Review of "Ever Ancient, Ever New" by Winfield Bevins
We are all on journeys. Some of us have the journey all planned out and don't want to deviate from it. Others of us have a rough outline on how to get where we want, but detours are all right and sometimes welcomed. Yet others simply go where the blowing wind takes them.
Sometimes we are surprised at where we end up.
Many young adults of the Millennial generation (myself included; when do I get to be an "adult" instead of a "young adult"?) have found ourselves leaving the evangelical or charismatic churches of our youths for the liturgical churches of antiquity. Whether it's the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, or the Eastern Orthodox Church (to name the 3 largest liturgical churches), many of us have made the move for good; and it puzzles many we "leave behind" as well as those who only ever known the liturgical way of worship.
For some of us this move, even though we know it to be the right decision for ourselves, comes as as surprise. Or, if you're like me, it might not be such a surprise (if one sat down and thought long and hard).
While many of us have family and friends supportive of our change of "our way of worship," many of us also have friends and family wary and hurt by the change. The Christian climate of the West, particularly in North America (even more specific the United States), has bred distrust among denominations for too long; and many find it difficult to articulate that the allure of liturgy is more than just a passing fad or a rebellion against a fundamentalist upbringing.
Thankfully, we have backup.
Winfield Bevins, Director of Church Planting at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, has been studying this migration to the liturgical and has written a book on the subject. Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Allure of Liturgy for a New Generation illuminates the reasons why young people are attracted to liturgy. He brings in the stories of real people as he explains the rhythms and practices of these churches and the sense of community and unity people find in these churches.
The book does not advocate "one way" of doing church. Bevins does a wonderful job of profiling different movements within the liturgical churches: High and Low churches, neo-liturgical churches (non-liturgical churches who attempt to incorporate liturgy without appropriating it), and Three-Streams churches (a combination of liturgical, evangelical, and charismatic). He looks at all three of these ways, describes each, and relates a story how the liturgy in these churches have helped young people ground themselves in the faith.
If you are an evangelical or charismatic wondering why people you know are exploring liturgy (or have made the switch) this book is for you. If you've grown up your whole life in a liturgical church and are wondering why people are converting over to a liturgical way of life, this book is for you. And, if you're like me, and left the church of your youth for a liturgical church, this book is for you too. Even if Bevins writes what you already know and/or have experienced, you may just find comfort in knowing you're not alone on your journey.
Sometimes we are surprised at where we end up.
Many young adults of the Millennial generation (myself included; when do I get to be an "adult" instead of a "young adult"?) have found ourselves leaving the evangelical or charismatic churches of our youths for the liturgical churches of antiquity. Whether it's the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, or the Eastern Orthodox Church (to name the 3 largest liturgical churches), many of us have made the move for good; and it puzzles many we "leave behind" as well as those who only ever known the liturgical way of worship.
For some of us this move, even though we know it to be the right decision for ourselves, comes as as surprise. Or, if you're like me, it might not be such a surprise (if one sat down and thought long and hard).
While many of us have family and friends supportive of our change of "our way of worship," many of us also have friends and family wary and hurt by the change. The Christian climate of the West, particularly in North America (even more specific the United States), has bred distrust among denominations for too long; and many find it difficult to articulate that the allure of liturgy is more than just a passing fad or a rebellion against a fundamentalist upbringing.
Thankfully, we have backup.
Winfield Bevins, Director of Church Planting at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, has been studying this migration to the liturgical and has written a book on the subject. Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Allure of Liturgy for a New Generation illuminates the reasons why young people are attracted to liturgy. He brings in the stories of real people as he explains the rhythms and practices of these churches and the sense of community and unity people find in these churches.
The book does not advocate "one way" of doing church. Bevins does a wonderful job of profiling different movements within the liturgical churches: High and Low churches, neo-liturgical churches (non-liturgical churches who attempt to incorporate liturgy without appropriating it), and Three-Streams churches (a combination of liturgical, evangelical, and charismatic). He looks at all three of these ways, describes each, and relates a story how the liturgy in these churches have helped young people ground themselves in the faith.
If you are an evangelical or charismatic wondering why people you know are exploring liturgy (or have made the switch) this book is for you. If you've grown up your whole life in a liturgical church and are wondering why people are converting over to a liturgical way of life, this book is for you. And, if you're like me, and left the church of your youth for a liturgical church, this book is for you too. Even if Bevins writes what you already know and/or have experienced, you may just find comfort in knowing you're not alone on your journey.
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