“Renaissance” moves along in six chapters and a postscript. Each chapter can stand alone by itself, but also works well with the succeeding ones. Guinness’s core theme is simple, straightforward and promising, “Let there be no wavering in our answer. Such is the truth and power of the gospel that the church can be revived, reformed and restored to be a renewing power in the world again. There is no question that the good news of Jesus has effected powerful personal and cultural change in the past. There is no question too that it is still doing so in many parts of the world today. By God’s grace it will do so again even here in the heart of the advanced modern world where the Christian church is presently in sorry disarray” (14). The whole work is given over to supporting this bold claim, as well as proposing the steps necessary to bring it about. But those suggestive steps have far less to do with technique or technicalities, methods or maneuvers, and more to do with the biblical message of returning to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Renaissance” is more a book of confessing our faults in the bleak predicament of the West and the Church, re-igniting our allegiance to Jesus Christ, and moving forward with courage and hope, no longer bowing before the idols of prestige and prominence; “The time has come to trust God, move out, sharing and demonstrating the good news, following his call and living out our callings in every area of our lives, and then to leave the outcome to him” (148).
For the rest, see:
Deus Misereatur: Renaissance: The Power of the Gospel However Dark ...: Renaissance: The Power of the Gospel However Dark the Times Os Guinness InterVarsity Press PO Box 1400 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ...
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