Enchanted Community : Journey Into the Mystery of the Church

What Henderson has done in Enchanted Community is force us to confront the questions of why the church is, and what it has to do with the good news of God in Jesus Christ. He takes us on a fascinating journey into the mystery of the church, and in the process, challenges our understanding of what it means to be the authentic body of Christ. For Henderson, the church should not be identified with its institutional forms, but rather in the authentic communities inhabited by the Holy Spirit that are part of God's missional movement. We, as believers, are in a very real sense ""called out"" to be part of this New Creation community to lead transformed lives as a witness to God's revelation. The journey leads us back to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as the only (and ultimate) source of enchantment in a disenchanted world. As Henderson makes clear, this journey is anything but non-controversial, harmless, and ""spiritual,"" but is in fact radical and subversive in its very essence. This book offers to all of us--from the pragmatic, the idealistic, and the honest, to the slightly cynical and almost-jaded--practical steps to maintaining the integrity of our discipleship and the authenticity of our relationships as we struggle to live out our calling to be an enchanted people, bearers of God's authentic New Creation humanity in the church and in our daily ministry as salt and light where we live and work. Robert Thornton Henderson has had a long career as a pastor-teacher in the church (Presbyterian Church, USA). He is the author of several books including Joy to the World: Spreading the Good News of the Kingdom (1991); Blueprint 21: Presbyterians In the Post-Denominational Era (2000); and Subversive Jesus, Radical Grace (2001).