Liquid Church

Liquid Church 

by Pete Ward

I didn’t really like this book, but I think that had to do with the author’s style of writing. Although it did seem like the author only focused on two peoples ideas toward this idea of Liquid church. 

The author, Pete Ward, first talked about what solid church was. One idea is that something that is solid cannot change form. If the church is that way, how do we expect to reach those people who are looking for something a bit different? Is church supposed to be one size fits all? Just because that is where “everyone” goes doesn’t mean it is the best place for you. People learn in different ways. One reason for going to church is to learn about Christ and God’s kingdom. Why would everyone go to the same church if they all learn a different way? Are they just going because they want to be seen going? That is another thing the author brought up. That if you are not seen at church speculation will arise. When I first read that I though no thats not true, maybe if you were gone for a few weeks. Then as I am writing this I realized that  when I go to my home church and my parents are not there for one week everyone asks me how are your parents is everything okay. My parents go to church every weekend, and are usually involved in something going on during the service. I suppose people are just so used to them being there they get worried when they are not. 

One major topic the author talked about in the second chapter was identity, where we find our identity. He talks about how where we find out identity has changed over the years, what we get out identity from. “People are reflexive because they continually review their sense of self in relation to the increasing number of choices available in society” (p23). It is no longer class and gender that define who you are. There are now millions of choices available to choose from. You no longer have only the fork in the road, but now its a high way will a million exits to choose from. Zygmunt Bauman, who the author refers to often in this book, notes that although there is a increase of choices there is still little guidance and directions for people. With the onset of liquid church Bauman believes that people will/are looking for a sense of community in these three places: peg, cloakroom or carnival. “Peg communities offer the chance for individuals to gather for a moment around a “nail” on which they can peg their individual fears. Cloakroom communities allow individuals to dress for an event, leave their coats at the door, and enjoy a temporary spectacle. A carnival is similarly a gathering of individuals around an event that offers a brief distraction from the demands and fears of a fluid, unsettled search for identity and meaning” (p24). It is like people are searching for some sort of illusion to get away from what is happening around them.

Why do people go to church? One reason Ward gives is historical. “Far from being a turn-off, for some people the weekly visit to church is attractive precisely because it offers a slice of living history” (p27). The church is valued because of the traditions the church has kept over the years. It is historical because it has stayed true to itself. “For those attending worship, keeping the heritage site going is much like any other historical preservation society” (p27). I’m not so sure it is like this in the states, but here in the England there are 600 year old churches. Granted I’ve never thought about people going to church for the historical side of it. I have never thought going to church was a historical experience. However, there are some friends back home that I believe only went to church because their parents thought that was what you did, their parents weren’t practicing Christians but would go because that is what you do, that is what their parents did. In that way it might be that they go to church because of tradition. 

I thought chapter six, Shaping the Liquid Church, was a great chapter to think about. Especially since just going though the Week of E, meeting tons of students and hearing their thoughts about religion. The author quotes G. K. Chesterton here, “The Problem is that when people stop believing in God, they start to believe in anything” (p51). I think one thing this book pushes is that everyone is searching for something, they want to believe in something, even when they stop believing in God. The author here talks about how people don’t like the “solid church” so they leave and search for something else, and this is where the “liquid church” comes into play. The “liquid church” takes from contemporary ideas about spirituality and reforms the church in a way that reaches the people. 

I think my favorite chapter in this book was chapter ten, the last chapter; And no not because it was the last. In this chapter the author made the most sense to me. He listed off six dreams, each describing what a “liquid church” would look like. Dream one is The Network. In this dream Ward talks about how people are connected in the church, through internet, gatherings, bible studies, book clubs. They are connected though different activities through out the churches, suitable for everyone. Dream two is community. This dream is really connected with communication. Being able to be connected with those in your community to be able to be there for them. One example is the use of cell phones, or mobiles. If something happens you can inform a lot of people in a very short amount of time. Dream three is communities of choice. In this dream there are multiple different communities in the church, as well as multiple different ways to worship. Allowing this choice in community might bring in very diverse people. Dream four, leadership from example. Instead of leaders just being ordained, leaders are people who have been examples in the community. Others have seen these people living out spiritual disciplines, and so they become leaders int he community. Also being spiritually experienced or trained. Dream five is events and imagination. Here you can only be held back by your imagination, go big or go home mentality. Your not just tied down to your church building, but go out into the community and effect the people where they are. Dream six is worship in a liquid church. Worship at a church can be any size shape or color. The author points out that worship doesn’t have to be tied down to the congregational dynamic, but that some churches, only focus on worship together as a congregation on holidays like Easter. 

What the author described in the last chapter I can see happening much more today. There are many different styles of churches in the states now. Some focusing on those who are already in the church community and other that focus on seekers, or unbelievers. Parts of this book also remind me of Organic Church, with the whole idea of being where the people are. However this book doesn’t focus on starting churches physically where the people are but having churches that are mentally, dynamically, and stylistic in a way that reaches them.