A journalist and United Church of Christ ordained minister, MacDonald, an occasional PW
contributor, bemoans the rise of “America’s religious marketplace,” taking church leaders to task for caving in to pressure to provide inoffensive, low-threshold environments that keep members comfortable. Critically examining contemporary efforts such as small group ministries, which he considers insular, and short-term missions, which he regards as misguided efforts to satisfy participants’ demands, MacDonald rebukes both fast-growing megachurches and mainline Protestants for not holding members to high Christian standards. He suggests that spiritual disciplines such as fasting and honoring Lent as a “structured time for introspection” are tools available to address such prevalent social problems as debt, obesity, and divorce. Compellingly arguing against measuring success by attendance or pledge revenue, MacDonald provides examples of communities engaging a “new ethic of asceticism.” The author’s extrapolations from his four-year pastorate of a 40-member congregation occasionally ring bitter, and Christians of good faith may disagree with stances such as “fencing” the communion table—the practice of setting criteria for who can receive communion. Overall, however, MacDonald’s journalistic prowess makes this book a thought-provoking challenge to today’s church. (Apr.)
