McLaren begins by acknowledging that for many, the Christian faith is perceived more as a system of belief to be defended than as a way of living. The fact that there often seems to be very little to distinguish the lifestyles of Christians from those among whom they live suggests that we have lost our way. McLaren argues that returning to the ancient spiritual practices will help Christians once again to be a people 'on the Way' – whose characters are being intentionally formed, but more than that, who are learning what it is to be human and what it means to be alive.
I found the book to be wonderfully accessible. McLaren is readable, without being at all superficial, and although I read the book quickly, I immediately wanted to go back and revisit some of the concepts he raises. He freely admits his own struggles along the way – there is a memorable section involving a doughnut that I will work into a sermon some time soon! It was also a liberating feeling to get the sense that this book (although written primarily for Christian readers) could be studied with Muslim and Jewish friends – such is our shared heritage.
All in all, a wonderful introduction to what promises to be a very helpful and timely series. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Thanks to Booksneeze (www.booksneeze.com) for supplying me with a copy of this book for review.
