Christianity Beyond Belief [Hardcover]

I did not need to look beyond Todd Hunter's opening acknowledgements to find something that I could appreciate. His broadmindedness was evident (no small thing) in his claim of indebtedness to viewpoints as diverse as Greg Laurie and Chuck Smith on the one side and John Wimber on the other. Along with others, I have had reservations about the latter's teachings, but I see in Hunter's writing a maturity that has drawn from the best of his influences while avoiding the controversial. His gallery of mentors includes Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, Eugene Peterson and N. T. Wright. If you appreciate their teachings and writings, you will enjoy this book.

In the foreword, Eugene Peterson sets the stage for what is to follow: "Story - the Jesus story, the king story, my story - take priority over information and argument in the way we go about following Jesus." Without denigrating the need for right belief, Hunter emphasizes that Christianity is a way of life. He defines eternal life as "the quality of life derived from and lived within the kingdom of God. It is personal, intimate communion with the Trinity."

Hunter places the doctrines of sin, forgiveness, heaven and hell within the context of humanity (and creation) being restored to fulfill God's purposes. This keeps Christianity from being reduced, as it has been in our day, to just a personal relationship with God. This is a much broader view of salvation than just "inviting Jesus into your heart" and escaping hell. He argues that this makes "the forgiveness of sins the sole plot line."

He sees forgiveness as not the finishing line, but the starting point for "forming a new life, a cooperative friendship with God." This is one of four pivotal phrases that summarize his understanding of what it means to be a Christian. The following four concepts are unpacked in detail:

1. Cooperative friends of Jesus
2. Living in creative goodness
3. For the sake of others
4. Through the power of the Holy Spirit

The goal in all of this is becoming whole so that we can participate with God in his plans for the world. Heaven is our destination, but not the end. The emphasis is on serving God through living for the benefit of others.

Hunter offers practical examples in a spirit of humility. He takes pains to make the work of the Holy Spirit seem natural rather than something that is controversial and spooky. This is a welcome reminder of what a difference the Spirit's help can make.

Much of the book seems to be a response to the alarming decline in church membership, the growing hostility to Christianity, and the growing numbers of people who identify themselves as non-religious. Hunter's thoughts offer a way out of this wilderness. I appreciate his efforts to communicate the Christian faith afresh to an unchurched, post-modern generation. It's not that he is reinventing what it means to be a Christian. He succeeds in turning our attention to truths that have been neglected.

This book effectively makes the case that it's not enough to have right belief. As important as that is, it must be accompanied by right practice. For too long those outside the faith have seen little that attracts them to it. They want to see the difference that Christ makes in our living.

A key to making that a reality and implementing the concepts of this book is what Hunter calls Three Is Enough (TIE) groups. The idea is for a group of three people to bind together for the purpose of creatively doing good for the sake of others. While relying on the leading of the Holy Spirit, group members look for opportunities to serve those around them. It can be as easy as just paying attention to people in our environment and being available, so that God can use us in their lives.

TIE groups have a dual nature. They simultaneously focus "on the inward journey of spiritual transformation and the outward journey of serving others." Hunter provides significant evidence that a group of three is an ideal number. The chapter contains a wealth of practical information and examples on how these groups function.

I was reminded of the need for this type of book in a recent conversation with my sister. She is one of many who identify themselves as Christians but do not affiliate with a church. Having been part of various churches for years, she and her husband can't relate to what many churches have become. It would be easy for me to be right there with her, since churches are often disappointing.

Authenticity is paramount for my sister. I also prize humility. It's what many people inside and outside the church want to see. This book is a helpful step in that direction, and in writing it, the author models both of these qualities. He avoids the controversies that divide the church and provides a vision that every Christian can rally behind. He has a heart to see people become genuine Christ-followers, who participate with God in the larger story of fulfilling his plans.

I hope to write a proper review in several weeks.

I'm about half way through the book and am so excited by what I've read so far that I am planning a sermon series (I'm a pastor of a small church in Virginia) titled "Beyond Belief." For the last three months I have been preaching through the Apostles' Creed and have been trying to draw out the "So what?" of our belief. What difference does believing (all that we state we believe in the Creed, through a statement of faith, or even in our personal slate of beliefs) make in our lives? How are we different (or are we?) because of our belief? I may say, "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth ..." But, how am I different (how am I transformed) by that belief? I think Todd Hunter's "Christianity Beyond Belief" will help me to further flesh this out to the congregation I pastor.

But I am a biased critic. I first met Todd (I call him Todd like we're buddies even though he wouldn't know me from Adam) at a small conference held at a Vineyard church in Southern California back in about 2000. Also at that meeting were guys like Spencer Burke and Doug Pagitt. I had never even heard of Todd Hunter when I came to the meeting. At this point in my life I was all but burnt out on church and had an especially low view of most Christian leaders/pastors. I was tired of corporate church and pastors that seemed to act more like CEO's than servant leaders.

So I walked in to this gathering with fairly low expectations. I had arrived a bit early and thought I'd see what I could do to help those who were preparing the room for the meeting. I asked a man who was stacking the tables with sodas and bottles of water and other goodies if I could be of assistance. I had no idea that he was Todd Hunter, the main speaker for the event. I realize that there may be many pastors/leaders who have servant's hearts and hands, but I was completely blown away by Todd's humility (not just in helping to set up the tables, but in all that he shared that weekend).

Unbeknownst to Todd, his actions and words that weekend gave me new hope for the Church and began to kindle in me a willingness to even consider becoming a pastor. Through this meeting, I was exposed to the emergent movement, a number of theologians (such as Dallas Willard who was quoted more than a few times) that I was unfamiliar with, and I gained a growing sense that church could be much more than just as Sunday morning show. More importantly, I found that there were others out there who took seriously the notion that our faith should lead to tangible transformation in our lives and in the world around us.

I thank God for Todd Hunter and I anticipate that Christianity Beyond Belief will be a challenging blessing to all who read it.

Although the message is not new, Hunter's ability to articulate the centrality of the Kingdom of God and it's impact on EVERYTHING (discipleship, mission, life-perspective, etc.) is fantastically fresh and needed. I'm recommending this book to everyone I know. It is a serious, for-good perspective changer!