Being Church (New Monastic Library: Resources for Radical Discipleship)

I read this book almost two years ago as I started discussing the idea of an intentional community with some friends.One of my friends was already in such a community and recommended this as our prep reading.I really enjoyed this book and the thoughts of John Alexander. He really challenged my view of church, community, individualism and what God asks of all of us when giving our all in today's life context.Even though our "intentional community" failed. The lessons and take aways I got from this book, remain with me and help influence my decisions on a daily basis.In a weird way - reading it as a single woman also started preparing me for marriage in an unexpected way. Overall this is good, but sometimes difficult read that I recommend for any Christian looking for deeper relationships in their lives and wanting to know how they fit within the church.

I thought that the book might be more about living as a Christ-follower, outside the walls. It seemed to have more to do with getting along with one another. There were portions that I found helpful.

He writes with clarity, passion and from experience. He removes the barriers that we tend to hide behind to keep us from experiencing church as we need to experience church.

I believe forms matter. The bulk of the material that has been edited into 'Being Church: Reflections on How to Life as the People of God' were written while John Alexander was pastor of Church of the Sojourners, a "live-together" church. It was within this context that John taught, preached and pastored, and it is within this context that John's prophetic word needs to be understood. None the less, any and all forms, from the mega-church to the community church to the missional community to the live-together church run the risk of becoming an institution. As such, John continues to have a prophetic word to any and all congregations trying to be church; trying to be faithful to the call of Christ.John is quite clear that our vision must not stop at being church. Rather, our vision must see through the church and focus on who God is, and what He is doing in human history. He states, "The point isn't that I'm supposed to love God. Nor is it that I'm supposed to love others. The point is that God loves me. That's the basic doctrine of the New Testament. And of the Old Testament." And again, "People thrive, live-in churches thrive, all churches thrive when they're basking in the love of God." As such, the grace of God is an invitation by God to participate with Him in His work to reconcile the cosmos to Himself. It is His project, and not ours.And yet, John is equally clear that our partnership with God has to look something like Jesus' partnership with the Father, that is, what John refers to as "ego death." There is indeed, no more beautiful example of servitude to God than the Magnificat, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." John continues: "To the degree that we have control needs, we are dead. To the degree that we can leave the control to God, we have faith and are alive. That's what faith in God means - not some intellectual belief that God exists, but complete trust." Trust as Mary trusted.Trust in God is meaningless if it has no implications on day to day life. "These days, if a couple in conflict go to a marriage counselor, the counselor will try to find a way that both can get more of what they want. Usually, it will be a compromise of some sort... But as always, the Bible goes deeper and asks more. Paul asks each spouse to give the other everything. That's how you get unity, whether it's in marriage or church. By self-sacrifice and by serving one another. Totally. Like Jesus on the cross."Ultimately, we are still trying to figure out what it means and what it looks like to live as the People of God. These two words, focusing on the love and activity of God, and trusting God to the death of my ego, are as valid of an exhortation today, as they were 34 years ago, when I began my journey with Christ. While forms are important, form do not save. Regardless of the form of church we find ourselves in, we are none the less the same fallen human beings. Whether we are in a congregation of 250 or 25, we all, to a person, need to focus on the love and activity of God, and work diligently to trust God with our lives. As such, John's prophetic word in 'Being Church: Reflections on How to Live as the People of God' is a challenging read, and yet a necessary read for anyone wishing to take seriously their discipleship to Jesus and to take seriously what it means to be church.--Tato Sumantri, Church of the Servant King, Eugene, Oregon

Let me start by saying that I don't normally take the time to write reviews but I really felt it necessary with this book. Often times, theological books- or books about church- can be polarized into holding strictly liberal or conservative theological views but I believe John Alexander walks a fine line here. The book is radical because it goes beyond typical liberal/conservative theological ideologies to look for an answer. It is counter-cultural in a true sense. Alexander points out things like Freedom, Individualism, Rights, Equality (conservative and liberal ideals) and explains their attack on a Biblical life. The true enemy is not liberalism or conservatism but culture in general.Alexander asks us as readers to reconsider the way we think of "church." He questions whether the best way (God's way) to follow Christ may be something we often overlook: simply, to love one another...We should ask ourselves the question, "how do we best love one another?" The title of the book is an answer in itself. The book digs deep into the idea of 'being church' and provides many thoughtful and Biblical answers.

This book is amazing.Every time I picked it up - I felt like I was reading from the wisest of Christian leaders and learning so much as I read.Living in community with other believers is central to the message of Christ and this book is a tool that many of us need to sharpen us.I'll be referring back to this book often.Recommended reading for any Christian or anyone curious about the faith. Pastors, teachers and church leaders would benefit greatly from Alexander's writings.