Dwelling in a Strange Land : Exile in the Bible and in the Church

The Exile in the Old Testament is frequently portrayed as a sign of failure and judgement, the inevitable consequence of human disobedience. Turning this idea on its head, John Holdsworth asks whether being in exile is not in fact the proper state for God's pilgrim people to be. Freeing the Church of the tyrannical grip of material security and safety, might it become more open to God's direction and a more authentic sign of the kingdom?