Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World. Second Edition
Ebook
Overview
Western societies are experiencing a series of disorientating culture shifts. Uncertain where we are heading, observers use “post” words to signal that familiar landmarks are disappearing, but we cannot yet discern the shape of what is emerging. One of the most significant shifts, “post-Christendom,” raises many questions about the mission and role of the church in this strange new world. What does it mean to be one of many minorities in a culture that the church no longer dominates? How do followers of Jesus engage in mission from the margins? What do we bring with us as precious resources from the fading Christendom era, and what do we lay down as baggage that will weigh us down on our journey into post-Christendom? Post-Christendom identifies the challenges and opportunities of this unsettling but exciting time. Stuart Murray presents an overview of the formation and development of the Christendom system, examines the legacies this has left, and highlights the questions that the Christian community needs to consider in this period of cultural transition.
“You will find this well-written and compellingly-argued work to
be as challenging as it is insightful, and as exciting as it is
encouraging.”
—Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor, Woodland Hills Church, Maplewood,
Minnesota
“What an illuminating read! Its clear-eyed analysis of how
Christians got so tragically off course is a must-read for all
those ready to rediscover Jesus, reimagine church, and live into
hope for a more just, gentle world.”
—Sara Wenger Shenk, President, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical
Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana
“I read the first edition of Post-Christendom when
it came out fourteen years ago and have returned to it regularly
since. Stuart Murray’s plea for us to disavow Christendom and
rediscover Jesus-centered mission from the margins of contemporary
society is no less a clarion call today than it was back
then.”
—Michael Frost, Morling College, Sydney
“I used to recommend the first edition to all the leaders, pastors,
church planters, and students I could. I will now require the
second edition for all I work with. This is a crucial read.”
—Cam Roxburgh, Senior Pastor of Southside Community Church,
National Director of Forge Canada
“With the on-going demise of Christendom, Western
Christians are finding themselves in relatively uncharted
territory. If this unsettling situation feels a bit like being lost
in the deep woods, reading Steward
Murray’s Post-Christendom feels like finding a
reliable compass. He doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but he
certainly asks the right questions, which in turn helps us begin to
head in the right direction. Unless you are among the diminishing
rank of those misguided folk who are still trying to prop up
Christendom—as though its death were not inevitable (and
welcomed!)—you will find this well-written and compellingly-argued
work to be as challenging as it is insightful, and as exciting as
it is encouraging.”
—Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor, Woodland Hills Church, Maplewood,
Minnesota
“What an illuminating read! Murray provides a lucid, nuanced
historical overview that masterfully describes the contours of
Christendom, its demise, and resources for living into a
Jesus-shaped future. This well-told account, while deeply
disquieting, is ultimately empowering. It’s clear-eyed analysis of
how Christians got so tragically off course is a must-read for all
those ready to rediscover Jesus, reimagine church, and live into
hope for a more just, gentle world.”
—Sara Wenger Shenk, President, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical
Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana
“I read the first edition of Post-Christendom when
it came out fourteen years ago and have returned to it regularly
since. Stuart Murray’s plea for us to disavow Christendom and
rediscover Jesus-centered mission from the margins of contemporary
society is no less a clarion call today than it was back
then. I’m delighted to commend this second edition for a
new generation of readers who are yet to be convinced that
Constantine is still the emperor of their
imaginations.”
—Michael Frost, Morling College, Sydney
“I used to recommend the first edition to all the leaders, pastors,
church planters, and students I could. I will now require the
second edition for all I work with so they can get the best grip on
Christendom and now Post-Christendom. This is a crucial read and
with the updated Canadian content, it has become even more helpful
for the church in Canada.”
—Cam Roxburgh, Senior Pastor of Southside Community Church,
National Director of Forge Canada, and Vice President of Missional
Initiatives for the North American Baptists
- Title: Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World. Second Edition
- Author: Stuart Murray
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Print Publication Date: 2018
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781498243100, 9781532617973, 1532617976, 149824310X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781498243100
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-12-11T01:03:22Z
Stuart Murray is a freelance trainer and consultant working under the auspices of the Anabaptist Network in the United Kingdom. He is the author of several books, including Church after Christendom (2005), The Naked Anabaptist (2011), and A Vast Minority (2015).