Charles Colson has been called, "one of the most important social reformers in a generation." Ten years ago in The Body, Colson turned his prophetic attention to the church and how it might break out of its cultural captivity and reassert its biblical identity.
Today the book's classic truths have not changed. But the world we live in has. Christians in America have had their complacency shattered and their beliefs challenged. Around the world, the clash of world views has never been more strident. Before all of us, daily, are the realities of life and death, terror and hope, light and darkness, brokeness and healing. We cannot withdraw to the comfort of our santuaries...we must engage. For, if ever there was a time for Christians to be the Body of Christ in the world, it is now.
In this new, revised and expanded edition of The Body, Charles Colson revisits the question, "What is the church and what is its relevance to contemporary culture at large?" Provocative and insightful, Being the Body inspires us to rise above a stunted "Jesus and me" faith to a nobler view of something bigger and grander than ourselves --the glorious, holy vision for which God created the church.
Final Analysis:This is one of the top five books I have ever read. Here are my faults with it. I am a thoroughly reformed protestant and I am very uncomfortable on the Evangelicals and Catholics Together Doctrine. What are we, Reformers who desire to change culture, to do with union with Catholics? Is there any reconciliation? Here is what I propose to my Protestant and Catholic bretheren: We cannot reconcile our views on justification; let us leave it at that and unite in the public square, not the spiritual square. I say this with utmost respect to my Catholic brethren. May God uses this book for His Glory!
Soli Deo Gloria
Of course, the scope of the book goes well beyond the Christian church in the USA, and the events of 9/11. It looks at the Church around the globe, and covers how the church has succeeded or failed throughout history. In fact, some of the more interesting stories and examples come from outside the US, and deal with events from other eras (the reformation, and WWII). I also like the fact that the authors use many examples from the Catholic church to demonstrate that they too are members of the body, and have made an enormous impact throughout history, despite their challenges (to include the current crisis).
Just like the original version, this book challenged me to take a hard look at my own faith, and my role within the local church. For those who feel that Christianity is only a personal experience, I challenge you to read this book, and discover why our participation at our local church is so vital to the Body of Christ. Hopefully, this book will help change your mind, and get you involved with Gods people as they try to bring light into today's dark world.
I highly recommend this book to any Christian who has not read it. More specifically if you are looking for a detailed analysis of today's church - this book is it. Also, if you have read The Body, it is worth the time and effort required to read this version. More than half of the material is new. The updates are of the same high quality as the original and result in an even stronger and more comprehensive look at The Body.
