Christendom is economic, political, social life as inspired by Christian principles. That is ending --- we have seen it die…. This hour of testing calls us to recover for our age the apostolic mindset and the bright hope of those first Christians of the Cenacle.
The short preface of this book lays down the truth and its challenge: We’ve gone from an age of Christendom to an age of Apostolic Mission. The remainder of this short book (90 pages) focuses on the differences between the two ages --- often one of a subtle change of emphasis --- and how the Apostolic Age gained prominence by re-defining moral and social good, and the purpose of life.
The authors note how the advance of science in recent centuries, making human life more pleasurable, crept into the spiritual realm of faith, creating a new world vision. No longer Christian caring for the poor or the sick or the aged, progressivism touts to eliminate them. Bad things are to be eliminated, and good things (things I want now and not in some future eternity) are to be provided or accommodated in the way I get them.
As progressivism spread, many Christians became “in name only”, accepting what they liked of the Church and the culture --- for now --- and expecting accommodation from other Christians. Eternal life is not a concern of most people in this new age. Priestly formation developed in a Christian age doesn’t prepare priests to exist in an Apostolic Age. “The Church is still in a Christendom mode, using outmoded strategies that were devised in a different context.”
The authors note that a new focus on believers is needed, to strengthen them against a relativistic culture, as is a new priestly formation. Communities of believers (and priests) are needed to provide ongoing support. “In and Apostolic Age the Church needs to be not less but more exacting of her members.”
“A string of American mythological narrative views America as the hope of the world.” “Whatever have been the genuine virtues and accomplishments of America, … that America remain faithful to the best of its traditions has little to do with the Christian faith and is miserably inadequate to the genuine need of humanity.”
“We know that America in no sense is the hope of the world. That honor belongs to Christ alone as He works through His body, the Church.” “There is nothing surprising, nothing that should touch our Christian hope, that America would not be susceptible to the corruption of a fallen humanity.”
“The great apostoli task of our time is to gain a genuine conversion of mind and vision.”
This short book, authored by the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., lays out a challenge much like Christ did to his apostles. It also says that is what the university is teaching their students. I hope they get many more. This is a very informing book, and a good read to stay positive.
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