The Reform of Renewal [Paperback]

Benedict J. Groeschel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1990

This clear and unequivocal call for personal reform as the basis of authentic renewal in society and in the Church is rooted in several sources. The work of an internationally recognized Biblical scholar (Rudolph Schnackenburg) is woven in with the observations of contemporary social critics as well as behavioral scientists. The author does not spare anyone's feelings in an attempt at a critical and objective analysis of the serious problems of the Catholic Church and "mainstream" religious denominations in America.

This book definitively places the onus for reform on the individual Christian striving to follow the Gospel in our materialistic and selfish culture. Because of its roots in Scripture and in the long history of reform in the Church, this book offers the reader a well-founded hope that the first signs of real renewal in the Church are beginning to appear. Includes index.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (October 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898702860
• ISBN-13: 978-0898702866
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #884,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Instructive Writing Toward Personal and Corporate Reform and Renewal, May 5, 2010

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C. Stephans - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Reform of Renewal (Paperback)

Fr. Groeschel cuts to the heart in this book as he addresses the significance and necessity of reform, renewal and conversion through God. In this book, he mixes some excellent insights from his spiritual maturity, Scripture, church history and psychology. Groeschel's main message is that there is no such thing as a complacent Christian or a complacent church. We must constantly seek God's work of conversion in our lives and must live with a repentant attitude that is constantly turning from the fallen world to believe God's good news.

Groeschel at times is quite confrontational and challenging to readers who might think they are "okay." He writes that we are not "okay" but that we are in need of God's work in our lives to transform us from our sinful ways to the ways of Jesus.

Groeschel writes as a Roman Catholic with a high view of the church and that attitude is reflected at times in his view of Protestant denominations and his leniency with his own Roman Catholic church. It was troubling for me that he does not address the crisis of sexual abuse among priests at all. That subject is truly a white elephant in this book. However, as a commener pointed out this book was written before the crisis became publicized. So the author may not have been aware of the crisis among the Roman Catholic Church.

I think this is a book that would be helpful to all readers.