Howard A. Snyder, Radical Renewal: The Problem of Wine Skins Today. Wipf and Stock, 2005.
Referenced in: Ecclesiologies
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Theology of Mission and Ministry.
Community of the King and want deeper exposure to Snyder’s philosophy.
This is an update of Snyder’s 1975 bestseller, The Problem With Wineskins. Using the Luke 5 image of the wine and the wineskins, Snyder’s concern is the kind of structure (wineskin) that best suits the gospel of Christ (wine). This gospel is trans-cultural, but the structures are culturally conditioned, suggesting we must peel off the layers which we have imposed on the church via the current culture and see fresh new ways of being church that more adequately express the true nature of the church in our time. Operating with the notion of the church as the community of God’s people (see Community of the King), he suggests that the best structure is not the large group (congregation) but the small group (house church or cell). Rethinking structure in this way also helps to modify our understandings of fellowship, spiritual gifts, and the pastoral role. This results in a more Spirit-led, life changing and gift-empowering experience of Christian community. Snyder warns that refusing to do this rethinking may inhibit the spread of the gospel, or in some cases, create situations where the movement of God in the world to fulfill his mission will require cataclysmic bursts where the gospel breaks free from its outdated forms (old wineskins) that cannot adequately contain the new wine of the gospel. Included in his discussion are a few important areas wherein the need for new wineskins is revealed such as reaching the poor (a heavy emphasis in the book) and shedding the wasteful expenditures and confinement of church buildings.
Snyder’s suggestions as are not as “radical” today as they were in the 1970s. Yet it is doubtful that anyone could come away from this text unprovoked or unchallenged. It certainly has its place.
Those who appreciate this volume may consult other Snyder works such as Community of the King, Decoding the Church (2002), Kingdom, Church, and World (2001), and Models of the Kingdom (2001).
From the Publisher
This updated best seller challenges the reader to examine the current church structure. If you have never read this classic, you have missed a treasure chest of information and wisdom from one of the most respected authors of our time.
Wine (the gospel of Jesus Christ) and Wineskins (the man-made structures of the church). How do the two relate? What happens when new wine is poured into old wineskins? What about making new wineskins? In short: What kinds of church structures are most compatible with the gospel in our modern, techno-urban society? Snyder addresses these questions — and provides some challenging answers. In the course of his argument he discusses the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ, the role of spiritual gifts, the pastor as a “superstar,” and renewal that is deeply spiritual and immediately practical.
Editorial Reviews
- “No other book has had more influence in shaping my understanding of ministry at the local church level. It is a must read for every Christian leader.” — Michael Slaughter, Pastor, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church
- “Howard Snyder’s ‘Radical Renewal’ is even more relevant today than when it first appeared as ‘The Problem of Wineskins’ in 1975. The world has changed, but Snyder’s challenges are still very much alive today.” — Vinson Synan, Dean and Professor of Divinity, Regent University School of Divinity
- “Important books do not die … all they need is a little dusting and polishing to become as vital and challenging as their first appearance. So it is with this … revision. Not only is it just as relevant, but given the changes taking place in society and the current state of the church, it is even more timely and necessary.” — Robert Banks, Director and Dean, Macquarie Christian Studies Institute
About the Author
Howard A. Snyder serves as distinguished professor and chair of Wesley Studies at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Previously he was professor of history and theology of mission in the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky from 1996 to 2006. He has also taught at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, and pastored in Chicago and Detroit.
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