The New Reformation (Ministry for the Third Millennium) (Paperback)

by Lyle E. Schaller (Author) "At a retirement celebration, a young and imperious pastor addressed a question to me: "As you look back over the past several decades of your..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, American Protestantism, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Schaller alerts readers to a New Reformation under way in churches and denominations. For more than 35 years, with a bias toward denominations, he has been focusing on the renewal of the old wineskins in denominations and congregations. In this book, the author challenges us to run and catch up with a New Reformation train that has already left the station.

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687014743
• ISBN-13: 978-0687014743
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,437,321 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fair, but Unbalanced . . ., May 17, 2000

By	TN Pastor "[e-mail]" (USA) - See all my reviews

Schaller is correct in asserting that "newness" is occurring today in the church, but what if this "reformation" is shallow? To grow a church in the next millenium, must leaders "dumb down" sermons, change worship into entertainment, and use marketing tactics to get people to attend church? Schaller seems to think these methods are okay as long as a church grows.

If there IS a reformation in Schaller's terms, will we create a consumer based, "give me what I want" church where folks come to be served rather than to serve?

While I am not fighting for the "past," it appears that future church growth may lose a sense of integrity about the larger meaning and mission of individual disciples as they relate to the church as a whole.

And if this happens, what kind of "Christianity" will American culture espouse 100 years from now?

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars UNLESS THE LORD IS BEHIND THE REFORMATION, November 7, 2000

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

So many are running to ghurus like Schaller who have all the right diagnoses and solutions for an ailing Christian church. When will we ever learn? How many times in the Scriptures did God's people turn to everything else but to Him?

So with Schaller. Turn to keeping up with changing cultural landscapes and God might give your church a chance to survive. We've stopped trusting in God's means to counter Anti-Christian culture: Christ crucified.

Sure, you answer. Preach and teach that and people will repel so quickly. They won't be attracted nor put up with that. And there we have it. Apostacy is where we're at.

What about a real reformation of those who want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? We've given up on truth, we're tired of fighting for and fighting to find and remain in it as a culture. But the church, the remanant of Christ, will always be built on the truth of God's Word, which frees them and offends many.

Schaller is good on trends, very poor on truth!

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2001: A Church Odyssey, October 4, 1996

By A Customer

Finally. The one Schaller book that every pastor or denominational officer who is responsible for the future of any ministry in any church should have to read. Here's a peek at the 21st Century Church that sociology built--or WILL build. Better wake up and prepare the way. You know you'll have to read this stuff sooner or later. Better sooner. Added bonus: this book contains "a little bit about everything" for those Schaller readers who have ever experienced a sense of "everything about every little bit."