Michael Frost

Peabody: Hendrickson, 2006

Reviewed by Darren Cronshaw, originally appeared in Zadok Perspectives, No. 96 (Spring).

Exiles is Michael Frost's latest and most substantial book, in which he addresses the urgency of the missional challenge in the post-Christendom Western world. Christendom, he explains, is no longer a reality in Western culture but continues to define the church's self-understanding: 'And here lies the root of the problem of the church today. Victimized by nostalgia and buffeted by fear, the church is focused too much on merely holding the small plot of ground that it currently occupies to confidently reimagine a robust future' (p.9). Frost paints a picture of a life-affirming and Christ-centred faith for followers of Jesus who feel exiled from both secular Western culture and old-fashioned respectable and conservative church culture. Drawing on Brueggemann's identification of the parallels between the dislocation and irrelevance of contemporary Christianity and the experience of Jewish exiles in Babylon, he explores dangerous inspiration and directions for modern-day exiles:

I. 'Dangerous Memories' of Jesus and his daring agenda

Frost insists an incarnational model of engaging but not submitting to secular culture is essential for followers of Jesus today. Like an experimental farm, the church is to demonstrate living in the Kingdom of God with generosity and selflessness in contrast to the greed and consumerism rampant in society. The secret to this is rediscovering (remembering) the genius of the teachings of Jesus and the missional practices of the early church. Rather than seeing Jesus in insipid non-human terms and with predominately dogmatic ontological formulas (as in the creeds) or theological frameworks (as in the Reformation), he calls the reader to a fresh understanding of Jesus through first century Jewish eyes. For example, Jesus' eating patterns amazingly broke down social barriers and demonstrated inclusiveness unheard of in Jewish religion of his day. Frost insists if we are to imitate Jesus, we will value hanging out with people in 'third places' like clubs and hotels where people gather regularly and not get overly caught up in meetings and Sunday stuff (the usual barometer of Christian commitment). Furthermore, in order to embody and share the gospel, we will balance inner spirituality such as contemplative prayer with outward disciplines like hospitality, generosity, justice, environmental stewardship and mission.

II. 'Dangerous Promises' that point to the Kingdom

Frost expands on some promises that he says transform communities and point to the Kingdom of God. To begin with, in a world obsessed with reality television and fake experiences (and with churches that extol the virtues of short-cut magical Jabez prayers), the counter-cultural promise is to be authentic. Second, rather than aiming for community as an end in itself, exiles first seek to serve a cause greater than themselves. In prioritising mission, they find that community (or communitas) incidentally happens as people's imagination is captured by a higher cause.

Third, rather than just gathering with other Christians (whether loyally on Sundays in a church building or occasionally on Mondays at a pub), exiles are captured by a vision to create missional community and 'do church' that Frost says is characterised by four essential features: Trinitarian theology (as a framework and spiritual glue for community), covenantal expression (committing to a way of life together), Catholic orientation (conscious of their part in the broader church) and missional intent (which gives a common goal and a basis for a common life together).

The fourth promise is of generosity and hospitality. With the inspiration of Joseph the steward who saved nations from hunger, Daniel who refused to eat junk served up to him and Paul who ate to engage people rather than fearing contamination, Frost caters for a life-affirming and not-too-difficult approach to hospitality: 'Serve up something delicious, and then just watch the conversation flow and trust God to stick his nose in somewhere' (p.168). The final promise is to work righteously as God's apprentices. Dismissing a dualistic approach to secular work, Frost encourages integrating work and mission. He tells some particularly creative examples of architects and retailers whose work benefits social equality and the environment.

III. 'Dangerous Criticism' of injustice and environmental destruction

Frost is restless with the injustices of global poverty, slavery, greedy corporations and selective journalism. He empathises with people around the world suffering human rights abuses - imprisonment without trial, torture, abuse and religious discrimination. He calls for advocacy and compassionate action - not just in short bursts (as following the Tsunami) but with sacrificial commitment over time. He also critiques the theology and practice of domination/subjectivism that has led to overconsumption. He warns we are living a lifestyle the planet cannot afford to sustain. His critique is complemented by helpful suggestions for practical action.

IV. 'Dangerous Songs' to evoke a vision for a better world

Christendom, according to Frost's overview of church history, grew preoccupied with Sunday worship rituals in dedicated buildings. The Reformers overturned a works-based theology but still gave priority to attending meetings. Contemporary expressions of church often imply Sunday worship is the ultimate expression of devotion (for example, singing 'Better is one day in your house than a thousand elsewhere') or the ultimate marketing device (seeker services). So it can be difficult for Christians to see worship in broader terms - as including missional service as well as singing songs of adoration, and incorporating Monday-Saturday as well as Sunday. Alternative worship is an attempt to express worship in broader forms: 'A few songs and a long sermon won't do. A communal, ambient space, centred around a convivial meal table, reflecting local culture, using ancient and modern rituals, and infused with spiritual singing will be a wonderful expression of the overflow of loves lived daily to please our happy, joyful, all-powerful God' (p.300). Exiles have given up on singing sentimental us-centred ('Jesus my boyfriend') love songs, and want to cry songs of revolution that call into reality a new world. And they want to see their actions as well as their songs as an expression of worship.

Michael Frost teaches evangelism at Morling College and is the missional architect of an innovative urban church plant smallboatbigsea. He has served Forge Mission Training Network as NSW Director and is one of Australia's leading communicators of the gospel. He draws on his experience and weaves together a rich mix of story-telling and exegesis, art criticism and practical suggestions, missiological and New Testament scholarship, and insightful cultural analysis to form a significant resource for practitioners and students of mission to the West. Other books on the emerging missional church including The Shaping of Things to Come suggest experimenting with new forms and giving them a go, and not worrying that some will fail. Exiles says give simple and diverse expressions of missional church a go because they are not too hard! Following Jesus into community and hospitality, opposing oppression and calling for a better world is not rocket science. I read it and was inspired to get together with some friends and 'be church' together informally in our neighbourhood in homes and cafes. I had been part of a remissionalised church one suburb away from home and was enthused by emerging missional approaches to church, but it was reading Exiles that gave us the impetus to be sent from our old church to be part of starting a new expression more locally and organically. Michael shows the way with his impassioned plea for authentic discipleship and practical 'how to' suggestions ranging from advice on hospitality, nutrition and environmental care through to character conversation questions for Life Transformation Groups and a simple order of service ('BELLS' = Blessing, Eating, Learning, Listening, Sending). I found Exiles to be an empowering guidebook and a careful analysis of the challenges and needed directions for new expressions of 'living missionally in a post-Christian culture'.

Alongside the book, a missional lifestyle course Exilio has been developed which runs in Sydney and will be available in other areas.

Grace & peace,

- Darren Cronshaw