jr. in "The Integrity of the Evangelical Tradition and the Challenge of the Postmodern Paradigm," in The Challenge of Postmodernism: An Evangelical Engagement, edited by David Dockery (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995), traces the origin of the term "postmodern" to Frederico de Oniz in 1934 and its first significant use in a treatise by Arnold Toynbee in 1939.
Postmodernism is used to express the sense that the mid-twentieth century goals and objectives (i. e. "modernism") had been tried and either been found lacking or have outlived their usefulness. Almost every other serious field of endeavor has now borrowed the phrase, as a way of saying that time is hastening on, and the field of religion is no exception. Leonard Sweet, is the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University, whose prolific output includes works such as Soul Salsa and A Cup of Coffee at the SoulCafe.
Sweet calls the church to become an "EPIC church for Epic Times", with the acronym EPIC standing for Experiential, Participatory, Image-Driven and Connected. In a series of chapters devoted to each of these concepts, Sweet explores each in turn, indicating how Christians might impact the larger world more effectively, while maintaining their authentic witness to the Living Christ. Prof. Sweet's contention is that the church is all too often a cerebral spectator, a word-driven environment disconnected from the larger community. He cites many examples and offers some ways that the church might put into practice so as to redress these concerns.
In one of the more provocative sections of the book Sweet lists the various ways that Jesus was a "rule-breaker". All of them are Biblically correct, but one wonders if he would not have been better served to say that Jesus was a "rule-fulfiller" as in, "I have come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it". (Matthew 5:17). Even so, Sweet's point is well taken, as in this quotation: "Jesus even broke the ultimate rule: the law of sin and death". (Page 130). There are many good ideas in this book. One caution, however. A preoccupation with postmodern culture might obscure the timelessness of the Gospel by packaging it in current buzz words and topics de jour. Sweet seems to relish in knowing the latest trend or fad, but such things rarely last, whereas Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 13 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book--Amazing Author
Leonard Sweet is truly intune with today's world. After reading his book I was very suprised to find out how old he was, because it seems like the only people who are willing to... Read more

Published on Oct 25 2003 by Carter Rose

1.0 out of 5 stars nope!!!
If people do not see the evil deceiving nature of this they are blind. The further we get from the first church, the worse it gets.

Published on Oct 12 2003 by B.W. Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars Out-There Theology
I think the best thing about this book is the fact that author is so honest with where he is at and what he believes. Read more

Published on July 17 2002 by Joseph Valentine Dworak

5.0 out of 5 stars Finger remains on the pulse of Postmodern Culture!
Once again, Sweet shows is Postmodern Pilgrms why he is the premier cultural futurist for the church in the 21st Century. Read more

Published on Aug 5 2001 by Richard Miller

5.0 out of 5 stars Help the Outcast Out
As the ugly duckling discovers he's really a swan, so some of us who assumed we were moderns discover we're not. Read more

Published on April 20 2001 by JC DeLaMare

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the Kiss
Sweet's illustration of the Kiss was extrodinary. He's right many of us in traditional churches are afraid to kiss the culture. Read more

Published on Jan 29 2001 by John Thurman

5.0 out of 5 stars Len Sweet at his best
I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting, something I thought I would NEVER be able to do with a Len Sweet book. This is GREAT stuff! Read more

Published on Nov 10 2000 by Douglas D. Gestwick

4.0 out of 5 stars A must have book
Well, Len did it again. His view of the postmodern church truly takes shape with this book. If you are looking for information on how to minister to the culture, through the... Read more

Published on Aug 26 2000 by John C. O'keefe

3.0 out of 5 stars Good summary of previous works
If this is the first that you have ever heard of postmodernism and the church, this is an incredible book for you to read. Read more

Published on July 18 2000 by Jordon Cooper

5.0 out of 5 stars A textbook for Christian leadership
Post-Modern Pilgrims, Leonard Sweet's latest book, discuss postmodern culture and serves as a guide for sailing the church through this moment in history. Read more

Published on Jun 30 2000 by aquaservant

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 13 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!