New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an important little book on the emerging movement known as New Monasticism. Although written very much out of the author's American perspective (and therefore drawing on predominantly American examples), it's a book whose lessons have an obvious and ready applicability elsewhere in the Western world. Wilson-Hartgrove starts from the observation that, despite appearances, being genuinely Christian in America is hard amidst the warmongering, rampant free-marketism and mean-spiritedness on immigration. An antidote to this, he suggests, is a monasticism that, although new in its forms and foci, is old in its inspiration. Tracing its ancient origins in St. Anthony, St. Benedict, St. Francis and St. Clare, Wilson-Hartgrove makes the point that even this way was drawing on the earlier, Israelite, experience of holy living as a people set apart, that showed God's intention to save the world through community.
Twentieth-century inspiration has come through the Catholic Worker movement (Dorothy Day), Bonhoeffer's Bruderhof community, Koinonia Farm and John Perkins' civil-rights focused CCDA. But the contemporary preoccupations of the New Monastics are `of our time': peaceful anti-war protest, establishing intentional interracial communities that practice radical sharing of resources, campaigning against the death penalty; and - above all - relocation into poorer neighbourhoods (emphatically being part of the poor's lives, not `doing mission' to them). But, as with the inspiration, the New Monastics' desire is a recovery of an age-old vision - a longing to see God's wholeness brought to the world. And there are lots of inspiring examples here - though there's a curious absence of environment-focused Monastic groups or discussion of it as a focus for New Monastic communities. Best of all though was the emphasis on not forcing this new life into being: it's a natural, organic growth, one that needs tending like a garden, Wilson-Hartgrove argues. In his gentleness, and willingness to work ecumenically with all kinds of Christians, there's something inspiring in Wilson-Hartgrove's little book that - for all his modesty about New Monasticism's possible long-term impact (he insists it needs the wider church and can't/shouldn't develop separately), makes you want it to succeed, and to think about what your own part in it might be.
Twentieth-century inspiration has come through the Catholic Worker movement (Dorothy Day), Bonhoeffer's Bruderhof community, Koinonia Farm and John Perkins' civil-rights focused CCDA. But the contemporary preoccupations of the New Monastics are `of our time': peaceful anti-war protest, establishing intentional interracial communities that practice radical sharing of resources, campaigning against the death penalty; and - above all - relocation into poorer neighbourhoods (emphatically being part of the poor's lives, not `doing mission' to them). But, as with the inspiration, the New Monastics' desire is a recovery of an age-old vision - a longing to see God's wholeness brought to the world. And there are lots of inspiring examples here - though there's a curious absence of environment-focused Monastic groups or discussion of it as a focus for New Monastic communities. Best of all though was the emphasis on not forcing this new life into being: it's a natural, organic growth, one that needs tending like a garden, Wilson-Hartgrove argues. In his gentleness, and willingness to work ecumenically with all kinds of Christians, there's something inspiring in Wilson-Hartgrove's little book that - for all his modesty about New Monasticism's possible long-term impact (he insists it needs the wider church and can't/shouldn't develop separately), makes you want it to succeed, and to think about what your own part in it might be.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
7 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A strategy so old that it seems new!
29 Sep 2009
Format:Paperback
"...almost everywhere I go these days, people agree that something is wrong in American Christianity."
This is the motivation for the book New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. He points out many areas in which he believes the church is falling short of God's design and offers some possibilities for how to rethink our approach to these problems using monastic ideas, "a vision for society that is `so old it looked like new.'" The book was relatively short, only 140 pages, but it was filled with concepts and ideas that will challenge our ideas of church and community in North America and definitely for us here in the Bible belt.
In the first few chapters, Wilson-Heartgrove supplies us with a biblical perspective of God's community starting from the creation story in Genesis through the 1st century New Testament Church. He gives us the origins and history of monastic communities through the centuries including the new monastic movement he is a part of today.
In the remainder of the book, Wilson-Heartgrove shares with us the knowledge that can be gleaned from the practices and experiments of new monastic communities in the 20th and 21st centuries.
I struggled with this book. I had to keep reminding myself that this book has a message for the church today. Its purpose was not to suggest getting rid of churches in favor of communal living, but instead, what do these ventures in communal living have to say to churches about how they behave as a community? At times, it seemed the suggestion was to join a community where everything is shared or not. There was no in between. I'm sure that was not his intention, but it comes across at times that this is the only way things should be done.
Wilson-Heartgrove and his companions have been bold and courageous enough to experiment with their lives what they believe Christian community should be. I would recommend this book to develop and nurture a perspective of Christian community that may at times seem challenging and at other times frightening. I often found myself thinking "You are absolutely right!" and "Would I be able to do that?"
Wilson-Heartgrove would probably say, "No you can't do this...not alone!"
This is the motivation for the book New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. He points out many areas in which he believes the church is falling short of God's design and offers some possibilities for how to rethink our approach to these problems using monastic ideas, "a vision for society that is `so old it looked like new.'" The book was relatively short, only 140 pages, but it was filled with concepts and ideas that will challenge our ideas of church and community in North America and definitely for us here in the Bible belt.
In the first few chapters, Wilson-Heartgrove supplies us with a biblical perspective of God's community starting from the creation story in Genesis through the 1st century New Testament Church. He gives us the origins and history of monastic communities through the centuries including the new monastic movement he is a part of today.
In the remainder of the book, Wilson-Heartgrove shares with us the knowledge that can be gleaned from the practices and experiments of new monastic communities in the 20th and 21st centuries.
I struggled with this book. I had to keep reminding myself that this book has a message for the church today. Its purpose was not to suggest getting rid of churches in favor of communal living, but instead, what do these ventures in communal living have to say to churches about how they behave as a community? At times, it seemed the suggestion was to join a community where everything is shared or not. There was no in between. I'm sure that was not his intention, but it comes across at times that this is the only way things should be done.
Wilson-Heartgrove and his companions have been bold and courageous enough to experiment with their lives what they believe Christian community should be. I would recommend this book to develop and nurture a perspective of Christian community that may at times seem challenging and at other times frightening. I often found myself thinking "You are absolutely right!" and "Would I be able to do that?"
Wilson-Heartgrove would probably say, "No you can't do this...not alone!"
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Community Living
5 Aug 2009
Format:Paperback
Monasticism conjures up images of monks quietly moving through dark monasteries, sequestered from the "real" world as they seek God's will through meditation, prayer and communal living.
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove brings fresh perspective to the age-old concept of living in Christian community in "New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church". Starting with a strong historical foundation, the author explores ancient concepts of community through an informative study of the early church at Antioch, as well as more contemporary figures in the monastic movement such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, St. Benedict, and Mother Teresa.
This book forced me to honestly examine the Bible's radical ideas and how its teachings should impact my choices as a 21st Century American. Wilson-Hartgrove begins with the convincing concept, beginning with Genesis and moving through Biblical history, that God's plan to save the world was not one person at a time, but through a people. From this premise, he boldly states, "If the Bible is a story about God's plan to save the world through a people, then my salvation and sanctification depend on finding my true home with God's people. Apart from the story of this people, I can't have a relationship with God. Without the church, there's no chance of becoming holy."
The focus of the book then shifts to an examination of the movement's current marks of distinction including: sharing economic resources; geographical proximity to other community members; peacemaking; and the active pursuit of "just reconciliation". While Wilson-Hartgrove shares intimate details of his own monastic experiences and gives an abundance of examples of practical community living from other groups, he wisely avoids prescribing a specific formula for an ascetic, communal-driven lifestyle. Instead, he challenges his readers to shift their own paradigms and allows them to imagine life from a Kingdom perspective. The author writes beautifully of his experiences with relocation, Earth's scarcity versus God's abundance, what it means to be a peacemaker in our war-ravaged culture, and how to live with others in a "culture of grace and truth."
This little gem covers a lot of ground, delving into the heart of Jesus' mission to live in relationship with others. When you pick up "New Monasticism", be prepared to have your old ways of thinking challenged and re-worked, for you may find yourself wondering how to become a more integral part of God's "peculiar people".
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove brings fresh perspective to the age-old concept of living in Christian community in "New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church". Starting with a strong historical foundation, the author explores ancient concepts of community through an informative study of the early church at Antioch, as well as more contemporary figures in the monastic movement such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, St. Benedict, and Mother Teresa.
This book forced me to honestly examine the Bible's radical ideas and how its teachings should impact my choices as a 21st Century American. Wilson-Hartgrove begins with the convincing concept, beginning with Genesis and moving through Biblical history, that God's plan to save the world was not one person at a time, but through a people. From this premise, he boldly states, "If the Bible is a story about God's plan to save the world through a people, then my salvation and sanctification depend on finding my true home with God's people. Apart from the story of this people, I can't have a relationship with God. Without the church, there's no chance of becoming holy."
The focus of the book then shifts to an examination of the movement's current marks of distinction including: sharing economic resources; geographical proximity to other community members; peacemaking; and the active pursuit of "just reconciliation". While Wilson-Hartgrove shares intimate details of his own monastic experiences and gives an abundance of examples of practical community living from other groups, he wisely avoids prescribing a specific formula for an ascetic, communal-driven lifestyle. Instead, he challenges his readers to shift their own paradigms and allows them to imagine life from a Kingdom perspective. The author writes beautifully of his experiences with relocation, Earth's scarcity versus God's abundance, what it means to be a peacemaker in our war-ravaged culture, and how to live with others in a "culture of grace and truth."
This little gem covers a lot of ground, delving into the heart of Jesus' mission to live in relationship with others. When you pick up "New Monasticism", be prepared to have your old ways of thinking challenged and re-worked, for you may find yourself wondering how to become a more integral part of God's "peculiar people".
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
So inspiring
17 Jan 2009
Format:Paperback
I think this book is great. Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove gives the topic a very thorough treatment, but still manages to keep it short. One thing I wasn't too crazy about: the endorsement of Jesus People USA. I understand they started out right, but it's generally known at this time that they are a cult.. so that pricked me a little. But other than that, the book was great.
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