Product Description

Shines a practical light on the spiritual disciplines that have been in use since the time of Abraham.

In a sense, every day of our lives is labor. It is questionable if you can ever be exactly the same person waking up on two consecutive days. How are spiritual sojourners to cope with the constant change? Many are beginning to explore the ancient Christian spiritual practices that have been in use for centuries, everything from fixed-hour prayer to fasting to sincere observance of the Sabbath. What is causing this hunger for deeper spirituality?

Brian McLaren guides us on this quest for an explanation of these spiritual practices, many of which go all the way back to Abraham and the establishment of Israel. In the midst of contemporary Christianity, we discover the beauty of these ancient disciplines and the transformation through Christ that each can provide.

Why have certain spiritual disciplines been in use for centuries and why is it important?

It is questionable if one can ever be exactly the same person waking up on two consecutive days. How are spiritual sojourners to cope with the constant change? Many are beginning to explore the ancient Christian spiritual practices, such as fixed-hour prayer, fasting and sincere observance of the Sabbath. What is causing this hunger for deeper spirituality?

Brian McLaren guides us on this quest for an explanation of these spiritual practices, many of which go all the way back to Abraham and the establishment of Israel. In the midst of contemporary Christianity, we discover the beauty of these disciplines and the transformation through Christ that each can provide.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2341 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Prolific author and pastor McLaren is a big-picture guy. One of the most influential thinkers in the emergent church movement, he likes to analyze and categorize. This book, which inaugurates a series about traditional spiritual practices, paves the way for future installments by elaborating the big-picture rationale for spiritual disciplines: they cleanse us, enlighten us and bring us closer to God. As the title signals, they will also help us find our way past the unsatisfactory alternatives of secularism, dangerous fundamentalism and mushy spirituality. The former English teacher has a gift for the pithy phrase that nails a concept: faithing our practices is seeing the sacred value of everyday activities, for example. McLaren fans will enjoy his usual breadth of vision, easy style of exposition and synthesis of big ideas. His more conservative detractors may find him too generous in his references to the other two Abrahamic faiths in discussing spiritual practices. This book nicely opens the door for a series as well as a more disciplined Christian life. (May 6)
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Customer Reviews

Thoughts along "the Way" for the spiritually mature
One of the earliest terms with which early followers of Jesus described themselves was that they were followers of "the Way." Many of us who are engaging in a new-found spiritual sense or who are trying to jump the spiritual wagon wheel rut we have been in look first for a "way," a process, or a list of ingredients to follow.

"The Ancient Practices" series from Thomas Nelson publishing seeks to aid people who are seeking a refresher course on some of the older spiritual practices of Christianity (and possibly of all the Abrahamic faiths). "Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices" by Brian McLaren seeks to be the introductory guide to this burgeoning series.

McLaren is overt about his belief that these ancient practices are not solely the property of the Christian faith, but are rather shared in common by the three Abrahamic faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judaisim. It is for that reason that I will not be reviewing this book as a Christian book per-se, but as a devotional guide for members of all three of these faiths written by one who identifies with Christianity.

In this introduction, McLaren introduces several spiritual practices in the hopes that the reader will find a new sense of spiritual life and open the possibilities of that person's life. "Practice (or exercise) may not make us perfect," McLaren comments, "but...it does make currently impossible things possible." (p. 46). McLaren's point is that these practices do not in of themselves create a spiritually wise person, but that they are good habits to pick up which will promote a more spiritually healthy life. In other words, these practices won't buy you the gym membership, but they are good things to try out while you're there.

At the end of every chapter, there are a list of questions which seek to elicit responses from the reader. These questions are generally good introspective looks at how one has previously been practicing religion, and how a new set of practices may build upon one's religious life.

McLaren's writing is a clear 1st person testimony of one who has attempted to include many of these practices in his own life. He seeks to take the role of mentor, someone who has gone before with successes and failures, in order to explain the coming path.

The last few chapters are riddled with McLaren's own imaginary mentor, an old abbess, who seeks to show him a way of spirituality that involves catharsis (letting things go), illumination (new things being brought to light), and theosis (coming into a "oneness" with the divine). It is through her imagined conversation with McLaren that one comes to point of the book, that practices can and do affect our lives and our awareness of spiritual realities.

As an ordained Lutheran pastor, however, I was disappointed in a few things about McLaren's book theologically. McLaren seems to open the door of "spirituality" wide enough for those of all three Abrahamic faiths in for the party. While I do not quibble with the ideas that Jews as well as Christians and Muslims practice a Sabbath, I do believe that a Sabbath without God's complete word including the divinity and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin - is really no more than an empty day off. For this theological reason, I cannot recommend McLaren's book as primary material for those who are looking into beginning these practices. Practices without Jesus are empty, just as those who have books and do not read them are as empty as those who cannot read.

My church affirms Martin Luther's teaching to speak well of our neighbor and "put the best construction on everything," (Small Catechism, Explanation of the 8th Commandment). I have found that I can say some positive things about McLaren's work. "Finding Our Way Again," seeks to promote disciples in disciplines that have been lost by quite a few in our culture. Early Christians did take the Abrahamic practices of prayer, fasting, Sabbath, common meals, pilgrimage, the observance of holidays and tithing from the people of Israel. For this reason, we do well to follow suit and ask ourselves how these practices might form us as disciples of Jesus Christ as they formed disciples from the earliest of days.

"Finding Our Way Again" could benefit the spiritually mature in Christ Jesus in finding some new things to add to their "spiritual workout," perhaps some things that we have left in our collective pasts for too long.

For in-depth study
The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything

We have loved The Secret Message of Jesus, and now our study group will go on to savor this book's depth of knowledge, delightful writing style, Biblical references where appropriate, short graspable chapters, and spiritual exercises evoking thought, spirit, and prayer.

My first yellow marker is pointed at the following on page 33: "What's gotten me into trouble,though, is my suspicion that a person can be a follower of the way of Jesus without affiliating with the Christian religion, and my simultaneous lament that a person can be accepted and even celebrated as a card-carrying member of the Christian club but not actually be a follower of the way of Jesus. And even worse, I've proposed that I would rather be a follower of the way of Jesus and not be affiliated with the Christian religion than the reverse."

My second yellow marker points to a highlighted section on page 36: "Jesus never makes "Christians" or "Converts," but he calls disciples and sends them out to continue the process."

And oh yes, those highlighted sections make wonderful challenges to intellect and spirit.

McLaren explores ancient practices that will help ground believers desiring an authentic pilgrimage of faith
Prolific and sometimes controversial author Brian McLaren invites readers to explore the roots of their faith in his thought-provoking book, FINDING OUR WAY AGAIN, the first of eight installments in "The Ancient Practices Series."

We give birth to character through exercise --- exercise for the soul, says McLaren. This exercise, or exercises, might be called "life practices" or "spiritual practices," which develop our character and tune us in to God. The purpose of these practices is not to make us more religious, but to wake us up to life. To help us learn to pay attention. These practices get us through the hard times when we also feel alone and far from God. They help us rediscover our faith as a way of life, shaped and strengthened by ancient practices rather than just a set of beliefs --- an important distinction McLaren makes throughout the book. Churches can then become "schools of practice."

McLaren writes from a Christian perspective but intends his book for seekers and those from Christianity, Islam and Judaism. He looks specifically at seven ancient practices shared by the three religions: fixed-hour prayer, fasting, Sabbath, the sacred meal, pilgrimage, observance of sacred seasons, and giving. He begins by looking at the genesis of practice, then moves to helping the reader make these concepts a normal and habitual part of life. Each chapter ends with a series of questions, or "spiritual exercises," designed to help groups or individuals meditate on and apply the concepts in the chapter.

McLaren uses delightful images throughout his book, and his prose is competent and direct. One lovely phrase that struck me was "Contemplative practices, then, are means by which we become prepared for grace to surprise us. They are ways of opening our hands so that we can receive the gifts God wants to give us." Beautifully said. Contemplative practices might include: Solitude (or Sabbath or Silence), Spiritual Reading and Study, Spiritual Direction, Practicing God's Presence, Fixed-Hour Prayer, Prayer Journaling, Contemplative Prayer, Service, Simplicity, Fasting, Feasting, Holy Days/Season, Submission, Gratitude, Memorization and Meditation.

One of the best parts of the book is McLaren's meditation on God as light, our ways of experiencing this, and on the dark night of the soul. He reminds us that "Ones's enjoyment of the light of God is punctuated with nights and sometimes long, long nights, spiritual storms --- low-pressure systems, atmospheric depressions --- when the clouds are thick and gray for days, weeks, months, even years... One learns about light not just by being in its presence, but also by experiencing its absence."

Those who have read McLaren's books tend to find themselves alternately provoked, stimulated, reassured, angry and encouraged by his words. That's why I enjoy his writing so much --- it's impossible to read benignly. McLaren doesn't waste much time regurgitating pat answers; instead, he prompts readers to look at their faith inside out, upside down, and from every possible angle. What he seems to be after is authenticity, and if he sometimes provokes disagreement getting there, so be it.

McLaren encourages us to look at the best practices of faith, without regard to where they traditionally spring from. It's this ecumenicalism that is so appealing in his writing, a blending of the strongest practices from the Christian traditions, or what he calls Christianity going "open source." Some more conservative readers may feel that his writing veers toward universalism, which should open up plenty of interesting conversations and makes this a good book for discussion groups.

These practices are not intended to be legalistic rules, McLaren reminds us. Rather, they are intended to be a way of living to bring God's shalom into the world. When God takes us from being unhealthy (spiritually) to healthier, he is able to work through us to help heal a broken world. "What would happen if we were willing to risk everything so that people could...(be) formed and transformed by spiritual practices (?)" McLaren asks. These practices first change us, then help us to work change in the world.

Readers of FINDING OUR WAY will discover solid tools for an authentic pilgrimage of faith. Fans of McLaren will find this one of his best books to date.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby