Christianity for the Rest of Us

book review by Carrie Eikler

How many of you have heard something like this statement: “The only churches that are growing are conservative and evangelical churches.” ? Author Diana Butler Bass admits that accepted wisdom in the past decades have concluded that mainline churches are in decline while evangelical mega-churches have drawn in the true faithful. Butler Bass, a sociologist of religion, wondered if this was true, and her book Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2006.) paints another picture. Curious about this “accepted wisdom” a well her own experience about returning to a church family, Butler Bass explores the flourishing churches who choose to remain faithful to a tradition while becoming a vital spiritual community.

And many of these churches aren’t right-wing conservatives, but open, curious, faithful congregations who identify themselves as middle of the road, or even left of middle. Not surprisingly, Butler Bass explores congregations in the Protestant tradition (Episcopal, United Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, UCC, and Lutheran) and does touch on Anabaptist traditions such as Mennonites or Church of the Brethren, but there is much to taken from her findings, particularly because I feel we are the type of church she highlights. Small congregations, who are rooted in a faith tradition, seeking ways to bring a new word of Christianity to their communities.

The heart of the book highlights ten practices of these vibrant communities: hospitality, discernment, healing, contemplation, testimony, diversity, justice, worship, reflection, and beauty. Speaking of these practices and their place in church renewal, Butler Bass says “All the congregations have found new vitality through an intentional and transformative engagement with Christian tradition as embodied in faith practices. Typically they have rediscovered the riches of the Christian past and practice simple, but profound, things like discernment, hospitality, testimony, contemplation, and justice. They reach back to ancient wisdom and reach out through a life sustained by Christian devotional and moral practices. They know the biblical story and their own story. They focus more on God’s grace in the world than on the eternal state of their own souls. (7). I found myself wondering throughout this book if these ten practices are important to our congregation? If so, are they important in theory, or do we really practice them (or expect others in the church to practice them)? I found both affirmative and challenging answers to these questions. How would you answer that?

Christianity for the Rest of Us is one of those hopeful books that leave you feeling “raring to go” and bewildered at where to begin. But perhaps that is the purpose of the book. It gives us glimpses of what has been done, names the broad scope of the practices embraced in the journey, and lets the reader do the hard work. After all, all congregations are different, just as each reader is different. A discussion guide in the back of the book, along with the vivid content, would make it a great group read for a commission, church board, or simply curious Christians who have seen the “new wave” of Christianity pass by them, and have hesitated to get on board. If you have ever been one of those “Christianbuts” (finding yourself saying, “I’m a Christian, but…”) or even if you are a “Christianyea” (finding yourself saying, “I’m a Christian, yea!”), this is a read that will leave you raring, bewildered, and wondering.