Tuesday Book Review

I recently finished James Hunter's book "To Change The World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World"
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/ReligionTheology/SociologyofReligion/?view=usa&ci=9780199730803


Hunter takes aim at typical ways that Christians have sought to change culture and shows how ineffective they are.  Why is it that while most in the US still hold to a form of orthodox Christianity yet the culture itself is far from biblical?  Hunter points out that it is because Christianity has bought a view of cultural change that embraces a bottom up approach that discredits the influence of those institutions and people who actually shape the culture.  For a interesting take on this watch this clip from "The Devil Wears Prada" http://www.hulu.com/watch/13046/the-devil-wears-prada-cerulean-sweater


It's not just our cerulean sweaters, but also the ideas we find interesting, the people we admire and the causes we champion which are preselected by institutions and people we dismiss as "elites."  Hunter is arguing that the elites matter if our goal is making our world into a better place.  The book's prescription is summed up in a phrase he employs called "faithful presence."  Faithful presence is a stance commitment to a place for the long haul.  A stance that is committed to bringing Grace to bear on the people, the institutions and, yes, even the elites within our sphere of place.


This book caused me to think beyond the immediate concerns I have for our church.  As we grow it's easy to become busy and distracted about such larger issues, but Hunter's book helped me remember that New Song is here not just for ourselves, but for our city - that our mission is not just to build a great church, but to be part of building a great city where all can flourish.  


What thoughts do you have on this?  How would this practice of "faithful presence" change our priorities and patterns?  Has anyone read Hunter and come to other conclusions?


Grace and Peace,
Sam