Posted by Jason Rigby | Posted in book review, contextual, theology | Posted on 9:06 PM
Book Review: Coffee House Theology by Ed Cyzewski
Coffee House Theology is a wonderful book that engages a conversation with the postmodern Christian mind in asking questions about theology. I felt it was more of an introduction to contextual theology than an in-depth study. It left me wanting more depth from this writer. The book gave a clear description of what contextual theology is about… I love this statement “Our local settings and cultural values-in other words, our context-influence how we read God’s Word.” Pg. 19 The Global viewpoint of our view on God and scripture was insightful. On pg. 62 Ed raises an important point about culture, “Every culture has opportunities and challenges.”
The author Ed Cyzewski (MDiv Biblical Theological Seminary, BA Taylor University) is a freelance writer and speaker who has contributed to numerous magazines and book projects. He blogs at the Christian Post, as well as his personal blogs on writing (www.edcyz.com) and theology (www.inamirrordimly.com).
My favorite chapter was Chapter 3 titled “Mission why the church needs theology” by far is worth the price of the book. I love this excerpt taken from pg 34--“Instead of asking how we can get people to church, mission asks how we can get church to the people.” It would be great for the author to write a book using only Chapter 3!
To compare The Andy Griffith Show to the Real World on MTV was a great analogy of how modern and postmodern viewpoints exist and clash. I was challenged to reinvent the way I dialogue with nonbelievers in this new postmodern world. I appreciated his clarity in that sometimes the Word of God will be prophetic and go against the grain of culture. The goal as stated on pg. 101 was to be relevant and prophetic. I had to repent from this truthful statement “We can’t hope to keep the church precisely like its early predecessors anymore than we can keep bell-bottoms or togas in style.”
Being a conservative orthodox Christian I had concerns over several liberal ecumenical undertones. Chapter 11 dealing with catholic and charismatic experiences was for me extrabiblical. I would not discount the book for this as I believe the church needs to begin dialogue in a postmodern world today more than ever! This book begins that needed discussion. The end of every chapter had a web link to the author’s blog to further study that chapter out…that is just too cool!
Jason Rigby
Thanks Jason for the heads up about your review. I'm glad you found the book helpful. You're right, I certainly aimed to provide a very basic introduction, so I'm sure it felt a bit too simplified at times. Thanks for giving a good, honest review of the book with what you liked and didn't like.
I also really appreciate your use of quotes from the book. I can tell you took a lot of time on this review.
Catholics aside, I'm a bit perplexed about your statement that charismatic experiences are "extrabiblical." I understand that you may think charismatic gifts have ceased, but charismatic gifts such as prophecy, tongues, and miracles are very much in the Bible. :) There are strong, Biblie-believing Christians on both sides of this issue. I'd say the difference boils down to interpretation and practice. I would add, believing in the cessation of these gifts puts one in the minority of global Christians. The charismatic church is growing by leaps and bounds in South America.
We can debate whether charismatic manifestations should be a part of Christianity today, but that is more a matter of how we interpret the Bible. Pentecost certainly happened in the Bible. We just need to figure out its relevance for us today.
Ed,
I do really appreciate your book and will suggest it to others. I am thankful for your willingness to talk about a subject that now seems taboo to the Church. I am in agreement with you on finding relevance with the gifts of the Spirit in His Church today. My concern was in the book in Chapter 11 where you begin to talk about Toronto Airport Vineyard and equating that experience you had to contextual theology.
I do believe in the gifts of the Spirit and welcome the work of the Holy Spirit. We would disagree on the extent of how they are used today. I just see today an emphasis on seeking a collective showiness instead of messy Jesus-Centered missional work where we practice daily the gifts together in community. Many times these gifts being exercised are not the emotional showiness we seek, but the talk to your neighbor over the fence about his dying dad and in letting the Spirit work through prayer and a constant drawing him back to the Gospel. My opinion he needs a clear picture of Jesus brought to him in Love by his neighbor more then he needs to go to Toronto and as you said on pg. 210 "sob, laugh, and pass out."
I am excited that you brought out the global realization and I pray that I will see someday how God sees the world and all His disciples. We Americans think we have it all figured out!!!
Thanks Jason. I appreciate the clarification. I agree that no one needs to go to anywhere in particular to experience God's Spirit, though the manifestations can be unpredictable. I'm also down on the sensational angle of things, though I've seen God work in people and it often doesn't look the way I'd expect.
Thanks for seeing the importance of this topic and delving into it with my book! I hope I can provide Christians with some solid raw materials to use as they begin to figure out theology in their own communities. It sounds like you're well on your way!
Jason, been enjoying the conversation between yourself and Ed. I must admit my eyebrows raised a couple of notches when you said 'extrabiblical'. However, having had that clarified, the way that Ed has helped us with his thinking is this thing you picked up on how we take church to the world. The church is hopelessly in tension with itself as being visible yet invisible in it relevance. The problem I find is that our churches, including mine, think we are being missional, but are probably more attractional than we would would care to admit. To this end, I am thankful for Ed for contributing to the conversation.
Another book that I have found helpful is God is Back by Michlethwaite and Woolbridge, a couple of writer for the Economist magazine (UK & US respectively) Uncomfortable, but hopeful for the church in its conclusion. I did a quick reivew of this on my site, if interested.
Andrew, went to your site www.igod.typepad.com. Really enjoyed the review. I agree with you on the "tension" I believe in this post-modern world the key is to delve into discussion on this "tension" It will be then and only then will we be open to hearing God's calling for the church.
I pray that we will get up from our discussion and pews and start being the counter-cultural church we see in the New Testament.