Post-Christendom

Western societies are experiencing a series of disorientating culture shifts. Uncertain where we are heading, observers use ""post"" words to signal that familiar landmarks are disappearing, but we cannot yet discern the shape of what is emerging. One of the most significant shifts, ""post-Christendom,"" raises many questions about the mission and role of the church in this strange new world. What does it mean to be one of many minorities in a culture that the church no longer dominates? How do followers of Jesus engage in mission from the margins? What do we bring with us as precious resources from the fading Christendom era, and what do we lay down as baggage that will weigh us down on our journey into post-Christendom? Post-Christendom identifies the challenges and opportunities of this unsettling but exciting time. Stuart Murray presents an overview of the formation and development of the Christendom system, examines the legacies this has left, and highlights the questions that the Christian community needs to consider in this period of cultural transition. ""You will find this well-written and compellingly-argued work to be as challenging as it is insightful, and as exciting as it is encouraging."" --Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor, Woodland Hills Church, Maplewood, Minnesota ""What an illuminating read! Its clear-eyed analysis of how Christians got so tragically off course is a must-read for all those ready to rediscover Jesus, reimagine church, and live into hope for a more just, gentle world."" --Sara Wenger Shenk, President, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana ""I read the first edition of Post-Christendom when it came out fourteen years ago and have returned to it regularly since. Stuart Murray's plea for us to disavow Christendom and rediscover Jesus-centered mission from the margins of contemporary society is no less a clarion call today than it was back then."" --Michael Frost, Morling College, Sydney ""I used to recommend the first edition to all the leaders, pastors, church planters, and students I could. I will now require the second edition for all I work with. This is a crucial read."" --Cam Roxburgh, Senior Pastor of Southside Community Church, National Director of Forge Canada ""With the on-going demise of Christendom, Western Christians are finding themselves in relatively uncharted territory. If this unsettling situation feels a bit like being lost in the deep woods, reading Steward Murray's Post-Christendom feels like finding a reliable compass. He doesn't claim to have all the answers, but he certainly asks the right questions, which in turn helps us begin to head in the right direction. Unless you are among the diminishing rank of those misguided folk who are still trying to prop up Christendom--as though its death were not inevitable (and welcomed!)--you will find this well-written and compellingly-argued work to be as challenging as it is insightful, and as exciting as it is encouraging."" --Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor, Woodland Hills Church, Maplewood, Minnesota ""What an illuminating read! Murray provides a lucid, nuanced historical overview that masterfully describes the contours of Christendom, its demise, and resources for living into a Jesus-shaped future. This well-told account, while deeply disquieting, is ultimately empowering. It's clear-eyed analysis of how Christians got so tragically off course is a must-read for all those ready to rediscover Jesus, reimagine church, and live into hope for a more just, gentle world."" --Sara Wenger Shenk, President, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana ""I read the first edition of Post-Christendom when it came out fourteen years ago and have returned to it regularly since. Stuart Murray's plea for us to disavow Christendom and rediscover Jesus-centered mission from the margins of contemporary society is no less a clarion call today than it was back then. I'm delighted to commend this second edition for a n