EMQ » July–September 2022 » Volume 58 Issue 3
Nurturing Faith: A Practical Theology for Educating Christians
By Fred Edie and Mark Lamport
Eerdmans, 2021
534 pages
US$44.99
Reviewed by Kenneth Nehrbass, associate professor of global studies for Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University.
Is the Christian faith imparted miraculously? Or is it formed in communities, through intentional teaching and modeling? Is it an individual matter, beginning with acceptance of Jesus Christ? Or is it fostered by the church? Edie and Lamport’s Nurturing Faith examines the various ways that Christians are made (that is, the authors remind us, the origin of the term christening). Their answer to this question is organized around five “C’s” for nurturing faith: cultural dynamics, criteria, colleagues, contexts, and conversations.
The book draws heavily on educational theory and philosophical concepts and is probably too sophisticated for use with church staff or laypeople. However, it is suitable for graduate courses, as it can raise questions about the nature of Christian education.
Edie and Lamport’s vision of Christian education can be rather ambitious: to help “Christians grasp God’s perspective in the cosmos” (115). They explain that such a comprehensive worldview includes familiarity with philosophy, logic, and cultural critique. Undoubtedly theologians would heartily agree with this goal; however, such a mission may not align with the average church’s vision, programming, or capabilities.
The book includes some discouraging statistics about the decline of faith in the western world (67ff). This trend away from Christianity, which the authors refer to as “disorienting amnesia,” presents formidable hurdles for the church. An hour-long lesson in Sunday school is no longer sufficient for nurturing faith in young adults because postmodern culture has moved away from the knowledge of the nature of God, truth, and the scripture.
This amnesia is also present among older members of the congregation: In previous decades, church leaders could correctly assume that adults had a basic fundamental knowledge; but such biblical literacy is no longer guaranteed. Therefore, ministry to adults must begin by finding out where people are at: What are their experiences, perceptions, and personalities? How can we help them find their Christian vocation (calling)?
At this point, the authors turn to the works of Dewey, Fowler, Vygotsky, and Kolb to discuss the value of experiential, active, and especially social learning theories. Even if this generation has given up on faith, it has not given up on community. Therefore, the social aspect of the faith may be the best way to reach people.
The authors contend that nurturing faith is primarily about connecting to Jesus and they spend some time exploring who He is. They maintain that Jesus cannot be reduced to a few bare facts or “four spiritual laws” (176). Rather, He embodies God’s holy character, so the goal of nurturing faith is transformation – to become like Jesus (7).
Nurturing Faith serves as a reminder to the church: Our task is not filling pews or building larger buildings. And the Christian faith is more than a set of doctrines to grasp. God is a person, with passions, so nurturing faith means connecting to God’s passions (266) such as hospitality, simplicity, and humility (217). This happens in the context of community, where the faithful endeavor to live out what they believe.
EMQ, Volume 58, Issue 3. Copyright © 2022 by Missio Nexus. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from Missio Nexus. Email: EMQ@MissioNexus.org.
