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Review
Through the years, Tom Sines writing has repeatedly knocked me out of my comfort zone. He continually inspires me with hope and encouragement. His new book is rich with challenge and inspiration, and its full of signs that good things are afoot in the church and for the good of the world. --Brian D. McLaren, author/activist (brianmclaren.net)
A fabulous book! A bold challenge to all who think the kingdom of God can be built from the starting point of compromise and comfort. --Jonny Baker, Mission leadership and communities team leader with the Church Mission Society
Wise and wide-ranging, thoughtful and thorough, provocative and probing, practical and hopeful, Tom Sines book ranks among the very best of the growing body of literature exploring the very real question; Does the future have a church? --Dwight J. Friesen, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle, USA
A fabulous book! A bold challenge to all who think the kingdom of God can be built from the starting point of compromise and comfort. --Jonny Baker, Mission leadership and communities team leader with the Church Mission Society
Wise and wide-ranging, thoughtful and thorough, provocative and probing, practical and hopeful, Tom Sines book ranks among the very best of the growing body of literature exploring the very real question; Does the future have a church? --Dwight J. Friesen, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle, USA
Product Description
God is doing something fresh through a new generation of conspirators. This new work can be seen in at least four different streams: the emerging, the missional, the mosaic (multicultural church plants) and the monastic. In this book Tom Sine presents some of the innovative new models that are being created by those ministering within these diverse streams. He also explores the important questions they are raising for all of us regarding what it means to be a disciple, be the church and do the mission of the church. The book then investigates new challenges facing both our larger global society and the church as we journey together into an increasingly uncertain future. It is a call for all of us to join these new conspirators in discovering creative ways in which God might use our mustard seeds to be a part of what he is doing to manifest his kingdom in the world.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
In 1980 Tom Sine challenged western Christians in the "Mustard Seed Conspiracy" to use their wealth in small seemingly insignificant ways to make a real difference in the world. He heightened that call in 1999 in "Mustard Seed versus Mac World" when he explored the dangers of Globalism and the consumer culture and suggested ways in which, via the mustard seed metaphor, Christians/the church could respond in Biblical ways.
"The New Conspirators" maintains the metaphor and the call. Written before the GFC occurred, it nevertheless says much to challenge us .
He starts off by taking us on a journey, exploring how "new conspirators" are being and doing church, in what Michael Frost would call this "Exilic" age. Sine explores 4 models: Emerging, Missional, Mosaic and Monastic. I found this section particularly exciting as it revealed ways in which church can be relevant in an age that (in western cultures) is rapidly turning its back on the Christian faith. This section also shows that there is no one answer and that our God given creativity is a key to how we make ourselves relevant.
In the next section Sine asks to what extent globalisation is shaping our culture (and imagination) . This scenario becomes the basis for his call that Christians have been called to create life transforming alternatives - alternatives that take regard for all sections of society - in particular the vulnerable.
He concludes by giving us five imaginative challenges with regard to the world as it is, stewardship, mission, community and entrepreneurship.
This is a challenging book, but unlike many that can be deflating by revealing a disheartening picture that is too immense, Sine's mustard seed approach, littered with current examples of effective action, is spirit enlivening. If you are challenged by what it means to be a relevant Kingdom worker in this post GFC globalised economy, in which the Kingdom of Christ is being marginalised - take heart and instruction from this book. After all, it only requires a mustard seed.
P.S. This book has handy questions at the end of each chapter that can be used to engender discussion and action.
"The New Conspirators" maintains the metaphor and the call. Written before the GFC occurred, it nevertheless says much to challenge us .
He starts off by taking us on a journey, exploring how "new conspirators" are being and doing church, in what Michael Frost would call this "Exilic" age. Sine explores 4 models: Emerging, Missional, Mosaic and Monastic. I found this section particularly exciting as it revealed ways in which church can be relevant in an age that (in western cultures) is rapidly turning its back on the Christian faith. This section also shows that there is no one answer and that our God given creativity is a key to how we make ourselves relevant.
In the next section Sine asks to what extent globalisation is shaping our culture (and imagination) . This scenario becomes the basis for his call that Christians have been called to create life transforming alternatives - alternatives that take regard for all sections of society - in particular the vulnerable.
He concludes by giving us five imaginative challenges with regard to the world as it is, stewardship, mission, community and entrepreneurship.
This is a challenging book, but unlike many that can be deflating by revealing a disheartening picture that is too immense, Sine's mustard seed approach, littered with current examples of effective action, is spirit enlivening. If you are challenged by what it means to be a relevant Kingdom worker in this post GFC globalised economy, in which the Kingdom of Christ is being marginalised - take heart and instruction from this book. After all, it only requires a mustard seed.
P.S. This book has handy questions at the end of each chapter that can be used to engender discussion and action.
Format:Paperback
If you're looking for an overview of the challenges facing the contemporary church worldwide, Tom Sine's most recent offering might not be too bad a place to start. Taking as its starting point a snapshot of four (and only four - perhaps a rather limited sample ?) strands of the church - emerging, missional, mosaic (what we in the UK might call multicultural) and monastic - Sine's book analyses current trends and assesses how well these strands of church are equipped to meet them. The author's insights, buttressed as ever by some - occasionally startling - figures, are pertinent, and the many encouraging examples demonstrate genuine grass-roots action underway across the globe to meet some of the challenges. The theology's very much to the point, too, with a timely reminder (borrowed from N.T.Wright) that eschatology starts now - it's not about waiting until you die for a better world.
But I think his analysis is incomplete. It's good to see some discussion (and even a modest critique) of the emergence of the super-rich - but where is the redistributive, political action, including (for example) salary ceilings and progressive taxation, to reduce their wealth and the corrosive inequalities it creates ? Good to see discussion of some of the limitations of the new strands of church - for example, how they sometimes fail to critique sufficiently (or at all) the culture that shapes all our lives. But where is his (and their) critique of the ruinous, capitalism-run-riot American healthcare system that, as Sine amply demonstrates, wrecks middle-class families' lives ? I was also surprised to see ideas such as social enterprise, co-ops and co-housing presented as innovative when they have been around for a while, certainly in the UK. Overall then, reasonably insightful but in a sometimes rather limited way.
But I think his analysis is incomplete. It's good to see some discussion (and even a modest critique) of the emergence of the super-rich - but where is the redistributive, political action, including (for example) salary ceilings and progressive taxation, to reduce their wealth and the corrosive inequalities it creates ? Good to see discussion of some of the limitations of the new strands of church - for example, how they sometimes fail to critique sufficiently (or at all) the culture that shapes all our lives. But where is his (and their) critique of the ruinous, capitalism-run-riot American healthcare system that, as Sine amply demonstrates, wrecks middle-class families' lives ? I was also surprised to see ideas such as social enterprise, co-ops and co-housing presented as innovative when they have been around for a while, certainly in the UK. Overall then, reasonably insightful but in a sometimes rather limited way.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
13 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Helpful New Directions
5 April 2008
Format:Paperback
I've been looking forward to reading this book ever since I heard it was coming out. Tom Sine's work has been widely cited for quite some time, and for good reason. He's smart, encouraging, witty, engaging, and kicks your butt, all at the same time.
There are aspects of The New Conspirators that will seem redundant to folks who swim in the emerging church stream. You'll get similar summaries of the emerging movement as you'll find in Robert Webber's "The Younger Evangelicals," Bolger and Gibbs' "Emerging Churches," or Dan Kimball's "The Emerging Church." However, what this book gives you that the others don't is a sense of how the emerging church thing fits in with other kinds of movements, that aren't necessarily "emerging church" in nature.
Sine traces out four streams: emerging church, missional, mosaic, and monastic. Admittedly, some of the differences in categories are a little artificial, as there is significant overlap between several of them. But I think the separations actually helps the book a little in the sense that there are many people who could read this and think, "Oh, you mean, I can be engaged in new kinds of thinking and creative expressions of the way of Jesus, without being affiliated with the emerging church? That's great - because I've heard those emerging folks are a little wacky."
The areas of overlap are primarily concerning the missional, monastic, and emerging thrusts. But I really think that the inclusion of the mosaic element is what makes this book shine. Sine takes the time to discuss the exciting expressions of church that are taking place within the North American multicultural context, but he also highlights the movements taking place in the global South and East. That's the part of this whole "conversation" that's been missing for a long time. We in the West have (predictably) assumed that we've got it all figured out . . . meanwhile the Spirit is alive and moving in places we've barely heard of.
The New Conspirators serves as a really terrific primer and conversation starter for people who are new to a post-Christendom thought process, and it represents a good "next step" for those who are already in sync with that.
There are aspects of The New Conspirators that will seem redundant to folks who swim in the emerging church stream. You'll get similar summaries of the emerging movement as you'll find in Robert Webber's "The Younger Evangelicals," Bolger and Gibbs' "Emerging Churches," or Dan Kimball's "The Emerging Church." However, what this book gives you that the others don't is a sense of how the emerging church thing fits in with other kinds of movements, that aren't necessarily "emerging church" in nature.
Sine traces out four streams: emerging church, missional, mosaic, and monastic. Admittedly, some of the differences in categories are a little artificial, as there is significant overlap between several of them. But I think the separations actually helps the book a little in the sense that there are many people who could read this and think, "Oh, you mean, I can be engaged in new kinds of thinking and creative expressions of the way of Jesus, without being affiliated with the emerging church? That's great - because I've heard those emerging folks are a little wacky."
The areas of overlap are primarily concerning the missional, monastic, and emerging thrusts. But I really think that the inclusion of the mosaic element is what makes this book shine. Sine takes the time to discuss the exciting expressions of church that are taking place within the North American multicultural context, but he also highlights the movements taking place in the global South and East. That's the part of this whole "conversation" that's been missing for a long time. We in the West have (predictably) assumed that we've got it all figured out . . . meanwhile the Spirit is alive and moving in places we've barely heard of.
The New Conspirators serves as a really terrific primer and conversation starter for people who are new to a post-Christendom thought process, and it represents a good "next step" for those who are already in sync with that.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Challenged by an imaginative view of what the Church can be
19 Nov 2008
Format:Paperback
When I asked to review The New Conspirators by Tom Sine I thought I was getting a critique of the emergent church and its related expressions. I had just finished a book that was extremely critical of reimagining the church, and I thought that I was getting another that might validate or modify the concerns raised in the first book.
I quickly discovered that Tom Sine is not only sympathetic to a new kind of church life but is a key player. This book is like a primer for the emerging, missional, mosaic and monastic movements. He introduces the dominant thoughts of each group and some of the most influential people. Those already immersed in this worldview may not find a lot that is new, but the material is so comprehensive that it is a valuable resource for those on either side of these issues.
This book is well-written, but it is not formulated as a defense of these movements. It does not delve deeply into doctrinal concerns and does not provide an in-depth Biblical basis for what is taking shape.
The focus is on encouraging people to adopt a lifestyle that is consistent with the manifestation of God's reign here on earth. Sine sees his book as an invitation to a simple but radical lifestyle when he writes, "This book is an invitation to a part of something `really, really small,' a quiet community that is destined to change our lives and God's world. We will particularly focus on what God is doing through the emergent, missional, mosaic and monastic streams of the church. But we are all invited to the join the creative edge by more fully discovering how God might use our mustard seeds to be a part of this conspiracy of compassion and hope."
In many ways this is a challenging read. Anyone reading this with an open mind will have to think hard about the repeated call to examine whether our way of doing church and living the Christian life has been shaped more by our consumer culture than we may have realized. It's ironic that in some areas these new forms of Christian expression seem to be more aware than their critics of how the church and the lives of Christians have been shaped by the world.
There is much here that is praiseworthy. The book is particularly strong in advocating a discipleship that encompasses our entire life rather than just segments of it. The author shows how believers can develop statements of calling to help them live more intentionally. The idea is to live in the reality that God's new order is here now and breaking into our world.
The author frequently touches on issues of global concern, and it's amazing how relevant it all is to our current situation. It's as if he was peeking into the present when he wrote this book. He accurately portrays some of the discouraging challenges that the church and the world face today. It's probably the most sobering part of the book.
Whether you view these new expressions of the church with suspicion or are an enthusiastic participant, this book is worth reading for the ideas and realities that are presented. Christians must grapple with these concepts and decide which way to go.
Hopefully, those leading these movements will be willing to engage their critics rather than just dismiss them. It's understandable that they have no desire to go about doing church as usual. But for the sake of truth, being accountable to other members of the body of Christ, and for the sake of those they lead, they should carefully weigh criticisms and be open to dialogue with their opponents.
On the other hand, it would be a mistake for critics to say these new expressions are all wrong. How many of us, and how many of our churches, are all right or all wrong? We might like to think we are right all or most of the time, but pride deceives us when that is our attitude.
Whether these movements are faithful in doctrine and practice to the standards of Scripture will remain a source of debate. How much better it would be if both sides could respectfully speak the truth in love. It shuts down communication when people resort to derogatory comments.
It might help if we look for what's good and right in each other's words. I wasn't looking to find fault, and I discovered truth worth considering.
I quickly discovered that Tom Sine is not only sympathetic to a new kind of church life but is a key player. This book is like a primer for the emerging, missional, mosaic and monastic movements. He introduces the dominant thoughts of each group and some of the most influential people. Those already immersed in this worldview may not find a lot that is new, but the material is so comprehensive that it is a valuable resource for those on either side of these issues.
This book is well-written, but it is not formulated as a defense of these movements. It does not delve deeply into doctrinal concerns and does not provide an in-depth Biblical basis for what is taking shape.
The focus is on encouraging people to adopt a lifestyle that is consistent with the manifestation of God's reign here on earth. Sine sees his book as an invitation to a simple but radical lifestyle when he writes, "This book is an invitation to a part of something `really, really small,' a quiet community that is destined to change our lives and God's world. We will particularly focus on what God is doing through the emergent, missional, mosaic and monastic streams of the church. But we are all invited to the join the creative edge by more fully discovering how God might use our mustard seeds to be a part of this conspiracy of compassion and hope."
In many ways this is a challenging read. Anyone reading this with an open mind will have to think hard about the repeated call to examine whether our way of doing church and living the Christian life has been shaped more by our consumer culture than we may have realized. It's ironic that in some areas these new forms of Christian expression seem to be more aware than their critics of how the church and the lives of Christians have been shaped by the world.
There is much here that is praiseworthy. The book is particularly strong in advocating a discipleship that encompasses our entire life rather than just segments of it. The author shows how believers can develop statements of calling to help them live more intentionally. The idea is to live in the reality that God's new order is here now and breaking into our world.
The author frequently touches on issues of global concern, and it's amazing how relevant it all is to our current situation. It's as if he was peeking into the present when he wrote this book. He accurately portrays some of the discouraging challenges that the church and the world face today. It's probably the most sobering part of the book.
Whether you view these new expressions of the church with suspicion or are an enthusiastic participant, this book is worth reading for the ideas and realities that are presented. Christians must grapple with these concepts and decide which way to go.
Hopefully, those leading these movements will be willing to engage their critics rather than just dismiss them. It's understandable that they have no desire to go about doing church as usual. But for the sake of truth, being accountable to other members of the body of Christ, and for the sake of those they lead, they should carefully weigh criticisms and be open to dialogue with their opponents.
On the other hand, it would be a mistake for critics to say these new expressions are all wrong. How many of us, and how many of our churches, are all right or all wrong? We might like to think we are right all or most of the time, but pride deceives us when that is our attitude.
Whether these movements are faithful in doctrine and practice to the standards of Scripture will remain a source of debate. How much better it would be if both sides could respectfully speak the truth in love. It shuts down communication when people resort to derogatory comments.
It might help if we look for what's good and right in each other's words. I wasn't looking to find fault, and I discovered truth worth considering.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A Future With Hope
21 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
We have journeyed a mere eight years into the third millennium, and the church is facing a profound crisis of relevance. Do we have anything to offer a creation that is groaning in travail? Tom Sine speaks to this crisis when he asks the question, "Does the future have a church?" "The New Conspirators" is his hope-filled answer. Tom offers convincing evidence that, yes, the future does indeed have a church. It just doesn't look the same as it used to.
The church of the third millennium is not a church of "bricks and mortar." It is a church of "poets, monks, clowns, prophets and other conspirators" who are sowing seeds of redemptive compassion throughout the world. These "small, small seeds" are sprouting, growing, and bringing new life and new hope to our groaning world.
In these pages, Tom Sine has assembled a compelling collection of stories of people of faith who are living out the good news of the kingdom of God in their lives. Through their stories, he reminds us that God really does love this world, and more importantly, God is fully invested in redeeming it. These new conspirators of hope are the evidence that God is indeed at work in the world, and Tom Sine invites us to become a part of this divine movement.
This book is particularly good news for those whose souls are aching under the weight of the shallow, trivial, and mundane. It is a book for those who are hungering and thirsting for something of substance in the unsatisfying realm of virtual reality. It is a book for those who want to spend their lives on something that will endure the test of time.
The church of the third millennium is not a church of "bricks and mortar." It is a church of "poets, monks, clowns, prophets and other conspirators" who are sowing seeds of redemptive compassion throughout the world. These "small, small seeds" are sprouting, growing, and bringing new life and new hope to our groaning world.
In these pages, Tom Sine has assembled a compelling collection of stories of people of faith who are living out the good news of the kingdom of God in their lives. Through their stories, he reminds us that God really does love this world, and more importantly, God is fully invested in redeeming it. These new conspirators of hope are the evidence that God is indeed at work in the world, and Tom Sine invites us to become a part of this divine movement.
This book is particularly good news for those whose souls are aching under the weight of the shallow, trivial, and mundane. It is a book for those who are hungering and thirsting for something of substance in the unsatisfying realm of virtual reality. It is a book for those who want to spend their lives on something that will endure the test of time.
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