Book Review: Christianity for the Rest of Us by Bass

Much is said and written today regarding the emerging church. In Christianity for the Rest of Us, Diana Butler Bass shares stories from mainline Protestant congregations experiencing renewal and transformation through re-connection with historic Christian practices. In reality, she debunks the myth that only fundamental conservative congregations transform lives.

The working assumption of many people today is that mainline Protestants are “the frozen chosen” who “sit around in the dark with their eyes shut.” According to many reporters, “politically conservative evangelicalism is the only vital form of the Christian faith.” In the introduction to Christianity for the Rest of Us, Bass contends that “other” Christians exist and have found meaningful ways of living together with traditions, social justice, spiritual practices, and emotive worship.

Diana Butler Bass came to her convictions about the vitality of mainline Protestantism through research. Her three-year research project focused on 50 mainline congregations “in which new things appeared to be happening, and where people were growing deeper and experiencing a new sense of identity by intentionally engaging Christian practices.” Ten of the churches were studied in depth, and Bass gleaned stories from these congregations through interviews, surveys and visits.

While the author confesses many mainline Protestant churches are struggling to survive, she asserts that lively faith is not located in buildings, programs and structures. “Spiritual vitality lives in human beings; it is located at the heart of God’s people and the community they form.”

Bass discovered paths to renewal for mainline congregations are varied, but all seem to find new vitality through intentionally engaging in Christian tradition and embodying spiritual practices. As a result of her research, Bass identifies ten “signposts” of renewal:

• Hospitality—the practice of welcoming strangers into community and into God’s transformative love without expecting anything in return.
• Discernment—the practice of paying attention to God. Discernment involves serious reflection on scripture that is grounded in prayer and informed by experience. It is both personal and communal.
• Healing—the practice of creating a space where all can find healing from brokenness, where sinners find peace.
• Contemplation—the practice of encountering God in silence, attention and adoration.
• Testimony—the practice of sharing personal stories of God’s transforming work.
• Diversity—the practice of actively constructing a community that crosses boundaries, making room for the kingdom of God.
• Justice—the practice of engaging the powers—transforming all systems of injustice, violence, and exclusion.
• Worship—the practice of encountering God in a way that transforms the heart.
• Reflection—the practice of bringing head, heart and experiences into conversation with faith.
• Beauty—the practice of creativity within a congregation, i.e. singing beautiful music together or experiencing works of art or film that help us encounter God.

Another common characteristic of these emerging congregations is the capacity for change. These congregations recognize they are on journey with God—a journey of faith that will not end. Congregants speak of “becoming” because they are constantly listening to God’s call and responding to it. While these congregations are re-connecting with tradition, they recognize that “tradition needs to be fluid.” Anxiety about change has given way to real spiritual hunger to go deeper with God.

I very much enjoyed reading Christianity for the Rest of Us and found myself resonating with Bass in significant ways. Because congregations often have different scorecards to measure “success,” I find it refreshing to hear the stories of congregations that wrestle with what it means for them to be faithful. These congregations are self-defined and engaging in spiritual practices in new and fresh ways. I highly recommend this book to all who desire to shape and form authentic Christian communities.