In the Ruins of the Church: Sustaining Faith in an Age of Diminished Christianity

The two previous reviews make several good points which I won't revisit here. Russell Reno has taken a tact in this book which is the antithesis of the via moderna- modern way. Mr. Russell, using the panorama of redemptive history, challenges the modern views of exegesis which are bound by the propensity for both the unique and technique. His basic premise is that the typology of Church history is a people and savior who are perpetually struggling amidst the ruins. As our saviour was called to a prophetic ministry in the ruins of his day, so too, we are called. Mr. Reno also hearkens back to the practices of the Church Fathers- exegesis and bible study - as sources from which the "wheat" of the Church may be nourished. Summarily, this book is not a mere recapitulation of the writing which already exists on this topic, but approaches this topic from a fresh and novel perspective. Tolle Lege.

While focusing on Episcopal Church, this book has a much broader application to Christianity in the Western world in general. The focus on the Episcopal Church is very timely, however, in connection with the Bishop Gene Robinson situation. Reno is critical of both the more conservative (fundamentalist) brand of Christianity, and also of the more liberal brand. Both positions, he argues, view the Church as being in ruins due to sin. Of course, the conservatives and the liberals have very different understandings of what the sin is that has brought about the ruins. Both sides attempt to distance themselves from the ruins, which is the main temptation criticized by Reno. Conservatives try to create enclaves of "holiness" while liberals try to change and fix the world by escaping from the past. The central paradox or irony of liberalism, however, is that the liberal drive to change the world masks an underlying refusal to be changed by God. In my view, Reno is one of the most helpful and insightful theologians writing today. I highly recommend this book.

In THE RUINS OF THE CHURCH Dr. Reno challenges us to face the gospel and to recognize that our greatest difficulties with faith come, not from science or postmodernism per se, but from our own human reluctance to change, more particularly, our reluctance to be changed. In addition to this, Dr. Reno looks deeply at some of the problems facing the Episcopal Church and offers some suggestions as to the causes and possible solutions. Reno spends time critiquing the now common role of Bishop as a priest with a theological chip on their shoulder ordained not to defend the faith, but to be "prophetic," or in common language, to push for their own agendas. This is a very timely assessment when considering the recent appointment of +Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury. Williams, who is a wonderful writer and thinker from what I have read, shares many of the same criticisms of modern culture that Dr. Reno does; however, Williams is known to be a liberal on certain issues, such as ordination of homosexuals. What is interesting is that Williams has made it clear upon accepting the appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury that his role is to defend the faith as received and not to push his own agenda. In this way Williams-known to be opposed to the ideals of John Spong- seems to represent the type of bishop Reno champions.We recently had the honor of having Dr. Reno speak at our university and after speaking with him in person I recommend his book with even greater enthusiasm.