Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional

Deep Church, author Jim Belcher has been both an insider and an outsider to the Emerging Church movement. Now he brings the best insights of all sides to forge a third way. With appreciative critique, he explores the proposals of the emerging church leaders and provides constructive models of what this alternate deep church looks like - a missional church committed to both tradition and culture, valuing innovation in worship, arts, and community but also creeds and confessions. Plumb the depths of Christianity in a way that neither rejects our postmodern context nor capitulates to it. Instead of veering to the left or right, go beyond the extremes and go-deep.

Passionately, articulately and with sometimes winsome self-confidence, Belcher seeks to chart a “third way” between the often divided factions within the traditional and emerging wings of American evangelicalism. The author, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif., asserts that it is possible to forge a “new ecumenism” and unity based in creedal orthodoxy, while also respecting the particularities of denominations and faith communities. After defining what impels the emerging church movement, he analyzes the “seven protests” leveled by the movement against traditional churches within the evangelical movement, from being too caught up in the rationalism of the Enlightenment, to overemphasizing doctrinal purity and an unwillingness to engage modern culture. Following that, he responds to each critique with an alternative solution that blends both reform and tradition to create a new body of Christian gospel–centered believers. A caveat: readers who think that mainline Protestantism has anything to contribute to this dialogue will not find any encouragement. Focused on the internal struggle within the American Christian evangelical wing, Belcher barely mentions this other flank of Christianity. (Sept.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

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Reviewed by Christopher Rollwitz (Tomball, TX), September 21, 2009

Deep Church arrived on a Thursday afternoon. I read it cover to cover before I could go to sleep. It answered many of the questions I had regarding the frustrations I have with the traditional mode of church and the hesitancy I have with the emerging church. Jim Belcher seeks to be honest and passionate about both the traditional and emerging modes of worshiping God. You can sense his pastor's heart in his analysis. This is an excellent read if you are looking for an honest approach to a third wave, a possible bridging of the gap between traditional and emerging philosophies of ministry.

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