Anyone reading Stanley Hauerwas?

[Jason Winton]

I haven't read any of his books yet (I know, I know), but I have enjoyed reading several of his essays online and watching a few video sermons as well. As of late, what most interests me is the "harsh" stance he takes on salvation (i.e., who is a Christian and who isn't). Like he says, "I want to make [Christianity] hard." He seems to find doubt in any person's claim to being Christian and/or to being saved, including his own, if his or her praxis reflects something privatized, abstract, and/or idolatrous.

Assuming I've represented a fair (obviously simplistic) version of his views, what are the implications for our communities of faith? How does this change our speech, our rule, our rhythms? How is sin and idolatry acted upon within the context of Christian community and covenantal membership? For example, can someone who supports war rightfully be called a Christian and, therefore, a member in a Christian community?

My questions come from a desire to work out what it means to live our faith in its natural context: community and membership. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Nathanael Snow]

My copy is here! Reading Chapter 1!

[Ronnie McBrayer]

Excellent! I'm looking forward to this discussion and interacting with others here at Common.

[Nathanael Snow]

Hey, if anyone wants a copy of the book, email me and I'll get it to you next-day, free!

[Frank Viola]

Where can one find the video messages? do you have urls? I've never heard him speak and would like to.

[Ronnie McBrayer]

A couple of his talks are on video at Itunes under the Duke Chapel "channel".

[Nathanael Snow]

So, I've read the first chapter again, and it's just great. I find it interesting that he starts in the 60's similar to the way Schaeffer draws a cultural line shift during that time. I remember the first time I read this I thought it was going to be just another apologetic!
But they demonstrate how apologetics is politically motivated, and does really won't be effective in postmodern discussions. It's time to leave Colson, Campolo, Strobes, Zacharias, and Boa behind. We need to stop answering questions and start asking them.

[stefan]

How so man? I've already got a copy but thats awesome.

[Nathanael Snow]

pdf

[Nathanael Snow]

pdf. email is [e-mail]

[Jason Winton]

Hello everyone,

So it seems having a baby and being a good father have been more than enough to keep me busy these last several weeks. Nevertheless, I am reading Resident Aliens now. Actually, I’m in chapter three. Good stuff so far, though not surprising content. Compared with the piecemeal essays I’ve read of his online, however, this is definitely stronger and more cohesive as a prophetic trumpet to the church.

I came across this paragraph in the first chapter: “Pastors who listen to their members, particularly to young parents, will hear them saying to their own children, with increasing regularity, “Such behavior is fine for everyone else, but not fine for you. You are special. You are different. You have a different story. You have a different set of values. You are a Christian.” (p. 18). In the context of the page, he was writing this as a Christian comparison to the Rabbi who constantly reminded his community's children that they are not like everyone else. Why does this/did this stand out? Perhaps because I have a newly born son and I am constantly thinking about the Story I want him to learn, experience, hear and tell. Or maybe because my twenty-something Texan cousin recently converted to Orthodox Judaism (creating a veritable shit storm in my mainstream evangelical and Catholic family). Probably, though, this comparison struck me most sharply because it speaks about the kind of identity and belonging I’ve never had (in any real sense) and always wanted. But am I ready for a conversion like that? Am I willing?

Nathanael,

Yes. Hauerwas and Willimon demonstrate with a lot of clarity that the language of apologetics is in-and-of-itself an attempt to translate the Gospel to the culture vs. the other way around. One is centered on belief and believability, while the other is learned alongside a people with a particular language and story. What marks the Way of Jesus compared to other ways and traditions?

[Jason Winton]

http://www.baylortv.com/video.php?id=000447
http://frontrow.bc.edu/program/hauerwas/

[stefan]

that rules, dude