A New and Right Spirit

In a postmodern culture shaped by baby boomer values and marked by a consumerist approach to nearly everything, it’s little wonder that there is much confusion about who and what the church is supposed to be in the 21st century. According to Pastor Rick Barger, “the church too often comes off, or is perceived as, some sort of spiritual version of a community recreation center, simply offering up programs and experiences to meet people’s needs.” In this contemporary situation, congregations are increasingly put in the position of offering a deal (membership in exchange for salvation), a cause (becoming a sort of religious activist organization), or a service (playing chaplain for life transitions). To many people, joining a church is simply the “icing on the cake” to complement their already full lives.

In A New and Right Spirit, Barger argues passionately for congregations to reexamine what it means to be an “authentic church” in a culture where authenticity is hard to come by. He demonstrates the pitfalls of technical solutions to congregational problems and shows the way to making adaptive change. As the key to congregational transformation he boldly reclaims and lifts up an ecclesiological vision of the church as a “witness to the resurrection.” Recognizing the spiritual needs of a success-oriented society, he exhorts leaders to turn away from the story of our culture and to return to the story of the church, which is grounded in Christ and the resurrection. Driven by that authentic story, the church becomes a powerful witness to God’s love for all and an effective minister to the needs of the world.