An ancient message from a New Monastic

By Kurt Armstrong and ChristianWeek | June 8, 2009

"It's hard to be a Christian in America," says Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.

Wilson-Hartgrove is a leader of New Monasticism, a catchy moniker for a growing movement of Christian men and women who feel called to literally leave places of affluence and relocate to places of poverty and suffering. They don't wear robes or take vows of silence. New Monastics are everyday men and women doing everyday things at the margins of their communities, living as a people united in love, finding Jesus in "the least of these."

New Monastics practice intentional community, peacemaking, hospitality and generosity seven days a week with friends and enemies. It is radical, says Wilson-Hartgrove, because Church is radical—a people called by God to follow Jesus and be a witness of love. It looks peculiar because North American Christianity has closely aligned itself with the dominant culture rather than with Jesus and His call to be a people marked by service, peace and, above all, love.

Wilson-Hartgrove writes to the American Church, where a state-blessed version of Christianity conflates faith and patriotism. But here in Canada we too are confused about our calling to be a people identified by our love for one another. We're more used to the consumer dream of affluence and comfort rather than the Kingdom of God vision of love and peace.

What New Monasticism has to say to today's Church is that the gospel is revolutionary, and not just in our hearts. Wilson-Hartgrove's point isn't to shame us into living differently but to offer "catalysts for imagination." The Kingdom of God is at hand.

This book, like New Monasticism itself, translates the gospel for 21st-century western culture. His language is plain and clear. He avoids ramped-up political rhetoric; you won't find a clear conservative or liberal bias. But embodying the gospel transcends traditional left and right divisions and boldly proclaims allegiance to the Kingdom of God.

This little book is decidedly pro-church, inviting Christians to practice love always, everywhere we go and to be united by that love. It's an ancient message, but we need to hear it again. Wilson-Hartgrove reminds us that Christians should not be primarily known for moral clarity, political expediency, economic viability or effectiveness for ministry. "They will know we are Christians by our love."

A timely, inspiring word from a wise and courageous visionary.