Friday, 09 January 2009

• Have You Ever Heard of New Monasticism? A Brief Intro...

  Guest post submitted by TheGreatBout

  A lot of people ask me about my way of living. I live in the Agape Community House. What that means is I live with 6 (soon to be 8) other followers of Jesus. We are unified in our desire to live in a way that deepens Christian fellowship between brothers and sister as well as strengthens the bond between the kingdom of G-d and the local community in which we reside. This is a new endeavor for all of us.

  We don’t have a lot of success stories or continual ministries happening right now but G-d is faithful and as we grow together in this house we will learn to grow into our neighborhood and our city with the Gospel leading the way.
  
  What we are doing is often called New Monasticism by people such as Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (two authors I will be exposing you to in the net several months). Honestly, there is no official working definition for new monasticism. Vaguely, it is people who are committed to following Jesus and his way living closely together in community (houses, neighborhoods, communes, etc) for the sake of deepening fellowship and serving the community they are residences of with the Good News of Jesus Christ while growing in discipleship.
  
  At the bottom of this post are some resources I find to be helpful when searching for a new way of living by means of new monasticism.
  
  “As we looked together at the long sweep of the church’s story (as an extension of Israel’s story), we began to see that the church’s response to compromise and crisis has consistently been on of new monastic movements…
  When the emperors made Christianity legal and offered the favors of their Empire in the 4th century, the Dessert Fathers and Mothers began the first monastic movement by fleeing the centers of power and creating alternative communities in the desert. In the midst of the Crusades, as religious violence raged, St. Francis rejected economic privilege and started a new monastic movement.

  …The Anabaptists of the 16th century sought to establish a community of authentic Christian witness over and against the corrupt state churches in Europe. Likewise, slaves in the United /states cultivated a liberation theology and tradition of subversive song in the underground churches of “Christian” plantations. In an age when “Christian” America is the “last remaining superpower” in an all-out “war on terror,” we’ve begun to think that once again it is time for a new monasticism. Indeed, this is how we see the Spirit moving in North America today” (Rutba House, pages ix-x).
  
  So many others say what I want to with such eloquence that I can only refer you to their words with great agreement and joy. This is one of those times. This is what is in my heart and what I want to share with you all. Hopefully it will be enjoyable and educational for you.
  
  Resources:
  1. New Monasticism Website
  2. The Simple Way
  3. New Monastics Library Series
  4. The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George Hunter III
  5. Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
  6. Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne
  7. New Monasticism by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
  8. 12 Marks of a New Monasticism by The Rutba House

  What are your thoughts on New Monasticism?

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