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New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church

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"...almost everywhere I go these days, people agree that something is wrong in American Christianity."

This is the motivation for the book New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. He points out many areas in which he believes the church is falling short of God's design and offers some possibilities for how to rethink our approach to these problems using monastic ideas, "a vision for society that is `so old it looked like new.'" The book was relatively short, only 140 pages, but it was filled with concepts and ideas that will challenge our ideas of church and community in North America and definitely for us here in the Bible belt.

In the first few chapters, Wilson-Heartgrove supplies us with a biblical perspective of God's community starting from the creation story in Genesis through the 1st century New Testament Church. He gives us the origins and history of monastic communities through the centuries including the new monastic movement he is a part of today.

In the remainder of the book, Wilson-Heartgrove shares with us the knowledge that can be gleaned from the practices and experiments of new monastic communities in the 20th and 21st centuries.

I struggled with this book. I had to keep reminding myself that this book has a message for the church today. Its purpose was not to suggest getting rid of churches in favor of communal living, but instead, what do these ventures in communal living have to say to churches about how they behave as a community? At times, it seemed the suggestion was to join a community where everything is shared or not. There was no in between. I'm sure that was not his intention, but it comes across at times that this is the only way things should be done.

Wilson-Heartgrove and his companions have been bold and courageous enough to experiment with their lives what they believe Christian community should be. I would recommend this book to develop and nurture a perspective of Christian community that may at times seem challenging and at other times frightening. I often found myself thinking "You are absolutely right!" and "Would I be able to do that?"

Wilson-Heartgrove would probably say, "No you can't do this...not alone!"

Monasticism conjures up images of monks quietly moving through dark monasteries, sequestered from the "real" world as they seek God's will through meditation, prayer and communal living.

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove brings fresh perspective to the age-old concept of living in Christian community in "New Monasticism: What It Has to Say to Today's Church". Starting with a strong historical foundation, the author explores ancient concepts of community through an informative study of the early church at Antioch, as well as more contemporary figures in the monastic movement such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, St. Benedict, and Mother Teresa.

This book forced me to honestly examine the Bible's radical ideas and how its teachings should impact my choices as a 21st Century American. Wilson-Hartgrove begins with the convincing concept, beginning with Genesis and moving through Biblical history, that God's plan to save the world was not one person at a time, but through a people. From this premise, he boldly states, "If the Bible is a story about God's plan to save the world through a people, then my salvation and sanctification depend on finding my true home with God's people. Apart from the story of this people, I can't have a relationship with God. Without the church, there's no chance of becoming holy."

The focus of the book then shifts to an examination of the movement's current marks of distinction including: sharing economic resources; geographical proximity to other community members; peacemaking; and the active pursuit of "just reconciliation". While Wilson-Hartgrove shares intimate details of his own monastic experiences and gives an abundance of examples of practical community living from other groups, he wisely avoids prescribing a specific formula for an ascetic, communal-driven lifestyle. Instead, he challenges his readers to shift their own paradigms and allows them to imagine life from a Kingdom perspective. The author writes beautifully of his experiences with relocation, Earth's scarcity versus God's abundance, what it means to be a peacemaker in our war-ravaged culture, and how to live with others in a "culture of grace and truth."

This little gem covers a lot of ground, delving into the heart of Jesus' mission to live in relationship with others. When you pick up "New Monasticism", be prepared to have your old ways of thinking challenged and re-worked, for you may find yourself wondering how to become a more integral part of God's "peculiar people".

I think this book is great. Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove gives the topic a very thorough treatment, but still manages to keep it short. One thing I wasn't too crazy about: the endorsement of Jesus People USA. I understand they started out right, but it's generally known at this time that they are a cult.. so that pricked me a little. But other than that, the book was great.

I ordered this book with a lot of enthusiasm. Our society is awash in a sea of violence; statistically, the US has not only the highest rate of violent crime in the world by a pretty wide margin, but is arguably the most violent peace time society in the recorded history of the world. In addition, our financial system has become corrupt right down to its core, and about every form of social pathology one could name seems to be on the rise. Nothing could be more hoped for than the rise of a "New Monasticism" that would be in our day and age what St. Francis and his followers were in their day and age, or a wide spread evangelical and lay version of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. My enthusiasm for the book and the movement it represents (fairly?) faded rapidly as I read. Mostly, its just a warmed over presentation of the same old liberal Protestantism we've known for over a hundred years, with that same old smell of unctious self-righteousness drifting off the pages. For example, a lot is made of peace issues as a primary concern for Christians who are disciples of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and rightly so!! However, the author's concern never seems to get beyond the war in Iraq and the death penalty. The reality of violent crime, spousal abuse, drug related gang wars, etc., that are pandemic here in America, especially in the low income neighborhoods that the author supposedly cares so much about, is passed over in silence....sort of like he's got his head in the sand. I work as a city police officer; I see it every night I go to work. The social services people can't change it, and neither can the police. It breaks my heart, I was looking for Christian alternatives. Unfortunately, I didn't find them here.

I guess I am old fashioned, or maybe I am just a stickler for words, but I have a problem with describing the sort of communities that Wilson-Hargrove describes here. Technically speaking, Monks & Nuns are those who seek to distance themselves from the secular world to live a contemplative life in a geographical community, taking vows of obedience, stability of life, and constant conversion of life. Frairs (brothers) & Sisters (the Mendicant Orders), taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, live within the world with specific ministries to society. Religious Communities also take vows and enter into a specific apostolate, such as teaching or hospital ministry. Attached to these groups are Tertiaries and Oblates WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO RELIGIOUS PROMISES IN THEIR SECULAR SETTING. Each, whether religious or secular, is composed of dedicated men and women who are seeking to draw closer to God.
I have no doubt about Wilson-Hargrove's dedication and commitment to God, but what he is describing is not Monasticism. He is describing a radical return to the earliest days of the Church when Christians lived in some sort of community that went beyond cloister and ghetto to proclaim a new relationship with God in word and deed. The sort of relationship he describes with God and others is deserving of much reflection not so much in its identity with historically medieval movements but with the earliest church. It is a stimulating read in its own way but for those seeking a monastic spirituality it is a disappointment. Such people would be better off seeking a solid book about the Oblate life or the Third Order (Tertiaries)to enter into a truly monastic spirituality
The Oblate Life How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job: An Invitation to Oblate Life (Voices from the Monastery) Manual of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi

The book brings fresh air to todays christian spirituality and ethics. I think that new monastic communities have a lot to show to the church, like the old monastic tradition, this movement is a reformation of christianity, and can help us to fight the dark age that is raising this violent time.
As a member of a community in formation, I really apreciate this book.