The Future of the Church
by: Hans Schwarz (Author)
Publisher:Cascade Books
Publication Date: 24 Jan. 2024
Language:English
Print Length:204 pages
ISBN-10:166675871X
ISBN-13:9781666758719
Book Description
The future of the church does not look bright in North America and Europe. This is documented by many recent surveys. The church is riddled with scandals, be it sexual abuse or financial misappropriation. This led to a loss of trust which is very difficult to regain. We also live in an aging society in which younger people have been brought up with a consumer attitude which does not stop at the church doors. Moreover, we live in a secular society in which individualism runs contrary to the communal aspect of the church. While religiosity has not vanished, the Christian faith is perceived by many as an "old time religion" whose tenets have lost their luster. Yet we should not give up on the church too quickly. The church has something to offer which the world needs and which it cannot secure by itself. This uniqueness of the church shows in the pronouncement of law and gospel and in the sacraments. The church is also instrumental for our self-understanding by serving as guardian of the past, as the heart of the present, and as a reminder of a meaningful future. In conclusion some directions are given toward a viable church.
About the Author
Review "From the perspective of one who has taught theology on both sides of the Atlantic and has supervised many doctoral students from Asia, Hans Schwarz is in a unique position to assess current trends regarding church life, ecumenism, and mission. The Future of the Church is a welcome addition not only to the field of systematic theology but missiology as well as Schwarz articulates classical themes in ecclesiology while at the same time engaging critical issues confronting contemporary Christian churches of all stripes." --John T. Pless, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions, Concordia Theological Seminary "Hans Schwarz provides a clear-eyed analysis of the challenges facing today's church. By grounding the mission of the church today in the biblical and theological tradition of the past and guided by a vision of God's future, Schwarz reminds the church that its call is to be faithful, not successful. Church leaders, institutions, and congregations struggling to remain relevant in an increasingly secular context will welcome his discussion." --Russell C. Kleckley, professor of religion emeritus, Augsburg University
About the Author Hans Schwarz is professor emeritus of Protestant theology at the University of Regensburg, Germany. From 1967 to 1981 he was a professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He has presented more than six hundred lectures on five continents, and is the author of more than thirty books on nearly all of Christianity's major theological questions, including Who Rules the World (2021). His more than fifty former doctoral students teach in many different countries.
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