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kte1226's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
3.0
New Monasticism is a movement within Christianity that embraces communal living as expressed by the church in Acts 2 and within monastic communities throughout church history. It is most popularly expressed by Shane Claiborne. Essentially, New Monasticism has twelve core tenets (or "marks"):
1. Relocation to the "abandoned places of Empire" [at the margins of society]
2. Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us
3. Hospitality to the stranger
4. Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation
5. Humble submission to Christ’s body, the Church
6. Intentional formation in the way of Christ and the rule of the community along the lines of the old novitiate
7. Nurturing common life among members of an intentional community
8. Support for celibate singles alongside monogamous married couples and their children
9. Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life
10. Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies
11. Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18
12. Commitment to a disciplined contemplative life
New Monasticism is a beautiful thing when one lives in a community that embraces these core principles . . . but what happens when one is relocated away from the "abandon places of the empire" and into the wealthy white suburbs? How does one live radically and give everything to the poor when one has children of their own to feed? How is one supposed to cultivate a life of contemplation with screaming children and constant social media notifications? These are some of the questions this book wrestles with.
The two co-authors, Sarah Arthur and Erin Wasinger, are mothers, wives, and Christians who feel called to the life of New Monasticism. However, like most people who have studied up on New Monasticism, they feel overwhelmed. Is it realistic to try to live out this kind of life with a family in the suburbs? Is one a "sell-out" if they live out a modified version? I wrestled with similar struggles when I graduated from seminary. My school was a bubble of intellectualism, tolerance, and peace. However, the "real world" was quite different. What do you mean you don't want to have a two hour conversation about the social justice imperatives in the book of Amos during lunch?!
However, I was largely unimpressed with the overall book. I can say that I "got something" out of every chapter, but I'm not necessarily convinced that living out the New Monastic lifestyle is the only way (and I'm not sure if that the authors would argue that either). At the end of the day, I feel much the same way that Rachel Held Evans felt in her article, "How to Follow Jesus without being Shane Claiborne." She states that she goes through the following cycle:
"Phase 1: My commitment to Jesus is primarily an intellectual one. He is an idea I believe in, not a person I follow.
Phase 2: I read through the Gospels again and realize that Jesus doesn’t want me to simply like him; he wants me to follow him.
Phase 3: I buy the latest Shane Claiborne book, read it in two days, and resolve that following Jesus means selling all my things, sleeping with the homeless, and starting a monastic community. I begin looking into the cost of apartments in inner-city Nashville.
Phase 4: I remember that I have a job, a mortgage, and a spouse (who hasn’t read Shane Claiborne).
Phase 5: Heavy with guilt and overwhelmed by the insurmountable nature of my own convictions, I give up and revert right back to Phase 1. Following Jesus, it seems, just isn’t realistic."
So what is the solution? One can take lessons from each of the twelve marks without cashing in your entire retirement fund or trading in your work suits for burlap. Evans picks five broad actions:
"Love the person in front of me
Care for my community
Live with a little less
Push just pass my comfort zone
Follow Jesus TODAY"
I think these goals are much more realistic and attainable.
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
1. Relocation to the "abandoned places of Empire" [at the margins of society]
2. Sharing economic resources with fellow community members and the needy among us
3. Hospitality to the stranger
4. Lament for racial divisions within the church and our communities combined with the active pursuit of a just reconciliation
5. Humble submission to Christ’s body, the Church
6. Intentional formation in the way of Christ and the rule of the community along the lines of the old novitiate
7. Nurturing common life among members of an intentional community
8. Support for celibate singles alongside monogamous married couples and their children
9. Geographical proximity to community members who share a common rule of life
10. Care for the plot of God’s earth given to us along with support of our local economies
11. Peacemaking in the midst of violence and conflict resolution within communities along the lines of Matthew 18
12. Commitment to a disciplined contemplative life
New Monasticism is a beautiful thing when one lives in a community that embraces these core principles . . . but what happens when one is relocated away from the "abandon places of the empire" and into the wealthy white suburbs? How does one live radically and give everything to the poor when one has children of their own to feed? How is one supposed to cultivate a life of contemplation with screaming children and constant social media notifications? These are some of the questions this book wrestles with.
The two co-authors, Sarah Arthur and Erin Wasinger, are mothers, wives, and Christians who feel called to the life of New Monasticism. However, like most people who have studied up on New Monasticism, they feel overwhelmed. Is it realistic to try to live out this kind of life with a family in the suburbs? Is one a "sell-out" if they live out a modified version? I wrestled with similar struggles when I graduated from seminary. My school was a bubble of intellectualism, tolerance, and peace. However, the "real world" was quite different. What do you mean you don't want to have a two hour conversation about the social justice imperatives in the book of Amos during lunch?!
However, I was largely unimpressed with the overall book. I can say that I "got something" out of every chapter, but I'm not necessarily convinced that living out the New Monastic lifestyle is the only way (and I'm not sure if that the authors would argue that either). At the end of the day, I feel much the same way that Rachel Held Evans felt in her article, "How to Follow Jesus without being Shane Claiborne." She states that she goes through the following cycle:
"Phase 1: My commitment to Jesus is primarily an intellectual one. He is an idea I believe in, not a person I follow.
Phase 2: I read through the Gospels again and realize that Jesus doesn’t want me to simply like him; he wants me to follow him.
Phase 3: I buy the latest Shane Claiborne book, read it in two days, and resolve that following Jesus means selling all my things, sleeping with the homeless, and starting a monastic community. I begin looking into the cost of apartments in inner-city Nashville.
Phase 4: I remember that I have a job, a mortgage, and a spouse (who hasn’t read Shane Claiborne).
Phase 5: Heavy with guilt and overwhelmed by the insurmountable nature of my own convictions, I give up and revert right back to Phase 1. Following Jesus, it seems, just isn’t realistic."
So what is the solution? One can take lessons from each of the twelve marks without cashing in your entire retirement fund or trading in your work suits for burlap. Evans picks five broad actions:
"Love the person in front of me
Care for my community
Live with a little less
Push just pass my comfort zone
Follow Jesus TODAY"
I think these goals are much more realistic and attainable.
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
sxtwo's review against another edition
4.0
Three things:
1. "We're pretty sure we're not changing the world. But we're letting God change us, which in turn points us toward the change already happening in our church and city. One small thing at a time."
2. It's refreshing to read a book in the stream of new monasticism that vulnerably and honestly (and often, jokingly) tackles the practical questions like kids, suburbia, and mental health.
3. This would be a great read in community.
1. "We're pretty sure we're not changing the world. But we're letting God change us, which in turn points us toward the change already happening in our church and city. One small thing at a time."
2. It's refreshing to read a book in the stream of new monasticism that vulnerably and honestly (and often, jokingly) tackles the practical questions like kids, suburbia, and mental health.
3. This would be a great read in community.
sarahfett's review against another edition
3.0
The two authors take turns sharing their experience with new monasticism. I thought the concept of this book was interesting, but then the book didn't hold my interest.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
I received an ARC from NetGalley.
joanie23's review against another edition
4.0
I first put this book on my to-read list because I thought it would describe a year of focusing on the little things in life that are really the big things (family, friends, etc). I was surprised to discover that it instead described a year-long experiment in New Monasticism - which, while it does focus on the important small things in our lives, also calls its adherents to more. I enjoyed reading about the marks of this particular trend in Christianity, and about how these two families embarked on a mission to align their family's goals and passions along its lines. The honesty was very refreshing, as they didn't succeed all the time, as well as their understanding that not everyone is (or even should be!) called to follow the 12 Marks. I finished the book curious to know more about this trend and added many of the books mentioned in the author's writing to my to-read list.
(Full disclosure - this book was received from a Goodreads giveaway.)
(Full disclosure - this book was received from a Goodreads giveaway.)
sharolyn's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a big believer in small things. I am also intrigued (inspired, challenged, moved...) by the movement of new (and old!) monasticism but have found that so much that is written about asceticism, prayer, fasting and generally living the Christian life, is written by men, and often single men, particularly in the case of the early monastics. My days are spent with and often dictated by 3 small people so this book co-authored by mums had great appeal. And I wasn't disappointed. Both authors write beautifully and thoughtfully. It is humorous, frank, moving and challenging and has given me a push towards adopting some more committed and specific practices.
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