Customer Reviews

Community 101

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Community 101 by Gilbert Bilezikian is a book that deserves to be read by any Christian who wants to understand biblical koinonia fellowship at a much deeper level, and who longs to experience a oneness with God and with fellow believers in a fresh way. The author has been studying and teaching about authentic community for a long time, and has some truly outstanding things to say about community. Bilezikian was a major influence on Bill Hybels and many other pastors who have raised the bar in terms of outreach and small group community. I read this book because it was on the 'supplemental reading' list in a seminary class on community.

Yet... at the same time I found this book terribly frustrating. The author is a strong proponent of several views that are controversial, and/or cause much friction with the evangelical community. Among these issues are his views on the relationship between the persons in the Trinity (and his view on the eternal subordination of the son), an outspoken egalitarian view on gender roles in ministry, and a staunchly non-hierarchical view of leadership within the church. If you're a proponent of these views as well, this book will likely be well received. If not, OR if you prefer to see a more balanced view with objective presentation of several sides of complex issues, you will be frustrated. The word that comes to mind in the authors tone and approach in these issues is "relentless." From the start of the book until the end, he just doesn't let up! There is an appendix titled "Hermeneutical Bungee Jumping: Subordination in the Godhead", the title of which is suggestive of the one-sidedness in which these issues are addressed. (The reader wanting to get more information on these issues will want to look at both Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says about a Woman's Place in Church and Family and Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism?)

Another example: in discussing the nature of leadership in a church and how it effects community, Bilezikian takes such an stance against authority structures that he proposes that Paul's teaching in First Corinthians and I Timothy is actually "quoting disapprovingly of the teaching propounded in Corinth by opponents trying to sabotage his work... unfortunately quotation marks had not been invented when Paul wrote his letters." (p.88) Seriously?! Whether right or wrong, this is one example of how polarized some of the teaching is in this book.

Again, there is some excellent material in here no matter what position you take on issues of leadership, gender roles, or the nature of the Trinity, and the book is worth reading; but Community 101 must be read with discernment and patience.

Is it possible for churches to have the kind of power and influence as those of the first three centuries. YES!! Read this book now and study it with Bible open. My life is forever changed as a result of this book. The relationships with my wife, family and friends are going to be different because I now know the why behind God's commands. It's not that I don't trust what He says, I do! It's that my mind has now wrapped itself around the mechanics behind what brings God's blessing to us. It is Oneness!!! I am really excited about this.

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Before I read this book, I was beginning to process the idea of community and the radical implications it has for the church and this book succintly puts it together.
Radical is kind of a funny 80's word, but I think it most accurately describes what the author is proposing God wants for His people. it has nothing to do with gender, everything to do with giftedness and can be uncomfortable when faced with some feedback on yourself. How amazingly different from the world which clamours to one up each other, and hold power over others. how much Jesus and Paul turned the worlds thinking on its head. how much like God to do so!

I enjoy this book from first page to last. Author is sharing his insightful analysis on the community: to seek the authentic meaning of "community" to this generation when importance of community is vanishing!!!

Highly recommended!!! I think it is a 'must-read' for all!

Dr. B writes with power and deep insights about the church, leadership, gender relationships and our responsibility as Christians to each other and the kingdom's work. Reading this book with honesty and openness permits the reader to be challenged and changed in their life and worldview. It is a must read for those serious about their call to Christian service.

Community: that's what the church is all about. Community with God and with each other, that's what we were created for and where we find life's true meaning. In this age of dissention and splintering in the Church, we need to move back to the basics of what the church is all about. This book explains the why and how and what we personally can gain from a biblically-functioning community. Once you've understood and experienced it, you'll never want to go back to superficiality.

The book is well written if one agrees with his line of reasoning. Unfortunately, his insisting on the word "head" (as in husband being head of the marriage) as having no connotations of authority is simply wrong as far as my understanding of greek can tell.
Also, his description of the trinity, in which no one member submits to the other (he consistantly uses the word "subordination", a tactic of feminist writers but not typically evangelical writers) strikes me as being very unorthodox. There are some scriptures he did not deal with that he would have to in order to convince a wider, Biblically literate audience of his trinitarian views.

This book was written in 1997 and would still have to be the best book written on church community. A Biblically functioning community is not stagnant, boring, restrictive or judgemental. Read this book and catch a glimpse of community life that no sane person would ever want to live without. In fact dont just read it - be challenged to not only transform your own way of 'doing' church but transforming the lives of others with the richness found in developing a Biblically functioning community. You will not be disappointed.