Post-Modern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21st Century Church

Rating:
Summary: Well written and consise...
Review: I had quite a lengthy debate about the book with a fellow seminary student, and I think that some of my comments from that back and forth will best illustrate what Sweet's book is about:

"We must remember Sweet's authorial intent here: "This book begins with chapters of cultural analysis devoted to what each of these words means in the acronym EPIC. The book ends with a more theoretical analysis of the social forces and intellectual figures fashioning this EPIC model" (Sweet, 30). He is not attempting to give us a systematic theology of how to approach the culture. He is giving a broad overview of the culture which we must engage: this is an introductory work to a much larger issue; by nature it is a survey..."

"Scripture is not commanding that we up and leave this culture and do everything the opposite that everyone else does: scipture admonishes us that while we're in the midst of this crooked and perverse nation, that we ought to not touch the unclean thing... in other words, be separate in that we do not participate in things that are evil: not just culture in general. Was Paul wicked for "...mak[ing] [him]self a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible" (I Cor. 9:19)? Paul continues by saying, "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings" (I Cor. 9:20-23). Would we be out of line saying, "To the Postmoderns I became as a Postmodern?" I do not think this to be the case. Yet Paul here was clearly conforming to these cultures. How could he justify that? The reason was that he wasn't doing things that were 'unclean' in God's sight...just as there are many things in the culture that in and of themselves are not unclean, and the church can safely advocate those things, in books like Sweet's. Paul also uses culture to further the gospel in Acts 17:22-34, where he first assesses the culture (vs. 23) and then uses quotes from their own poets as an introduction to the gospel (vs. 28 - quote #1 is probably from Epimendes of Crete, and quote #2 is from Aratus's poem, "Phainomena")..."

What this book is really for is enabling us to understand better our culture so that we too can follow in the footsteps of Paul and "to the Jew be a Jew to the Greek be a Greek, and to the Post-modern be a post-modern." In this regard, the book is excellent.

Rating:
Summary: EPIC...Experiential, Participatory, Image-Based, Connected..
Review: I really enjoyed this book. His EPIC paradigm is a very accurate assesment of where things are at these days, and actually provides some good handles for how to embrace postmodernity. I got sick of books on postmodernism a few years ago since they all seemed to say the same exact things, and few offered anything helpful. This happened shortly after I bought this book, so I had it on my shelf for a few years until I recenetly had a conversation with someone who mentioned it. Thought I'd give it a read and wished I had back when it came out. The book is built around Sweet's contension that today's culture is EPIC...Experiential, Participatory, Image-Based, and Connected. In terms of those observations, Sweet it out of the park. Even in most of his ideas he is right on. I'm not crazy about how a lot of "pomo" writing talks about "going back in history"...and making things more liturgical. I get some of it, but it's just not me. I'm not that emotional/contemplative of a guy to get it I guess. It actually seems like things aren't leaning that way too much anymore, which is cool to see. It just felt to me like a lot of people said, "hey postmodernism is a problem and we've got the solution", in their books, which turned me off. Sweet pretty much stays away from some of those temptations in this book and offers a practical, helpful, easy-to-read book! He also gives some great insights into why the younger generations act why they do, which is very insightful, and probably worth the price of the book. Definitely worth reading...

Rating:
Summary: Finger remains on the pulse of Postmodern Culture!
Review: Once again, Sweet shows is Postmodern Pilgrms why he is the premier cultural futurist for the church in the 21st Century. Len has done some of his most important work in reminding us that faithful churches in postmodern culture will be EPIC churches. By that Sweet means that they will be: Experiential, Participatory, Image-driven, and Connected. For any pastor or church willing to open their eyes and their hearts, Sweet provides vital and meaningful maps that will help us steer through the unchartered waters and ever-changing currents of postmodernity and allow us to continue to proclaim the vital good news of God's love made known in Jesus Christ in fresh and meaningful ways to a new generation of believers.

Sweet is to be commended for his unswavering commitment to calling the church to accountability and to remind us of the mission and ministry to which we've been called. As Sweet, himself, has so often reminded us, we are called to be an "Isachar People," those who know "the signs of the time and what it is that God would have us do."

Sweet reminds us that the 21st Century is a new and challenging time that will test the church and push it to the edge and call us to push the envelope! We owe him much for his prophetic word in reminding us that we are truly an "AncientFuture" people. May we be faithful to that which we have been called!

Rating:
Summary: A textbook for Christian leadership
Review: Post-Modern Pilgrims, Leonard Sweet's latest book, discuss postmodern culture and serves as a guide for sailing the church through this moment in history. Sweet's Epic methodology sets the framework for the book, and explains how we must build an "EPIC church for EPIC times." Postmodern culture is E-P-I-C in that it is Experiential, Participatory, Image-driven, and Connected. Dr. Sweet devotes a chapter to each of these four principals and shows examples of how they can bring the church up to speed with the culture. This is an awesome book for anyone trying to understand the relationship between Christianity and culture. Buy this book, and you will not be disappointed!