Intelligent Church (by Steve Chalke)

(Amazon UK link)

The writer Steve Chalke is the leader of a Baptist church in the UK. He is outspoken in his insistence that God’s love is offered to all, and that faith must be accompanied by social or community action. He’s made some controversial statements in recent years. This particular book is one he wrote nearly ten years ago, and which was recommended to me some time back. That was probably because I enjoyed one of his other books, The Lost Message of Jesus, a few years ago.

‘Intelligent Church’, which I was given for a recent birthday, looks at ways in which the author believes the Christian church should be functioning in the 21st century. Rather than merely following tradition, or taking everything we hear from church leaders as absolute, he recommends that we think for ourselves, and ask questions about how the church can be effective in discipling believers and reaching out to those who do not yet know God.

As such, he focuses on several different aspects of church as he sees it. Some of them are ideals rather than actualities, although in his church he aims to meet all these criteria. He begins by insisting that church must be inclusive - not just of people of all ages and nations, but of all cultures, and (more controversially) all lifestyles. He points out that Jesus mixed regularly with those of his society who were considered outcasts, often sinners of the worst kind, by the priests of the time. We’re called to follow Jesus, and that means reaching out in love rather than condemning those who are different.

The book continues with chapters on church as a messy place without strict boundaries; an honest place where it’s okay to ask questions and be ourselves without masks; a generous church where people give of their time and material resources; a political church, in involving ourselves with the social needs and political agendas of those around us.

Each chapter ends with some practical suggestions as he asks: ‘Yes, but how?’ and then poses some thought-provoking questions to be considered by small groups and church leaders.

The book is clearly written, each point made with Biblical and practical considerations. There are some anecdotes relating to the author’s own experiences - both positive and negative - although at times I found the style a little dry. I had to concentrate, sometimes, to take in what was being said, and re-read paragraphs when my mind drifted. I found that one chapter per day was about as much as I could take in.

Still, it made some excellent points, and painted an encouraging picture of how the church could be: a mixture of ordinary people, making mistakes and getting things wrong regularly, but pulling together to build each other up and make positive changes, however small, in their communities. Indeed, I’m not sure there’s any other way that a modern church could be if it’s to appeal to the diversity of people in the world around.

I particularly appreciated the clear difference made between proselytism and conversion, one I hadn’t really spelled out in my mind before, and which made a great deal of sense.

I would recommend this highly to church leaders and home group leaders everywhere.

'Intelligent Church' was first published in 2006 but is still available in paperback form and can also be bought for the Kindle.

Review copyright 2015 Sue's Book Reviews

The lost message of Jesus (by Steve Chalke)

(Amazon UK link)

I don't remember when I first heard of Steve Chalke. He's a Baptist minister in the UK who is socially aware and does a great deal to raise public awareness of homelessness and other important issues. However, it was in 2003 when he suddenly became the centre of a major controversy in evangelical church circles after the publication of this book.

We didn't get hold of 'The lost message of Jesus' until recently, and I just read it over the past few days. Although it was a little slow to get going, I found it well-written, thought-provoking, and entirely in line with both my early understanding of the Christian faith, and what I read in the Bible. It is, however, rather different from the theology espoused by many evangelical churches.

Much of the book explains the story of Jesus from a contextual, historical viewpoint, giving examples of how we 21st century Westerners sometimes misunderstand what was meant by his teaching or actions. Living close to the Middle East, I'm aware of some of this already, and felt that Steve Chalke's examples and explanations were helpful and probably accurate. Throughout he emphasises that the Kingdom of God was - and is - about life rather than death.

God is portrayed as a loving Father in this book (as well as in the Bible), and the life of Jesus is seen as pointing us to God. This simple message has apparently been lost through the ages due to misconceptions by various writers, from Augustine in the fourth century, through to some in the Reformation years who wanted to push a viewpoint of humans being 'sinners', rather than created in the image of God, albeit with a propensity to sin.

While many disagree with Chalke's central premise, that Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom to all (other than those who deliberately refuse), I did not find any points where he seemed to have veered away from Scripture or sound theology. Many of the attacks written about this book seem full of anger, as if people have something to lose - rather than everything to gain! - by God loving us in an inclusive way, accepting us as we are (as the Prodigal Son's father did).

The controversy about 'The lost message of Jesus' seems to have faded away, but I'm glad to have read the book at last and would recommend it highly to anyone interested in this topic.

Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 22nd August 2011