Rooted and Renewing: Imagining the Church’s Future in Light of Its New Testament Origins by Troy M. Troftgruben

Abstract

Reviewed by: Rooted and Renewing: Imagining the Church’s Future in Light of Its New Testament Origins by Troy M. Troftgruben H. Ashley Hall Rooted and Renewing: Imagining the Church’s Future in Light of Its New Testament Origins. By Troy M. Troftgruben. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2019. 325 pp. This book is provocative and timely. Troftgruben seeks to help Christians navigate an uncertain future by exploring the diverse experiences of New Testament communities. While the solutions of the church in its first two centuries cannot be arbitrarily applied to the challenges facing the twenty-first century church, there is indeed resonance and a faithful, fruitful dialogue to be had. While examining the historical and social contexts of the pre- Constantinian church, we can come to appreciate the unifying proclamation and practices so relevant for the post-Christendom church. The book is ideally suited for group study. Troftgruben’s work is praiseworthy, primarily for its clear and conversational presentation of advanced scholarship and nuanced perspectives. The author, associate professor of New Testament at Wartburg Theological Seminary, avoids clichés and trite solutions. The reader will notice a steady repetition of the phrase “on the one [End Page 478] hand . . .” and “on the other . . .” The result is not a muddled equivocation but a clear identification of pertinent issues, so that the reader might properly focus on both the difficulties and opportunities of Christian fellowship and witness. The introduction and the conclusion describe the necessity of rediscovering the complex realities of New Testament communities. The five chapters speak to common issues that Christians past and present have had to face: the relevance of sacred spaces (chapter one), the sense of community (two), social dynamics and leadership (three), core activities of faithful witness (four), and the call to bear a distinctive witness in a world of competing voices (five). For example, in chapter two “Being True Siblings in a Divided World,” Troftgruben begins by noting that many congregations are divided by identities that are secondary to Christian discipleship: worship style, race and ethnicity, political camps, and economic status. These divisions endured through recent history because they could; many congregations did not need to expand beyond their particular “character” or “style.” Today, however, new challenges (such as demographic shifts) are prompting anxious conversations about turning toward a neighborhood and world that may look quite different from when the congregation was founded. Naming that reality, Troftgruben then invites the reader into a study of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and to the Romans. He demonstrates that in these communities, diversity of ethnicity, wealth, and social status were matters of necessity; their faith in Jesus Christ was often the only thing that bound these smaller communities together. Troftgruben documents Paul’s pastoral advice (with his practical emphasis on humility, forbearance, reconciliation, and unity) and challenges twenty-first century Americans to question how our assertions of individualism and assumptions of autonomy stand as obstacles to Paul’s vision. As an alternative, we are invited to consider the power of Paul’s sibling language (and relational behavior) to unite diverse peoples and encouraged, with Paul, to always “let the main thing (the gospel) be the main thing” (117). Beyond the quality of its examination of the New Testament around these core concerns, the book offers accessible resources and opportunities for conversation. Each chapter begins with a set of [End Page 479] questions to engage the reader. Key terms are clearly defined. A selective use of photos, illustrations, and maps helps connect past and present. Each chapter concludes with resources to move the reader from reflection to action: a list of manageable, concrete suggestions for local implementation; biblical references for further study; hymn suggestions (to help fold the educational component into worship); guided questions for further conversation; and a brief annotated bibliography of the recent research. Thus, pastors and directors of Christian education will find in this book everything needed for an enriching, thought-provoking, and comprehensive conversation within their congregation. The participants who emerge from that conversation will be better equipped within their various circumstances to proclaim the gospel that is both ever ancient, yet ever new. H. Ashley Hall Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska Copyright © 2021 Johns Hopkins...