by AG
“Real Church”. What is it? How is it defined? Is it possible? Can we find it?
In the opening pages of author Larry Crabb’s latest book, Real Church, he describes a real church as one which does the following:
“…will teach spiritual theology, that stirs a hunger for spiritual formation that surfaces the need for spiritual community that then marshals its resources for spiritual mission.”
This description seems like a very solid premise to build a church on, therefore I was excited about diving into this book. I, myself, am seeking guidance from God as I prepare to embark on a new journey in church-planting, so the title interested me to see more of what Crabb was speaking about.
Truthfully, I found the first half of the book to be a bit slow, as Crabb spent a lot of time outlining his experiences in how churches have been failing to live out the vision that he describes above. His assessments seemed legit – most of which stems from our addictions to ourselves; he clearly points out why there are so many churches struggling in our culture.
However, half way through the book Crabb picks up the pace as he begins to discuss the marks of a “real church.” I found myself consistently agreeing with him as he presents his ideas. The church Crabb describes is one that realizes we’re all sinners, dealing with addictions to something who need Christ, and gathers to seek God’s Truth through intimate community. It feels as if sometimes we tackle that goal from the wrong direction – we seek community first, and then realize we are sinners last, limiting the power and grace that God gives and wants to use within His body, the church.
Real Church is worth the read by those who are struggling with the idea of getting up every weekend for church. This book will challenge you to first look inward to see if barriers are preventing you from experiencing church, as well as help you identify marks to look for in churches who are practicing Real Church.
Subscribe