Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works

by Philip Olson, Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson, et al.

Book Overview

Churches over the past generations have been weakened by a failure to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of their communities. Many have adopted a narrow vision, focusing on only one aspect of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801091330
• ISBN13: 9780801091339
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Planted In Reality, Yet Limited

Churches That Make A Difference has clearly been a popular Christian book, now having reached its third printing. The subtitle, "Reaching Your Community with Good News and Good Works", suggests the subject matter, namely - how to bring together Good News and Good Works in the Church. The book's great strength is that the content is based on fifteen "in-depth case studies" of Churches in the greater Philadelphia area. That is, it has its feet planted in reality. Among its weakness, in my view, are its "makeshift" theology - not because the authors espouse any theology in particular, but because the theology is not particularly well thought through, tending to fray especially in the details. The authors point out that "evangelism rarely happens by osmosis". "Loving acts need the complement of the verbal presentation of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. If people don't ask, and Christians never tell, how will anyone ever know the gospel?" That is, the gospel should always be presented clearly. On the other hand, however, "proclamation alone may ring hollow". The authors refer a great deal to "holistic ministry". This is ministry where "evangelism and social action are distinguishable but inseparable". Holistic ministry is "based on the understanding that the physical, spiritual, moral, and relational dimensions of human nature are intertwined. Churches of this type encourage faith commitments in the context of social activism". The book describes five classic models of social ministry in evangelical Churches today, as well as the option of forming coalitions or partnerships in social ministry. However, I sensed a void at the centre of the book, which has to do with the American "can do" attitude. In fact the concluding chapter is titled: "We Can Do It". The authors would seem to suggest that the solution to social ills is just a matter of "reaching your community with the whole gospel for the whole person". However, it needs to be borne in mind that, in some parts of the world, it is a case of "NO can do". In fact, in many parts of the world, the general situation is rapidly regressing, and there seems to be little hope of assistance from outside. What sustains people in such situations? What should sustain people over five years - even a year - of grievous want or oppression? It may not be enough to offer that "God's salvation includes [...] material prosperity, justice," or that He "promises to renew the earth".

Balance your ministry

Best line in the book: "If its not there, everyone will know its missing." The book makes a strong case for more attention to social activity in advancing the gospel. Its a call for balance between word and deed. Each one depends on the other or there is a lack of balance; a church's ministry is not "holistic." Caring for the community shows that church is genuine. I sense the authors want to work on the Christian image to cure, what they perceive, as an unchristian attitude towards unbelievers. Many times the authors use examples and even statistics to support the assertion that many unbelievers are just put off by insensitive presentations that are void of compassion. I had to chuckle when they stated, "For every new believer transformed by the liberating Good News of Christ, others have been turned off by offensive soul wining strategies." This is obviously true and many have seen over zealous believers turn away unbelievers who where lambasted with the truth. Such passion for the truth must be tempered by love or unbelievers will think Christians just want to win an ideology war. The authors may take their point a little too far however. A recent survey is quoted (pg. 64) demonstrating that 44% of non-Christians came away with a negative impression after an encounter with a believer (Christian Smith?). Only 44%? I would think even if the gospel were presented in the most compassionate way possible, you could not escape offending a higher percentage. Much of the problem I see in today's churches is the gospel is so watered down it wouldn't offend anybody. The true gospel by nature is offensive and certainly it will not matter how many programs your church performs, the truth remains. The gospel is offensive to human pride. Paul was not exactly the most popular person in Athens or Ephesus! Jesus' popularity was suffering badly also, after all, they did release a criminal and condemned him to torture. I guess the masses forgot about how compassionate he was the past three years. Since Jesus is portrayed as our example to follow in exercising compassion, why aren't more unbelievers trying to kill me? I cannot help but wonder if Jesus would of scored lower than 44%. Probably not. All in all, the book is very good, well researched!!..easy to follow and very thought provoking. It's balanced too, no wishy-washy social gospel junk. Essential reading if you are a church pastor/leader.

A Postmodern methodology

Ronald Sider has done it again. That is, he has left many of us who may not be fully engaged in significant social ministries in our communities, feeling a little less "holistic". Now this statement should not be mistaken for a criticism, but rather as an honest sigh or moan on the part of this pastor, and I suspect many others who far too often are ensnared in the traditional model of doing church. As I read "Churches That Make a Difference", I was impressed with the scholarship of this new resource. It attempts to bridge that age-old gap between evangelism (in the traditional context), and social action. The book is based upon a significant research undertaking conducted by Sider and his two colleagues, Heidi Unruh and Philip Olson. The research project sponsored by Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary examined the relationship between evangelism and social action in fifteen protestant churches in the greater Philadelphia area, and involved over 2,000 respondents.What I appreciate about this book is that it is well researched biblically, theologically, and scientifically. The authors are not novices, and this is not popularist fluff. The book gives generous examples throughout of churches bringing balance to an issue that for years has divided believers and reduced the effectiveness of many Christian churches. The reader is given a glimpse into success stories of "holistic" ministry, and testimonies of hope and assistance. I believe that many 21st century churches desire to reach out to the world outside of their walls, but they may not know how to respond to this call to do so. Traditional models of evangelism which the church utilized well into the late 20th century seem unfortunately inadequate in a 21st century Postmodern culture and context.To paraphrase their description of how this can happen, a "holistic" church is an exciting, exuberantly alive place in which the active presence of the Spirit can be felt; where renewal, growth, and transformation take place, and by which the church is a change agent in the community. It has a spiritual dynamic about it which causes it to be sacrificially caring, boldly prophetic, and lovingly nurturing. This holistic church understands its mission, possesses a dynamic spirituality, is healthy, and practices what it preaches. For Sider, the Christian church must recover her mandate embedded deeply in Jesus' command to "love God and love your neighbour as yourself". Sider and his associates emphasize that individual churches must find new and innovative ways to connect people with Christ. They stress that diversity in ministry based upon community needs, and employing the spiritual gifts and resources of the members, which are influenced by the vision and calling of the church is holistic. Holistic ministry in fact is well defined when a church: 1. Focuses on ministries of personal spiritual transformation as a path to social change; 2. Focuses on social services ministries as a door to ev