Customer Reviews

A Church Without Borders: The Eucharist and the Church in Ecumenical Perspective

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This book addresses many relevant topics for those intersted in the question of Church unity. His analysis of De Lubac is useful.

The issue is so pertinent to our understanding of what the Church is in its essence. Is it fundamentally Protestant ecclessiologically or Roman? Perhaps it is neither. What I appreciate about this book is that it underscores the fact that whatever ecclessiology one is influenced by, the centrality of the Eucharist must be maintained. I personally would argue that the Eucharist makes the CHurch and that the Church makes the Eucharist since Jesus Christ is the Eucharist and the CHurch is His body. The implications of this ecclessiology form what is best, in my opinion, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition (not that the Orthodox have any declared dogma about the Church beyond it being "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic"). Such a definition also seems to my mind to find support in the canons of the ealry councils and can serve as a source of contact between those traditions that take Christ's presence in the bread and wine seriously.

I would recommend reading a few other books before this one.

"Being as Communion" by Zizioulas is a penetrating analysis of what communion means in the New testament, the Church Fathers, and the philosophical mileu of the early Church. He concludes that nothing exists outside of communion, including God.
"Eucharist and Church Fellowship in the First Four Centuries" by Werner Elert has recently been reissued and it is unequaled in its analysis of the historical meaning of fellowship and Eucharist.

"Communion and Intercommunion" by Kallistos Ware is an Orthodox perspective and is a great little intro that deals with the subject in a very sympathetic and thoughtful manner.

"The Eucharist Makes the Church" and "Sacrament of Salvation" by Mcpartlan are excellent introductions to the whole idea of Eucharistic ecclessiology. The former book gives detailed attention to the influence of John Zizioulas, an Orthodox theologian, and Henri de Lubac, and Catholic theologian.

jeffery, its me scott sandland from your theology class. i just want you to know that i did read your book and enjoyed it. ironically, i brought from it some of the same things from your book as i did from Bertrand Russel, in that, it is not the formal religion that is important in christianity, but the act of koinonia and worship of God that is important. Too many people today are caught up in differences between each denomination, instead of focusing on what is truely the crux of the matter: Christ and His love.