The Politics of Discipleship: Becoming Postmaterial Citizens
Overview
In this volume, internationally acclaimed theologian Graham Ward examines the political side of postmodernism in order to discern the contemporary context of the church and describe the characteristics of a faithful, political discipleship. His study falls neatly into two sections. The first, which is the more theoretical section, considers “the signs of the times.” Ward names this section “The World,” noting that the church must always frame its vision and mission within its worldly context. In the second section, “The Church,” he turns to constructive application, providing an account of the Christian practices of hope that engage the world from within yet always act as messengers of God’s kingdom.
Ward’s study accomplishes two related goals. First, he provides an accessible guide to contemporary postmodernism and its wide-ranging implications. Second, he elaborates a discipleship that informs a faith seeking understanding, which Ward describes as “the substance of the church’s political life.”
Ward is well known for his thoughtful engagement with postmodernism and contemporary critical theology. Here he provides a broader audience with an engaging account of the inherently political nature of postmodernity and thoughts on what it means to live the Christian faith within that setting.
Logos Bible Software dramatically improves the value of this resource by enabling you to find what you are looking for instantly and with unbelievable precision. As you are reading The Politics of Discipleship, you can easily search and access topics or Scripture references you come across, for example, “postmodernism” or “discipleship.”
- Provides an accessible guide to contemporary postmodernism
- Examines three dominant trends in contemporary European, North American, and Australasian society
- Discusses three possible ecclesial responses
Top Highlights
“The church is this body of action, this body in action that is both temporal and eternal, material and spiritual” (Page 201)
“not only in what the messiah has done but also in what the messiah will do in bringing all things into God” (Page 179)
“In other words, they became titanic because they were clashing with Titans” (Page 135)
“kairos is the time of grace and chronos the time for grace” (Page 179)
“is the freedom only to be enslaved to one’s own desires” (Page 269)
The quality of [Ward’s] diagnoses, the energy of his writing, and the vigor of his engagement make this a rewarding manifesto for the agenda of political theology and ethics today.
—Samuel Wells, Theology
Extraordinary! Graham Ward’s The Politics of Discipleship is an extraordinary book. Ward does nothing less than help us see how ‘world’ and ‘church’ implicate each other by providing an insightful and learned account of the transformation of democracy, the perversities of globalization, and the ambiguities of secularization. Perhaps even more significant is his theological proposal for the difference the church can make in the world so described. This is an extraordinary book.
—Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke University
- Title: The Politics of Discipleship: Becoming Postmaterial Citizens
- Author: Graham Ward
- Series: Church and Postmodern Culture
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2009
- Pages: 320
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