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The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning
A call for Christians to move past the shallows of idealized beliefs and into a deeper, more vibrant, beatitude-like faith rooted in sacred practices and intimate experiences with God.
When the limits of his own faith experience left him feeling spiritually empty, Niequist determined God must have a wider vision for worship and community.
In his search, Aaron discovered that there was historical Christian precedent for enacting faith in a different way, an ancient and now future way of believing. He calls this third way "practice-based faith."
This book is about loving one's faith tradition and, at the same time, following the call to something deeper and richer. By adopting some new spiritual practices, it is possible to learn to swim again with a renewed sense of vigor and divine purpose.
When the limits of his own faith experience left him feeling spiritually empty, Niequist determined God must have a wider vision for worship and community.
In his search, Aaron discovered that there was historical Christian precedent for enacting faith in a different way, an ancient and now future way of believing. He calls this third way "practice-based faith."
This book is about loving one's faith tradition and, at the same time, following the call to something deeper and richer. By adopting some new spiritual practices, it is possible to learn to swim again with a renewed sense of vigor and divine purpose.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published August 7, 2018
164 people are currently reading
1542 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
September 11, 2018
I can’t quite put words around just how much I loved this book from @aaronieq — it spoke right to the heart of what’s been stirring in my heart lately about faith, church, spiritual discipline, and following Jesus wholeheartedly. It’s practical but beautiful, compelling and complex but also so simple and tangible, inspiring and informative. He has lead by example with what these practices look like, and he paints such a rich picture here of what it looks like to diversify our faith to truly become people who swim in the Eternal Current. It’s more than just showing up on a Sunday. It’s more than just a formula. We can instead build toolboxes with these disciplines (coming to the table, liturgies, prayer, service, etc) that equip us to build long-lasting and life-saving faith in God as we build his kingdom here on earth, and it’s a refreshing and real way to live as believers that I think we have lost sight of in our culture today. Gah, I could go on and on about how much this book helped shift my perspective on church culture and daily disciplines, and encouraged me to truly engage with this redemptive work well. An Instagram review doesn’t do it justice. Can’t recommend this one highly enough. Thanks for helping us see a new (yet old) and better (truer) way, @aaronieq.
February 4, 2020
A good book but there were a few things that annoyed me. The author talked about practice based faith but only leaned on liturgical practices. I dont know if it's so much the practice as it is the mindset of the individual who is practicing. I also think some people would be tuned out if they switched out 3 songs, a hymn, and a 40 minute talk with 4 readings, the eucharist, and a short homily. I wish he talked more about reconciling his old practices than talking about how great his new ones are. I didn't disagree with a lot of what the author was saying but I definitely spent the majority of the time with my head turned slightly sideways wondering what it would have been like if he took it a different direction.
January 5, 2019
Shook. Niequist changes everything with this simple and straightforward book. He calls us to open our hearts to the beauty of all traditions that worship God, instead of whatever denomination we attend. He reminds us that churches should be equipping us to be like/be closer to Christ, not JUST praising. That the sermon isn't the point. There is so much to be gleaned from this text. I'll need to purchase it and read it again and again. I'm also getting out my book of Common Prayer.
December 9, 2023
before we get into it, i did listen to this on audio, and i had to transcribe multiple things since i did not have a physical copy or ebook. there may be some very slight formatting/punctuation/textual differences in what i quote because of this. also, i took notes in multiple places, so some quotes may be out of chronological order since i had to piece this review together from several locations.
now, we can ignore the fact that the current/river metaphor is weird, but we can't ignore the fact that niequist redefines straightforward terms, eagerly references and recommends people who espouse dangerous beliefs, and refuses to put aside his obsession with the catholic church.
let's start with this exceptionally vague quote about what the kingdom of God is:
niequist defines the "current" as the kingdom of God and says that the "invitation" from Jesus is simply to participate in the current and "join God in healing and redeeming the world." first and foremost, we are not called to this vague ~*~partnering with God~*~ nonsense. God and only God can heal and redeem the world. secondly, we are called to serve Jesus Christ and live in the world as witnesses to Christ, and "healing and redeeming" insinuates capabilities we do not have. we can certainly take part in God's work, but it never becomes an accomplishment of our own like niequist weirdly makes it sound through the use of the word "partnering." this implies work of equal value and equal effort with THE LORD, which is impossible. if we wish to be accurate in describing our relationship with God and how He works through us, a more accurate word would probably be collaboration (i will admit that people using the word "partnering" in relation to God is a pet peeve of mine, so perhaps take this with a grain of salt). also, if the river is the kingdom of God, joining it is meaningless since niequist also says:
this is so wildly misguided. the "invitation" isn't about feeling good while holding Jesus' hand in a metaphorical river and "learning the unforced rhythms of grace." the invitation is to salvation by repentance before God. and it absolutely matters what we believe. we can't "join Christ in the current" and also dismiss the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, or the resurrection. moreover, what does niequist want us to have faith in? are we supposed to have faith in supposed kingdom work that we're doing? or are we supposed to have faith in the finished work of Christ? niequist never says. yes, he does state maybe twice in the whole book that we are sinners in need of a savior, but as a whole, he has robbed the cross of its offense and Christ of His sacrifice. and what of sanctification? it doesn't appear to exist if you trust niequist's indeterminate current metaphor, where we all just float along holding hands, or if you trust the beliefs of those he endorses.
speaking of those he endorses, while the list is quite long and there are plenty of problematic authors on that list, the ones i take biggest issue with are dallas willard, rob bell, and richard rohr.
dallas willard: willard is the author of the book the divine conspiracy which niequist recommends and says changed his life. however, literally in this same book, willard says, "Jesus and his words have never belonged to the categories of dogma or law, and to read them as if they did is simply to miss them." so he's not even pretending to say anything other than that scripture isn't infallible. yikes. willard also rejects the basic premise of the gospel, confuses justification with sanctification, and believes in salvation apart from Christ.
rob bell: bell is the author of love wins. to quote kevin deyoung's (very lengthy) review of this book, "the theology is heterodox. the history is inaccurate. the impact on souls is devastating. and the use of scripture is indefensible. worst of all, love wins demeans the cross and misrepresents God's character." ultimately, bell is saying that "love wins" by eliminating all of God's attributes except love (while simultaneously deleting the part about WHY God had to send Jesus), embracing universalism, disregarding God's justice, and ignoring God's holiness.
richard rohr: rohr endorses niequist's book which i didn't realize until i pulled up a preview of it on google books. so that's interesting. anyway, rohr is the author of many books. his beliefs include: believing the Bible is fallible, following the "Jesus hermeneutic" where he says to interpret the Bible the way Jesus did is to "ignore, deny, or openly oppose his own scriptures," denying substitutionary atonement, believing Jesus' death on the cross is "problem-oriented," viewing God's justice as "toxic," believing Jesus and Christ are two separate beings, denying original sin, and rejecting the exclusivity of christianity.
several times throughout the book, niequist mentions church history, but he never once says what that is. since he's so obsessed with catholicism, is he referring to catholic history? would he condemn the reformation? were the reformers wrong? who knows. he never says. he also says we should be reading christian classics but again never says what those are or whose writings they are. would he recommend john calvin? martin luther? a.w. pink? j.c. ryle? probably not. this is kind of an important thing to clarify, however, because there are literal heretics we could be reading if we're given no guidelines. you can define "church history" as whatever you want when you're being that vague. christian classics? yeah, you can include rob bell in there if you want to because you've taken catholic and christian mysticism and elevated it to the level of biblical truth.
other questionable things mentioned/endorsed in this book are breath prayer, the use of the book of common prayer (why, dude), ecumenicalism, complaints about sola fide, no biblical support for his "practice-based life," ignoring how Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, and this quote: "we all know that Jesus said in John chapter fifteen 'without me you can do nothing.' we need to add 'if you do nothing, it will be most assuredly without him.'" cool to see you think you can add to the Bible, aaron.
okay, first of all... that's terrible advice. what's a holy risk, aaron? we shouldn't be experimenting with dangerous things. i'm sure legion is waiting right around the corner for you to open up your mind. second, why are the "unforced rhythms of grace" never defined? what are they? if we don't know what they are we can never "align" with them (not that we'd actually want to). ephesians 4:11-14: "and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."
our deepest desires aren't for God. if we're searching around inside ourselves for God, we're not going to find Him. that's not how this works. niequist quotes paul where paul says we need to put off the old self and put on the new (ephesians 4:22-24), but then ignores the fact that in no way was the old self something good, and in no way does having the Holy Spirit indwell us mean we can then dig around and find deep desires that are "whispers from God." what absolute nonsense. getting in touch with these supposed desires also isn't the answer to having our "rule of life" be more than a life improvement plan, etc. man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (1 corinthians 10:31). or in the words of henry scougal in the life of God in the soul of man, "the true way to improve and ennoble our souls is, by fixing our love on the divine perfections, that we may have them always before us, and derive an impression of them on ourselves; and, 'beholding with open face, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, we may be changed into the same image, from glory to glory [2 corinthians 3:18].'"
niequist redefines sin as "anything that drowns us or someone else" which is a truly unhelpful and meaningless definition. sin is man substituting himself for God. sin is the desire and action of doing what God prohibits. man is not an innocent victim of sin. sin alienates us from God. sin is treason against our Creator. sin's penalty is death, and that is what makes Christ's substitution for man so beautiful. additionally, we literally can't obey all of God's laws in order to avoid punishment. that's why we needed Jesus' substitutionary atonement. and Jesus wasn't "trying" to do anything. He did exactly what He came to do, and not only that, but He didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (matthew 5:17).
as the book nears its end, niequist, unsurprisingly, brings in social justice for some reason. he says things about how if most of your church is white or most of your friends are white, that's a problem (it's not). he says we need to diversify our friend groups (kind of gross when you don't make friends like a normal person but instead do it so you can say you have ~*~diverse friends~*~). he also refers to Jesus' example of contemplative activism which is fake news because 1. what does that mean? and 2. that doesn't exist. he mentions a guy who said that if Jesus entered Jerusalem now he'd do what he did before which is "speak truth to power" and "get Himself killed." Jesus wasn't a social activist, and he wasn't murdered by a police state—which is what niequist is implying here. Jesus literally came to earth TO DIE ON THE CROSS. He didn't come here to participate in "contemplative activism" or "speak truth to power." He came to save us from our sins by dying in our place. also, He wasn't arrested or murdered because He was some sort of activist but because the chief priests were envious of Him (mark 15:10). pilate and herod both found Him guilty of nothing.
as an aside, niequist's "spiritual mentor" is a jesuit priest. all i have to say about that is that if a catholic is a good christian, they're a terrible catholic.
there are many more issues with this book and niequist's worldview, belief system, definition of the Lord's supper, and contemplative practices, but i'd truly have to do a line by line review of the book in order to address it all, and that doesn't seem profitable.
there are a few things that niequist isn't wrong about. he states multiple times that being a christian is more than just going to church and behaving well on a sunday. he also says that just going to church for the classroom or concert experience isn't how we should be living as christians. this isn't wrong! but his solutions are. another thing he says is how important christian community is. this is also correct. he does state that we're sinners and works won't save us, we need to stop saying things like "God showed up" and "God we invite you here" since God is literally omnipresent, believers need to be equipped for life in the world, and we should do the eucharist every week. none of that is wrong, but the correct things he says are brief, vague, or not a central focus of the book or chapter. there is absolutely no point in trying to read this book in order to glean any truth from it. if you want to learn more about those things, this isn't where you'll do that. these tiny truths aren't enough to save what is essentially a nod toward universalism and a wholehearted embrace of christian mysticism that doesn't actually offer any practical advice for christian living.
here are some books i'd recommend instead of this bunkum:
1. The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal
2. The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers
3. Let Us Worship God: Why We Worship the Way We Do by Derek W.H. Thomas
4. The Lord's Prayer: Learning from Jesus on What, Why, and How to Pray by Kevin DeYoung
5. The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and Glory of the Church by Dustin W. Benge
6. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
7. God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church by Michael Reeves
8. Gospel People: A Call for Evangelical Integrity by Michael Reeves
now, we can ignore the fact that the current/river metaphor is weird, but we can't ignore the fact that niequist redefines straightforward terms, eagerly references and recommends people who espouse dangerous beliefs, and refuses to put aside his obsession with the catholic church.
let's start with this exceptionally vague quote about what the kingdom of God is:
"throughout the book i will use the phrase that Jesus used in the scriptures— 'kingdom of God' or 'kingdom of heaven'—to mean the realm where God’s will happens on earth as it happens in heaven. this can be a physical location, an internal posture, or a social reality, but it always involves some kind of thin place where God’s dream for humanity breaks into reality like a green shoot reaching up through a crack in the concrete. Jesus Christ invites us to partner with God in this subversively redemptive vision and build a world that makes more space for it to flourish."
niequist defines the "current" as the kingdom of God and says that the "invitation" from Jesus is simply to participate in the current and "join God in healing and redeeming the world." first and foremost, we are not called to this vague ~*~partnering with God~*~ nonsense. God and only God can heal and redeem the world. secondly, we are called to serve Jesus Christ and live in the world as witnesses to Christ, and "healing and redeeming" insinuates capabilities we do not have. we can certainly take part in God's work, but it never becomes an accomplishment of our own like niequist weirdly makes it sound through the use of the word "partnering." this implies work of equal value and equal effort with THE LORD, which is impossible. if we wish to be accurate in describing our relationship with God and how He works through us, a more accurate word would probably be collaboration (i will admit that people using the word "partnering" in relation to God is a pet peeve of mine, so perhaps take this with a grain of salt). also, if the river is the kingdom of God, joining it is meaningless since niequist also says:
"yet, as we have seen, Jesus doesn't say 'believe about this good news.' the invitation is not to agree with the river or defend the river or write books about the river. the invitation is to join Christ and swim with the current of God for the sake of the world. regardless of what we believe, pray, or declare, if we're standing on the shore, we're missing out on the abundant life that is truly life.... no matter who you are, where you've been or how long you've been avoiding the river, Jesus is standing waist deep and calling to you in this very moment, 'are you tired? worn out? burned out on religion? come to me. get away with me, and you'll recover your life. i'll show you how to take a real rest. walk with me and work with me. watch how i do it. learn the unforced rhythms of grace.'"
this is so wildly misguided. the "invitation" isn't about feeling good while holding Jesus' hand in a metaphorical river and "learning the unforced rhythms of grace." the invitation is to salvation by repentance before God. and it absolutely matters what we believe. we can't "join Christ in the current" and also dismiss the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, or the resurrection. moreover, what does niequist want us to have faith in? are we supposed to have faith in supposed kingdom work that we're doing? or are we supposed to have faith in the finished work of Christ? niequist never says. yes, he does state maybe twice in the whole book that we are sinners in need of a savior, but as a whole, he has robbed the cross of its offense and Christ of His sacrifice. and what of sanctification? it doesn't appear to exist if you trust niequist's indeterminate current metaphor, where we all just float along holding hands, or if you trust the beliefs of those he endorses.
speaking of those he endorses, while the list is quite long and there are plenty of problematic authors on that list, the ones i take biggest issue with are dallas willard, rob bell, and richard rohr.
dallas willard: willard is the author of the book the divine conspiracy which niequist recommends and says changed his life. however, literally in this same book, willard says, "Jesus and his words have never belonged to the categories of dogma or law, and to read them as if they did is simply to miss them." so he's not even pretending to say anything other than that scripture isn't infallible. yikes. willard also rejects the basic premise of the gospel, confuses justification with sanctification, and believes in salvation apart from Christ.
rob bell: bell is the author of love wins. to quote kevin deyoung's (very lengthy) review of this book, "the theology is heterodox. the history is inaccurate. the impact on souls is devastating. and the use of scripture is indefensible. worst of all, love wins demeans the cross and misrepresents God's character." ultimately, bell is saying that "love wins" by eliminating all of God's attributes except love (while simultaneously deleting the part about WHY God had to send Jesus), embracing universalism, disregarding God's justice, and ignoring God's holiness.
richard rohr: rohr endorses niequist's book which i didn't realize until i pulled up a preview of it on google books. so that's interesting. anyway, rohr is the author of many books. his beliefs include: believing the Bible is fallible, following the "Jesus hermeneutic" where he says to interpret the Bible the way Jesus did is to "ignore, deny, or openly oppose his own scriptures," denying substitutionary atonement, believing Jesus' death on the cross is "problem-oriented," viewing God's justice as "toxic," believing Jesus and Christ are two separate beings, denying original sin, and rejecting the exclusivity of christianity.
several times throughout the book, niequist mentions church history, but he never once says what that is. since he's so obsessed with catholicism, is he referring to catholic history? would he condemn the reformation? were the reformers wrong? who knows. he never says. he also says we should be reading christian classics but again never says what those are or whose writings they are. would he recommend john calvin? martin luther? a.w. pink? j.c. ryle? probably not. this is kind of an important thing to clarify, however, because there are literal heretics we could be reading if we're given no guidelines. you can define "church history" as whatever you want when you're being that vague. christian classics? yeah, you can include rob bell in there if you want to because you've taken catholic and christian mysticism and elevated it to the level of biblical truth.
other questionable things mentioned/endorsed in this book are breath prayer, the use of the book of common prayer (why, dude), ecumenicalism, complaints about sola fide, no biblical support for his "practice-based life," ignoring how Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, and this quote: "we all know that Jesus said in John chapter fifteen 'without me you can do nothing.' we need to add 'if you do nothing, it will be most assuredly without him.'" cool to see you think you can add to the Bible, aaron.
"so my best advice is to experiment. take holy risks. try different practices for a set period of time and notice how they help you align with God’s unforced rhythms of grace."
okay, first of all... that's terrible advice. what's a holy risk, aaron? we shouldn't be experimenting with dangerous things. i'm sure legion is waiting right around the corner for you to open up your mind. second, why are the "unforced rhythms of grace" never defined? what are they? if we don't know what they are we can never "align" with them (not that we'd actually want to). ephesians 4:11-14: "and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."
“to begin discerning and crafting a rule of life, we need to get in touch with our deepest desires…. the core desires that scratch around in our souls. we must get in touch with the whispers from God about who we are beneath all the fear and ambition and insecurity. our deepest desires have to do with the glory of who God has perfectly created us to be. until we can get in touch with those desires, our rule of life will be little more than a life improvement plan or another set of new year’s resolutions.”
our deepest desires aren't for God. if we're searching around inside ourselves for God, we're not going to find Him. that's not how this works. niequist quotes paul where paul says we need to put off the old self and put on the new (ephesians 4:22-24), but then ignores the fact that in no way was the old self something good, and in no way does having the Holy Spirit indwell us mean we can then dig around and find deep desires that are "whispers from God." what absolute nonsense. getting in touch with these supposed desires also isn't the answer to having our "rule of life" be more than a life improvement plan, etc. man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (1 corinthians 10:31). or in the words of henry scougal in the life of God in the soul of man, "the true way to improve and ennoble our souls is, by fixing our love on the divine perfections, that we may have them always before us, and derive an impression of them on ourselves; and, 'beholding with open face, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, we may be changed into the same image, from glory to glory [2 corinthians 3:18].'"
"merriam webster defines sin as 'an offense against religious or moral law' or ‘transgression of the law of God.' i respectfully reject these definitions as too narrow. dallas willard observed that many of Christ’s teachings were not absolute laws to obey in order to avoid punishment but mere observations about how life actually works. Jesus wasn’t merely trying to enforce God’s law, he was trying to save us from the self sabotage of sin."
niequist redefines sin as "anything that drowns us or someone else" which is a truly unhelpful and meaningless definition. sin is man substituting himself for God. sin is the desire and action of doing what God prohibits. man is not an innocent victim of sin. sin alienates us from God. sin is treason against our Creator. sin's penalty is death, and that is what makes Christ's substitution for man so beautiful. additionally, we literally can't obey all of God's laws in order to avoid punishment. that's why we needed Jesus' substitutionary atonement. and Jesus wasn't "trying" to do anything. He did exactly what He came to do, and not only that, but He didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (matthew 5:17).
as the book nears its end, niequist, unsurprisingly, brings in social justice for some reason. he says things about how if most of your church is white or most of your friends are white, that's a problem (it's not). he says we need to diversify our friend groups (kind of gross when you don't make friends like a normal person but instead do it so you can say you have ~*~diverse friends~*~). he also refers to Jesus' example of contemplative activism which is fake news because 1. what does that mean? and 2. that doesn't exist. he mentions a guy who said that if Jesus entered Jerusalem now he'd do what he did before which is "speak truth to power" and "get Himself killed." Jesus wasn't a social activist, and he wasn't murdered by a police state—which is what niequist is implying here. Jesus literally came to earth TO DIE ON THE CROSS. He didn't come here to participate in "contemplative activism" or "speak truth to power." He came to save us from our sins by dying in our place. also, He wasn't arrested or murdered because He was some sort of activist but because the chief priests were envious of Him (mark 15:10). pilate and herod both found Him guilty of nothing.
as an aside, niequist's "spiritual mentor" is a jesuit priest. all i have to say about that is that if a catholic is a good christian, they're a terrible catholic.
there are many more issues with this book and niequist's worldview, belief system, definition of the Lord's supper, and contemplative practices, but i'd truly have to do a line by line review of the book in order to address it all, and that doesn't seem profitable.
there are a few things that niequist isn't wrong about. he states multiple times that being a christian is more than just going to church and behaving well on a sunday. he also says that just going to church for the classroom or concert experience isn't how we should be living as christians. this isn't wrong! but his solutions are. another thing he says is how important christian community is. this is also correct. he does state that we're sinners and works won't save us, we need to stop saying things like "God showed up" and "God we invite you here" since God is literally omnipresent, believers need to be equipped for life in the world, and we should do the eucharist every week. none of that is wrong, but the correct things he says are brief, vague, or not a central focus of the book or chapter. there is absolutely no point in trying to read this book in order to glean any truth from it. if you want to learn more about those things, this isn't where you'll do that. these tiny truths aren't enough to save what is essentially a nod toward universalism and a wholehearted embrace of christian mysticism that doesn't actually offer any practical advice for christian living.
here are some books i'd recommend instead of this bunkum:
1. The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal
2. The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers
3. Let Us Worship God: Why We Worship the Way We Do by Derek W.H. Thomas
4. The Lord's Prayer: Learning from Jesus on What, Why, and How to Pray by Kevin DeYoung
5. The Loveliest Place: The Beauty and Glory of the Church by Dustin W. Benge
6. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund
7. God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church by Michael Reeves
8. Gospel People: A Call for Evangelical Integrity by Michael Reeves
June 9, 2024
I really need to read this, rather than listen to it, since it felt like I lost a lot from listening while driving or cleaning and not being able to highlight or take notes or go back and reread. Definitely recommend!
August 12, 2018
The truth is, many of us who have grown up in the church have become uninterested in and uninspired by a weekly gathering that predictably consists of 4 songs, a set of announcements, and a 30 minute sermon, most of which you simply watch as an observer. Many feel like there must be more when it comes to participating in a church gathering. Well, things can be different. Our gatherings can be more engaging, they can be more diverse, they can be richer, and they can be far more healing and dangerous. The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning is a beautiful and hopeful vision for how things could be.
The Eternal Current (2018) is written by Aaron Niequist who in 2014 launched a neo-liturgical, ecumenical, practice-based service at Willow Creek in Chicago. He has also created a series of liturgical recordings called A New Liturgy.
Oftentimes when you read books from people who cast a vision for how things could be different in local churches, the author comes off as cynical, bitter, holier than thou, and just plain miserable. This is not the case at all with Niequist. This book is a positive, optimistic, adventurous, breath of fresh air.
The main premise of the book is that our church gatherings were meant to be more than simply gatherings where our beliefs are affirmed through a set of songs and a sermon, but rather are meant to be environments where we corporately participate in our faith together, which is far more exciting, compelling, and transformative. The book unpacks how the Practice gatherings (Niequest began in Chicago), attempted to do just that and what elements were involved in reshaping what many of us in modern evangelical churches have come to expect in our weekly gatherings. While this book is not a traditional “how to” kind of book, it is filled with practical application for those looking to incorporate practice oriented elements into your gatherings.
One major highlight of the book for me was the mention of numerous spiritual practices, many of which are ancient, and some that are modern and incredibly innovative. One example of a spiritual practice that I had never heard of is Praying the Examen, a spiritual practice developed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Learning about this practice and many others was exciting and will definitely be incorporated into my faith “tool box”. I love how the author also emphasizes that these practices are meant to be a vibrant part of our faith both individually and corporately.
Another welcomed aspect of the book was the emphasis on what Niequist calls “ecumenical humility”. “Your tradition is most likely deeply good yet is only a part of the story…you have been offered profound gifts as well as profound blind spots” (p. 109). This value celebrates and honors the diversity of the Body of Christ, and leads us to a fuller understanding of not only the global Church, but God Himself.
Here are a few quotes from the book I found especially compelling:
…Jesus was inviting us not primarily into correct beliefs, an eternal destination, or behavior modification but rather into participation in a living, eternally present reality. (p. 12)
If we desire to live in the way of Jesus, we need to expand our worship from being shoulder to shoulder (sitting in an auditorium or sanctuary facing a stage or pulpit) to being face to face. (p. 135)
Saint Ignatius taught his followers to be “contemplatives in action” rather than to concentrate exclusively on contemplation or action. (p. 152)
If the church is not political, it is irrelevant to the world that God so loves. But if the church is partisan, it becomes a tool of the power structures. Being political means we are engaged in how society is organized…We can’t pretend to love our neighbor while we ignore the systemic realities that hurt them. (p. 170)
The Eternal Current is strong on both the philosophy and practice of ministry. It is an amazing resource for those leading church gatherings and for individuals longing to grow deeper in their faith. In addition to the wealth of knowledge and experience that Aaron brings to the table, he also mentions numerous other authors and books which will certainly expand my mind and my Amazon wish list. I highly recommend this book!
The Eternal Current (2018) is written by Aaron Niequist who in 2014 launched a neo-liturgical, ecumenical, practice-based service at Willow Creek in Chicago. He has also created a series of liturgical recordings called A New Liturgy.
Oftentimes when you read books from people who cast a vision for how things could be different in local churches, the author comes off as cynical, bitter, holier than thou, and just plain miserable. This is not the case at all with Niequist. This book is a positive, optimistic, adventurous, breath of fresh air.
The main premise of the book is that our church gatherings were meant to be more than simply gatherings where our beliefs are affirmed through a set of songs and a sermon, but rather are meant to be environments where we corporately participate in our faith together, which is far more exciting, compelling, and transformative. The book unpacks how the Practice gatherings (Niequest began in Chicago), attempted to do just that and what elements were involved in reshaping what many of us in modern evangelical churches have come to expect in our weekly gatherings. While this book is not a traditional “how to” kind of book, it is filled with practical application for those looking to incorporate practice oriented elements into your gatherings.
One major highlight of the book for me was the mention of numerous spiritual practices, many of which are ancient, and some that are modern and incredibly innovative. One example of a spiritual practice that I had never heard of is Praying the Examen, a spiritual practice developed by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Learning about this practice and many others was exciting and will definitely be incorporated into my faith “tool box”. I love how the author also emphasizes that these practices are meant to be a vibrant part of our faith both individually and corporately.
Another welcomed aspect of the book was the emphasis on what Niequist calls “ecumenical humility”. “Your tradition is most likely deeply good yet is only a part of the story…you have been offered profound gifts as well as profound blind spots” (p. 109). This value celebrates and honors the diversity of the Body of Christ, and leads us to a fuller understanding of not only the global Church, but God Himself.
Here are a few quotes from the book I found especially compelling:
…Jesus was inviting us not primarily into correct beliefs, an eternal destination, or behavior modification but rather into participation in a living, eternally present reality. (p. 12)
If we desire to live in the way of Jesus, we need to expand our worship from being shoulder to shoulder (sitting in an auditorium or sanctuary facing a stage or pulpit) to being face to face. (p. 135)
Saint Ignatius taught his followers to be “contemplatives in action” rather than to concentrate exclusively on contemplation or action. (p. 152)
If the church is not political, it is irrelevant to the world that God so loves. But if the church is partisan, it becomes a tool of the power structures. Being political means we are engaged in how society is organized…We can’t pretend to love our neighbor while we ignore the systemic realities that hurt them. (p. 170)
The Eternal Current is strong on both the philosophy and practice of ministry. It is an amazing resource for those leading church gatherings and for individuals longing to grow deeper in their faith. In addition to the wealth of knowledge and experience that Aaron brings to the table, he also mentions numerous other authors and books which will certainly expand my mind and my Amazon wish list. I highly recommend this book!
August 7, 2018
This is a book that made me think, that I want to review/re-read- list quotes that I highlighted- and really process, examine, and enhance how ask God what practices would help me know Him better, not just believing him Him, but living a life that reflects and practices beliefs moment by probably pushes me from really liking it- to finding it amazing. Many books I read seem like a moment, hour by hour, season by season. And that makes it a GREAT book in my mind, and review, or for someone else, but this book the reader is a participant in, and also has a well researched with suggested readings to grow further.
Waterbrook says this about the book:
A call for Christians to move past the shallows of idealized beliefs and into a deeper, more vibrant, beatitude-like faith rooted in sacred practices and intimate experiences with God.
This is what drew me to the book and I was not at all disappointed. As a believer, my hope is that faith is rooted in intimate experiences with God, and that is what this book highlights. And this is what will take time to develop and experience with God. (I highlighted 4 % of the book in a pdf form- that makes is so hard to highlight- it's that good). I'm going to paste some favorite quotes here- to give a picture of some thought provoking statements.
*participate in that eternally flowing good work through practices that allow God’s Spirit to do what only God can do. Grace alone makes the River flow, but we need to wade into the water. Grace alone makes the vine grow, but we need to build the trellis. Grace alone makes the wind blow, but spiritual practices help us humbly open the window, day by day, moment by moment. The invitation is participation. (location 83)
* Location 190 And so we began to experiment with different forms, practices, and ways to worship.
*Location 205 God’s grace drenched us as we stumbled and splashed around with new (old) practices and worship forms. I couldn’t wait to see what was around the corner.
*Location 279 But at the Practice, there is nowhere to hide and it forces me to engage. I’m not sure I always like it, but I know I need it.”
*Location 427
I began to understand that the invitation of Christ has to do with far more than my personal salvation. While I am clearly a sinner and my only hope is Christ, securing a guarantee about my eternal destination did not seem to be Jesus’s central concern.
*Location 445
We cultivate our God-given talents so they can be used to help the whole. We soak in the Scriptures to let God’s story wash over us. We draw close to the poor because Christ is with them in a special way. Discipleship and mission and community no longer sound like optional add-ons but are essential to living fully into the invitation. When we get clear about the full extent of the big story, a practice-based life becomes a tangible way to humbly say yes
*Location 535
Brother Lawrence] thought it was a shame that some people pursued certain activities (which, he noted, they did rather imperfectly due to human shortcomings), mistaking the means for the end. He said that our sanctification does not depend as much on changing our activities as it does on doing them for God rather than for ourselves.
*Location 909
What is the ache that this beatitude addresses? • How do we tend to avoid and distract ourselves from this ache? • What is the kingdom reality that Jesus offers to address this ache? • What practice can help us align our ache with Jesus’s kingdom vision?
* Location 1071
“When you boil it all down, each spiritual discipline is simply a slightly different way to offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice.” It really is that simple . . . and life changing.
*Location 1104
“For the next three to six months, what concrete practices will help me close the gap between my deep longing and my lived reality in terms of my relationships with God, myself, my community, and the world?”
*Location 1218
Ecumenism helps us humbly receive and participate in the full reality of what actually is—so the world might know the One who holds it all together.
*Location 1240
Sabbath keeping, biblical lament, Lectio Divina, praying for the world, washing feet, inductive Bible study, Passing the Peace, the discipline of celebration, and on and on.
*Location 1428
It’s challenging when you realize that almost none of the commands can be fully obeyed in a traditional church gathering. (a comment on we can't live faith alone or only in church!)
Having not having been part of the Practice, when Aaron Niequist (author) talked about the Eternal Current- a river of grace- swimming in the stream-- with these new practices- I admit I had confusion and felt like I might not grasp the book since these analogies seemed pretty generic and vague- and his initial comments about his childhood faith were more critical than my experiences in the same faith based group have been. So I didn't know if these new ideas would be relevant for me. But I love to learn- and I love to read- and my interest was peaked.
After reading the first two chapters I had more questions than answers, and I had no more book... so that was interesting- but when I was able to get the entire book- and continue reading- it all came together, and most importantly, most if not all of the basic terms, concepts, and examples were better defined and explained in subsequent chapters. So my worry was unnecessary.
Each chapter explored a different aspect of learning to live a practice based faith. Aaron shares from his personal experience, reading, exposure through the Practice, and his acquaintances with other faith based leaders, priests, authors, musicians, etc. His embracing diversity and the One Church- the full church universal who all have different styles, traditions, etc but are worshiping the same God, and we can learn from one another.
His call is challenging, complete with volumes of suggested reading if a reader wants to grasp with even more depth the concepts or practices highlighted, but there are also examples, and even some practices given to try immediately. So it is a great way to be exposed and learn how to swim in the eternal current...and I've continued exploring and pondering since I finished my first reading of the book two months ago, and now I have the hard copy to highlight, make notations, and really dig into.
Waterbrook says this about the book:
A call for Christians to move past the shallows of idealized beliefs and into a deeper, more vibrant, beatitude-like faith rooted in sacred practices and intimate experiences with God.
This is what drew me to the book and I was not at all disappointed. As a believer, my hope is that faith is rooted in intimate experiences with God, and that is what this book highlights. And this is what will take time to develop and experience with God. (I highlighted 4 % of the book in a pdf form- that makes is so hard to highlight- it's that good). I'm going to paste some favorite quotes here- to give a picture of some thought provoking statements.
*participate in that eternally flowing good work through practices that allow God’s Spirit to do what only God can do. Grace alone makes the River flow, but we need to wade into the water. Grace alone makes the vine grow, but we need to build the trellis. Grace alone makes the wind blow, but spiritual practices help us humbly open the window, day by day, moment by moment. The invitation is participation. (location 83)
* Location 190 And so we began to experiment with different forms, practices, and ways to worship.
*Location 205 God’s grace drenched us as we stumbled and splashed around with new (old) practices and worship forms. I couldn’t wait to see what was around the corner.
*Location 279 But at the Practice, there is nowhere to hide and it forces me to engage. I’m not sure I always like it, but I know I need it.”
*Location 427
I began to understand that the invitation of Christ has to do with far more than my personal salvation. While I am clearly a sinner and my only hope is Christ, securing a guarantee about my eternal destination did not seem to be Jesus’s central concern.
*Location 445
We cultivate our God-given talents so they can be used to help the whole. We soak in the Scriptures to let God’s story wash over us. We draw close to the poor because Christ is with them in a special way. Discipleship and mission and community no longer sound like optional add-ons but are essential to living fully into the invitation. When we get clear about the full extent of the big story, a practice-based life becomes a tangible way to humbly say yes
*Location 535
Brother Lawrence] thought it was a shame that some people pursued certain activities (which, he noted, they did rather imperfectly due to human shortcomings), mistaking the means for the end. He said that our sanctification does not depend as much on changing our activities as it does on doing them for God rather than for ourselves.
*Location 909
What is the ache that this beatitude addresses? • How do we tend to avoid and distract ourselves from this ache? • What is the kingdom reality that Jesus offers to address this ache? • What practice can help us align our ache with Jesus’s kingdom vision?
* Location 1071
“When you boil it all down, each spiritual discipline is simply a slightly different way to offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice.” It really is that simple . . . and life changing.
*Location 1104
“For the next three to six months, what concrete practices will help me close the gap between my deep longing and my lived reality in terms of my relationships with God, myself, my community, and the world?”
*Location 1218
Ecumenism helps us humbly receive and participate in the full reality of what actually is—so the world might know the One who holds it all together.
*Location 1240
Sabbath keeping, biblical lament, Lectio Divina, praying for the world, washing feet, inductive Bible study, Passing the Peace, the discipline of celebration, and on and on.
*Location 1428
It’s challenging when you realize that almost none of the commands can be fully obeyed in a traditional church gathering. (a comment on we can't live faith alone or only in church!)
Having not having been part of the Practice, when Aaron Niequist (author) talked about the Eternal Current- a river of grace- swimming in the stream-- with these new practices- I admit I had confusion and felt like I might not grasp the book since these analogies seemed pretty generic and vague- and his initial comments about his childhood faith were more critical than my experiences in the same faith based group have been. So I didn't know if these new ideas would be relevant for me. But I love to learn- and I love to read- and my interest was peaked.
After reading the first two chapters I had more questions than answers, and I had no more book... so that was interesting- but when I was able to get the entire book- and continue reading- it all came together, and most importantly, most if not all of the basic terms, concepts, and examples were better defined and explained in subsequent chapters. So my worry was unnecessary.
Each chapter explored a different aspect of learning to live a practice based faith. Aaron shares from his personal experience, reading, exposure through the Practice, and his acquaintances with other faith based leaders, priests, authors, musicians, etc. His embracing diversity and the One Church- the full church universal who all have different styles, traditions, etc but are worshiping the same God, and we can learn from one another.
His call is challenging, complete with volumes of suggested reading if a reader wants to grasp with even more depth the concepts or practices highlighted, but there are also examples, and even some practices given to try immediately. So it is a great way to be exposed and learn how to swim in the eternal current...and I've continued exploring and pondering since I finished my first reading of the book two months ago, and now I have the hard copy to highlight, make notations, and really dig into.
August 13, 2018
I jumped at the chance to read a review copy of The Eternal Current written by Aaron Niequist. It did take me a while to read in the end but that’s only because I misplaced my Kindle for a while. I really think there is so much for us in Northern Ireland to learn from in these pages and also from the experience of The Practice community which Aaron has led and developed over a number of years.
Having followed online the development of The Practice, under the auspices of Willow Creek Community Church, the theme of God’s eternal current was already familiar. The book expands upon the idea that Christ’s invitation to swim in the current is for us all, no matter who we are and the ways in which we may be hesitating. He asks us to join him in the deep waters of his grace and love, to not just dip our toes or wade knee deep but to swim with him.
It challenges us to assess where exactly we are right now as individuals and also as faith communities. If we’re just standing on the shores of the eternal current, we are missing out on so much as is the rest of the world because as Aaron explains, faith is not only about theological belief but about how we can participate in God’s Kingdom in practice, here and now for the sake of the world.
‘Through Christ, we get to join the redemption and restoration of all things.’
This book encourages us to be brave and to look beyond the boundaries of our own church walls and denominations, to not be afraid to learn from the historic practices of the church that have been set aside, to re-engage with spiritual disciplines that will hopefully help us to swim closer to Christ and join him in the work of the Kingdom here.
There is much of Aaron’s personal spiritual journey and of The Practice community that would surely resonate here at home in Northern Ireland, where there are also deep religious divisions and suspicions.
A book such as this can help us find the courage to swim further into the eternal current without fear and to be more open. I would recommend this book to anyone who might want to explore new ways of pushing deeper into faith, of practising, not just believing. There are also lots of other books and resources mentioned that can be investigated and which sound interesting. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea though, as we like to say but I for one give it a loud round of applause.
Having followed online the development of The Practice, under the auspices of Willow Creek Community Church, the theme of God’s eternal current was already familiar. The book expands upon the idea that Christ’s invitation to swim in the current is for us all, no matter who we are and the ways in which we may be hesitating. He asks us to join him in the deep waters of his grace and love, to not just dip our toes or wade knee deep but to swim with him.
It challenges us to assess where exactly we are right now as individuals and also as faith communities. If we’re just standing on the shores of the eternal current, we are missing out on so much as is the rest of the world because as Aaron explains, faith is not only about theological belief but about how we can participate in God’s Kingdom in practice, here and now for the sake of the world.
‘Through Christ, we get to join the redemption and restoration of all things.’
This book encourages us to be brave and to look beyond the boundaries of our own church walls and denominations, to not be afraid to learn from the historic practices of the church that have been set aside, to re-engage with spiritual disciplines that will hopefully help us to swim closer to Christ and join him in the work of the Kingdom here.
There is much of Aaron’s personal spiritual journey and of The Practice community that would surely resonate here at home in Northern Ireland, where there are also deep religious divisions and suspicions.
A book such as this can help us find the courage to swim further into the eternal current without fear and to be more open. I would recommend this book to anyone who might want to explore new ways of pushing deeper into faith, of practising, not just believing. There are also lots of other books and resources mentioned that can be investigated and which sound interesting. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea though, as we like to say but I for one give it a loud round of applause.
January 22, 2019
I listened to Aaron Niequist read the audiobook, (thanks, hoopla!) and it's very good in this format. Since I know I retain more from reading a hard copy, I will probably buy the "book-book," and be more easily able to flip around to sections I'd like to consider some more.
This book is thoughtful, humble, hopeful, and I was encouraged and challenged.
Sometimes it was like listening to a kid who just discovered or learned about some long-standing thing like gravity - they're so excited to explain it to you and feel like it's brand new for everyone. Maybe sometimes those of us who have known these things or at least been familiar with them, such as ancient spiritual formation practices, can be re-energized by someone else's fresh understanding of and new exposure to them.
This book is thoughtful, humble, hopeful, and I was encouraged and challenged.
Sometimes it was like listening to a kid who just discovered or learned about some long-standing thing like gravity - they're so excited to explain it to you and feel like it's brand new for everyone. Maybe sometimes those of us who have known these things or at least been familiar with them, such as ancient spiritual formation practices, can be re-energized by someone else's fresh understanding of and new exposure to them.
August 5, 2018
After arriving home from my trip to Korea this book was waiting for me and I couldn't wait to start reading it.
Merely one chapter into the book and I'm hooked. I think Aaron embodies and speaks for many in this season of the church at large. His representation of Jesus' invitation to join God in His kingdom is refreshing. A move from only belief to full participation in the stream of God's goodness is inspiring and encouraging.
As I read more I'll update my review.
I highly recommend any pastor, church leader and follower of Jesus to read this book for encouragement, inspiration and understanding of the heart of what is going on in the hearts of many people today.
Merely one chapter into the book and I'm hooked. I think Aaron embodies and speaks for many in this season of the church at large. His representation of Jesus' invitation to join God in His kingdom is refreshing. A move from only belief to full participation in the stream of God's goodness is inspiring and encouraging.
As I read more I'll update my review.
I highly recommend any pastor, church leader and follower of Jesus to read this book for encouragement, inspiration and understanding of the heart of what is going on in the hearts of many people today.
August 5, 2018
If you want to plunge into a refreshing current to sweep you towards Jesus, this book is for you.
April 5, 2019
This is such a thoughtful, well-researched, and well-lived book. It echoed a lot of ideas I've sensed in my own faith walk for the past decade, but said much better! Other similar books are Sacred Pathways (Gary Thomas), and The Sacred Way (Tony Jones) if you're looking for other helpful books to read after this one!
November 22, 2020
This book is a must read. It 100% spoke my language and sparked something dormant in my heart. The old/new approach to church and faith and life is sorely needed in our country. I wish I lived in Chicago so I could attend the Practice. I will read this book multiple times, along with many of the books he references in it.
May 3, 2020
Beautifully articulates so many of the steps along the journey to spiritual reformation I’ve experienced. Wish I had found this 10 years ago! (Not sure I would have been ready to read it with an open mind and heart before then)
April 22, 2019
There were concepts that I loved and needed to hear, but I was a little turned off by the amount of quotes/suggested reading from others. See full review at: http://mandigrasmeyer.com/book-review...
July 24, 2018
This is a book I'm sure I'll be revisiting repeatedly over the next few years. Practical, yet descriptive rather than prescriptive, Aaron Niequist details his own movement from a beliefs-based faith to a practice-based one and how that led to, among other things, the creation of The Practice, an ecumenical, liturgical service. An evangelical worship leader, Niequist discovered, and invites the reader into, the depth and beauty of historic Christian practices, disciplines, and liturgy. Chapter by chapter, he walks the reader through what a practice-based faith can look like, both individually and for our church communities. With a much-needed reminder that the American evangelical perspective is only one slice of the pie, he describes learning from and embracing the best parts of a variety of Christian traditions. And all of it is offered up with the expressed goal of following Jesus and entering into the Kingdom of God, embracing the 'here' and the longing for the 'not yet'.
August 30, 2018
I've been following along with Aaron's work for a long time now, watching the evolution of his "New Liturgy" projects, the founding of The Practice Gathering, and seeing him wrestle with these deep questions discovering a faith that is lived, breathed, swam in. Rather than simply relying on "believing the right things" or being good "thinking things", this book is an invitation to get out of the boat or off the shore and begin to experience, engage, and practice the faith.
What Aaron does in The Eternal Current is so helpful. He pulls back the curtain on the high-functioning, high-production, high-hype ways we have been trying to approach church and helps us root back into the simple ways of prayer, scripture reading, and eating at the table as a church. I'm so glad this book is out and in the hands of the church of today, as I believe this is our way forward -- a practice-based, lived faith. Thanks Aaron!
What Aaron does in The Eternal Current is so helpful. He pulls back the curtain on the high-functioning, high-production, high-hype ways we have been trying to approach church and helps us root back into the simple ways of prayer, scripture reading, and eating at the table as a church. I'm so glad this book is out and in the hands of the church of today, as I believe this is our way forward -- a practice-based, lived faith. Thanks Aaron!
March 8, 2019
Aaron puts flesh on a bunch of things I've been feeling in my own walk with Jesus and tensions I've been feeling as I lead a church. This book is truly an invitation, and I left feeling excited about the possibilities of a deeper and richer practice of faith.
August 19, 2023
This book argues for a return to liturgical worship, mainly due to an experience that the author had in a liturgical worship service that he thought was pretty cool.
In the book, we are never told why we should have a defined liturgy, other than that it was beneficial to the author when he was in a dark place, spiritually speaking. We are never told what a liturgy should consist of, outside of practicing the Examen, breathing prayers, Lectio Divinia, and reading from the book of common prayer - beyond this the author encourages us to take “Holy risks” which essentially means make it up as you go along, just make sure it isn’t unholy.
It reminds me of one of Douglas Wilson’s critique about men like Aaron Niequist and churches in the Baptist and non-denominational congregations, who rightly recognize the need for a defined liturgy, but while implicitly knowing that something is missing, they begin to fill it with everything. They pull from both Protestant and Catholic traditions, creating a smorgasbord of liturgical practices that emulated everyone but practiced by no one.
At the end of the day, whether Aaron and others like him recognize it or not, they already had a liturgy. They were following their liturgy before they began making up a new one. I think this book would blow the minds of a lot of evangelicals who don’t recognize they have a liturgy and when they read this book would begin to take “Holy risks” and make up another version, thinking that they are being theologically avant-garde or something.
It should also be noted that couched between the liturgical arguments are a lot of just horribly worded statements that teeter on the lines of orthodoxy, some paragraphs and even whole pages that look like the author just interpreted scripture based on a whim. And then some oddly placed arguments for social justice and racial diversity in the church to match the diversity of the liturgy in the church. The whole book is just a complete dog’s breakfast.
In the book, we are never told why we should have a defined liturgy, other than that it was beneficial to the author when he was in a dark place, spiritually speaking. We are never told what a liturgy should consist of, outside of practicing the Examen, breathing prayers, Lectio Divinia, and reading from the book of common prayer - beyond this the author encourages us to take “Holy risks” which essentially means make it up as you go along, just make sure it isn’t unholy.
It reminds me of one of Douglas Wilson’s critique about men like Aaron Niequist and churches in the Baptist and non-denominational congregations, who rightly recognize the need for a defined liturgy, but while implicitly knowing that something is missing, they begin to fill it with everything. They pull from both Protestant and Catholic traditions, creating a smorgasbord of liturgical practices that emulated everyone but practiced by no one.
At the end of the day, whether Aaron and others like him recognize it or not, they already had a liturgy. They were following their liturgy before they began making up a new one. I think this book would blow the minds of a lot of evangelicals who don’t recognize they have a liturgy and when they read this book would begin to take “Holy risks” and make up another version, thinking that they are being theologically avant-garde or something.
It should also be noted that couched between the liturgical arguments are a lot of just horribly worded statements that teeter on the lines of orthodoxy, some paragraphs and even whole pages that look like the author just interpreted scripture based on a whim. And then some oddly placed arguments for social justice and racial diversity in the church to match the diversity of the liturgy in the church. The whole book is just a complete dog’s breakfast.
August 7, 2018
I am grateful to Aaron Niequist for his good work on "The Eternal Current" to make this important, life-changing content available. Like Aaron, I was raised in a tradition that felt it had the exclusive path to salvation and was devoid of a liturgy in Sunday morning gatherings. I am excited to learn what a practice based faith looks like and to share this knowledge with others.
I resonate with Aaron's words about the book.
I resonate with Aaron's words about the book.
For a long time, all the tension and division surrounding the modern Church left me feeling spiritually empty. I kept thinking, "God must have a grander vision for worship and community than what we're settling for." This sparked a journey that led me back to some of the Church's ancient practices many of us have forgotten, ones that unified much more than divided. Could it be that the "practice-based" faith of the past is actually the key to unlocking the Church's future? By adopting some of these spiritual practices, I'm convinced we can all learn to swim again with a renewed sense of peace, unity, and divine purpose.
June 17, 2018
I was challenged to think about spiritual practices in my own life, why I do what u do and what I might do beyond those practices to draw closer to God. There was also a challenge to consider what the church is doing and what it can do to help the people in the pews to live the life God desires from them.
That said, I think the more might have come if one or the other had been the focus. Possibly even two major sections one for each thought. Following the two major sections a concluding section of how the church could encourage new, old, ways of thinking and practice might have been helpful.
While not the perfect book, it is definitely a good read with some insightful ideas to help focus the church and individuals into a more thoughtful style of living for the God who calls us into a relationship with Himself.
That said, I think the more might have come if one or the other had been the focus. Possibly even two major sections one for each thought. Following the two major sections a concluding section of how the church could encourage new, old, ways of thinking and practice might have been helpful.
While not the perfect book, it is definitely a good read with some insightful ideas to help focus the church and individuals into a more thoughtful style of living for the God who calls us into a relationship with Himself.
January 30, 2019
"Jesus didn't merely invite us to believe about the River. He didn't say, 'Here is the truth. Believe me.' He declared, 'I am the truth. Follow me.'" (p2)
"Although I had been a Christian most of my life, this was the first time I had heard teaching on the subject that Jesus devoted much of his teaching to. Jesus's primary message in the Gospels is the kingdom of God, but for some reason my tradition had avoided the topic entirely." (p12)
"Further, no matter where you sit, you are looking at the faces of the other half of the community. This is beautiful, unnerving, and intimate. A friend commented after a worship gathering, 'At many churches, i can show up and hide. it doesn't cost me anything to attend. But at the Practice, there is nowhere to hide and it forces me to engage. I'm not sure I always like it, but I know I need it." (p23)
"Physical space is not neutral. The room itself preaches. The container shapes everything we place inside it, for good or for bad." (p24)
"...humans are not fundamentally thinking beings. We're not even primarily believing beings, but at our core, he wrote, we are 'defined fundamentally by love.' So schools, teachers, and churches that try to change people by giving them information fail to address the core issue: we become what we love. The path of change involves redirecting our love toward a different object, not filling our heads with ideas. This redirection primarily happens through participating in certain formative practices." (p27)
"Would you take a moment to notice the way(s) you are most likely to get entangled and drowned by sin? Especially when you are afraid, exhausted, or disappointed, what sin or 'self-medication' do you find most enticing?" (p105)
"The problem is, I don't believe that either desire (a place to study Scriptures or a place to be known) should be the goal of a community. The goal should be learning to swim with Christ for the sake of the world. This involves putting Jesus's words into practice, not merely belonging to a group where we talk about them. The goal should be obeying Jesus's words, not simply studying them." (p133).
"When we pray 'through Christ' we are praying through the Body of Christ, which then includes Jesus, the Eucharist, and the body of believers (ourselves) here on earth. We are praying through all of these. Thus, not only God in heaven is being petitioned and asked to act. We are also charging ourselves, as part of the Body of Christ, with some responsibility for answering the prayer. To pray as a Christian demands concrete involvement in trying to bring about what is pleaded for in prayer." (p138)
"When we celebrate the liturgical year at home - diving deep into the lessons learned and wisdom shared by the people of God - we find a wealth of support, encouragement, and solidarity. The liturgical calendar helps us to remain tender to the continuing needs of humanity and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit." (p142)
"So my advice to anyone trying the Advent wreath or any other new home[based] faith practice is this: keep going. Don't stop because it was hard one time. Don't stop because it was hard nine times. Keep trying. It will click. Also remember, just because [the kids] grumble or act like they don't like it, [that] doesn't mean it isn't doing the formation work it needs to. A lot of kids don't like brushing their teeth either." (p144)
"I'm beginning to realize that every Sunday, as white American evangelicals, we accidentally but actively form one-sided people. Our songs are primarily triumphant and often animated by an undercurrent of 'us vs them.' The sermons tend to avoid ambiguity and doubt and [instead] focus on ways to defend our rightness against the wrongness of others. Our services avoid silence, lament and self-reflection at all costs. And we've eliminated most of the spiritual practices that make people feel uncomfortable - confession, praying for our enemies, and so on - which tend to be what God uses to break us out of our smaller stories." (p150)
"The spiritual life is not the Ford Motor Company assembly line. Instead, the Eternal Current is a beautifully messy journey experienced through interconnected people, practices and lenses...We engage the spiritual life a spiral through three interrelated postures: beliefs, action, and reflection/prayer. Our beliefs propel us into tangible action that creates an experience - both inside us and in the outside world. We humbly bring this experience to God in reflection and prayer, receiving God's perspective, healing and strength. Once grounded in God's grace and power, we are propelled back into the world through actions, which continues the spiral. As we grow in Christ, the spiral gets tighter and tighter, sewing action and contemplation into a seamless garment and drawing us closer to the heart of God." (p152)
"As an introvert, continue with centering prayer and journaling, but also show up once a week at a homeless shelter. Your prayers will deepen tremendously as you engage Christ in the other. If you are a natural activist, keep serving. But also structure consistent times of silence, introspection and prayer. You will have so much more to give to the world if you show up with a vibrant and grounded soul." (p155)
"Actively pray for and show love to the people in your life who drive you crazy. God is redeeming and restoring all things. That includes our most difficult and broken relationships. We can't participate in the healing God wants to bring 'out there' if we're unwilling to participate in the healing God wants to bring to our most intimate stories, relationships and wounds." (p158)
"Father Michael, he taught me a simple forgiveness practice. Here it is:
- In God's presence, name to God all the things that bother you about that person
- Pause and listen
- In God's presence, name to God all the things that you imagine bother that person about you
- Pause and listen
- IN God's presence, ask God to bless that person - his or her life, family, marriage, vocation, health and so forth
- Pause and listen
- IN God's presence, ask God to truly bless you.
- Pause and Listen (p161)
"Those of us who try to swim with Christ need to ask, 'Do our liturgies (songs, prayers, and practices) help us see God's work in the other, especially those on the outside or underside of power, or do they deepen the us-versus-them narrative that reinforces the idea that we are right and 'they' are wrong?'" (p165)
"Jesus approached people as the deeply loved daughters and sons they are and offered the word each needed. Jesus was the master at comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. He held his priestly role and prophetic role in holy and constructive tension." (p167)
"If the church is not political, it is irrelevant to the world that God so loves. But if the church is partisan, it becomes a tool of the power structures." (p170)
"...one of my friends asked Dr. Bilezikian, 'Dr. B., what do you think would happen if Jesus walked into Jerusalem today?' The eighty-five-year-old educator, theologian, and mentor to many closed his eyes for a moment and finally whispered in his thick French accent, 'Jesus would probably do now what he did then: take care of the poor, speak truth to power, and get himself killed.' May we go and do likewise." (p172)
"When I was about eight years old, I was walking with my dad in our backyard and proudly announced, 'Dad, when I grow up, I want to be just like you.' ... I can still see the loving way he looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes as he replied, 'Aaron, I hope you're ten times the man I am.' Now that is a springboard legacy for a kid." (p176-177)
"What are the practices - ancient and new- that form us into Christlikeness for the sake of the world? What are the practices - of both memory and imagination - that help us swim in God's Eternal Current?" (p179)
"What is one practice of memory that can anchor you to the great story of God throughout history? How can you continue learning from the wisdom of those who swam with God before you?" (p179)
"What is one practice of imagination that will open you to the new things God wants to do in and through you? How can you clear space and make freedom for new life to be born?" (p179)
My summary of the book: Come deeper. Swim Daily. In the Eternal Current.
"Although I had been a Christian most of my life, this was the first time I had heard teaching on the subject that Jesus devoted much of his teaching to. Jesus's primary message in the Gospels is the kingdom of God, but for some reason my tradition had avoided the topic entirely." (p12)
"Further, no matter where you sit, you are looking at the faces of the other half of the community. This is beautiful, unnerving, and intimate. A friend commented after a worship gathering, 'At many churches, i can show up and hide. it doesn't cost me anything to attend. But at the Practice, there is nowhere to hide and it forces me to engage. I'm not sure I always like it, but I know I need it." (p23)
"Physical space is not neutral. The room itself preaches. The container shapes everything we place inside it, for good or for bad." (p24)
"...humans are not fundamentally thinking beings. We're not even primarily believing beings, but at our core, he wrote, we are 'defined fundamentally by love.' So schools, teachers, and churches that try to change people by giving them information fail to address the core issue: we become what we love. The path of change involves redirecting our love toward a different object, not filling our heads with ideas. This redirection primarily happens through participating in certain formative practices." (p27)
"Would you take a moment to notice the way(s) you are most likely to get entangled and drowned by sin? Especially when you are afraid, exhausted, or disappointed, what sin or 'self-medication' do you find most enticing?" (p105)
"The problem is, I don't believe that either desire (a place to study Scriptures or a place to be known) should be the goal of a community. The goal should be learning to swim with Christ for the sake of the world. This involves putting Jesus's words into practice, not merely belonging to a group where we talk about them. The goal should be obeying Jesus's words, not simply studying them." (p133).
"When we pray 'through Christ' we are praying through the Body of Christ, which then includes Jesus, the Eucharist, and the body of believers (ourselves) here on earth. We are praying through all of these. Thus, not only God in heaven is being petitioned and asked to act. We are also charging ourselves, as part of the Body of Christ, with some responsibility for answering the prayer. To pray as a Christian demands concrete involvement in trying to bring about what is pleaded for in prayer." (p138)
"When we celebrate the liturgical year at home - diving deep into the lessons learned and wisdom shared by the people of God - we find a wealth of support, encouragement, and solidarity. The liturgical calendar helps us to remain tender to the continuing needs of humanity and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit." (p142)
"So my advice to anyone trying the Advent wreath or any other new home[based] faith practice is this: keep going. Don't stop because it was hard one time. Don't stop because it was hard nine times. Keep trying. It will click. Also remember, just because [the kids] grumble or act like they don't like it, [that] doesn't mean it isn't doing the formation work it needs to. A lot of kids don't like brushing their teeth either." (p144)
"I'm beginning to realize that every Sunday, as white American evangelicals, we accidentally but actively form one-sided people. Our songs are primarily triumphant and often animated by an undercurrent of 'us vs them.' The sermons tend to avoid ambiguity and doubt and [instead] focus on ways to defend our rightness against the wrongness of others. Our services avoid silence, lament and self-reflection at all costs. And we've eliminated most of the spiritual practices that make people feel uncomfortable - confession, praying for our enemies, and so on - which tend to be what God uses to break us out of our smaller stories." (p150)
"The spiritual life is not the Ford Motor Company assembly line. Instead, the Eternal Current is a beautifully messy journey experienced through interconnected people, practices and lenses...We engage the spiritual life a spiral through three interrelated postures: beliefs, action, and reflection/prayer. Our beliefs propel us into tangible action that creates an experience - both inside us and in the outside world. We humbly bring this experience to God in reflection and prayer, receiving God's perspective, healing and strength. Once grounded in God's grace and power, we are propelled back into the world through actions, which continues the spiral. As we grow in Christ, the spiral gets tighter and tighter, sewing action and contemplation into a seamless garment and drawing us closer to the heart of God." (p152)
"As an introvert, continue with centering prayer and journaling, but also show up once a week at a homeless shelter. Your prayers will deepen tremendously as you engage Christ in the other. If you are a natural activist, keep serving. But also structure consistent times of silence, introspection and prayer. You will have so much more to give to the world if you show up with a vibrant and grounded soul." (p155)
"Actively pray for and show love to the people in your life who drive you crazy. God is redeeming and restoring all things. That includes our most difficult and broken relationships. We can't participate in the healing God wants to bring 'out there' if we're unwilling to participate in the healing God wants to bring to our most intimate stories, relationships and wounds." (p158)
"Father Michael, he taught me a simple forgiveness practice. Here it is:
- In God's presence, name to God all the things that bother you about that person
- Pause and listen
- In God's presence, name to God all the things that you imagine bother that person about you
- Pause and listen
- IN God's presence, ask God to bless that person - his or her life, family, marriage, vocation, health and so forth
- Pause and listen
- IN God's presence, ask God to truly bless you.
- Pause and Listen (p161)
"Those of us who try to swim with Christ need to ask, 'Do our liturgies (songs, prayers, and practices) help us see God's work in the other, especially those on the outside or underside of power, or do they deepen the us-versus-them narrative that reinforces the idea that we are right and 'they' are wrong?'" (p165)
"Jesus approached people as the deeply loved daughters and sons they are and offered the word each needed. Jesus was the master at comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. He held his priestly role and prophetic role in holy and constructive tension." (p167)
"If the church is not political, it is irrelevant to the world that God so loves. But if the church is partisan, it becomes a tool of the power structures." (p170)
"...one of my friends asked Dr. Bilezikian, 'Dr. B., what do you think would happen if Jesus walked into Jerusalem today?' The eighty-five-year-old educator, theologian, and mentor to many closed his eyes for a moment and finally whispered in his thick French accent, 'Jesus would probably do now what he did then: take care of the poor, speak truth to power, and get himself killed.' May we go and do likewise." (p172)
"When I was about eight years old, I was walking with my dad in our backyard and proudly announced, 'Dad, when I grow up, I want to be just like you.' ... I can still see the loving way he looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes as he replied, 'Aaron, I hope you're ten times the man I am.' Now that is a springboard legacy for a kid." (p176-177)
"What are the practices - ancient and new- that form us into Christlikeness for the sake of the world? What are the practices - of both memory and imagination - that help us swim in God's Eternal Current?" (p179)
"What is one practice of memory that can anchor you to the great story of God throughout history? How can you continue learning from the wisdom of those who swam with God before you?" (p179)
"What is one practice of imagination that will open you to the new things God wants to do in and through you? How can you clear space and make freedom for new life to be born?" (p179)
My summary of the book: Come deeper. Swim Daily. In the Eternal Current.
August 6, 2018
If you're someone who feels disequilibrium with the church as an institution, or if you're wondering why you feel burned out from church, this is the book for you. If you still desire to grow with other people who love Jesus and want to experience more of the Kingdom of God, this is the book for you. I know I'm all of those things. This book was for me.
Aaron Niequist (yes, husband to Shauna) shares some of his own spiritual journey in these pages. As someone who thought it was enough to give up fun and believe the right things, he talks openly about how incredibly painful it was to feel like he was losing his faith in a dark season. He says he was missing the invitation to be part of the richness of the real rest and freedom that come from actively participating in the work Jesus is doing.
One of the things I deeply loved about this book was that it wasn't all talk. Aaron shares incredibly tangible practices, both for a community to engage in and as an individual. Whether he's sharing about his experience with leading a community of believers, or the ways he's brought litgury into his family or his own time with the Lord, I was so encouraged at getting to truly see what practices are feeding his soul. Aaron speaks of adding tools to the toolbox of faith of each Jesus follower. The goal is not just to have a good church service. The goal is to empower and help the members of this community beyond Sunday, in engaging with their REAL life; everything from a toddler's tantrum to forgiving a family member. I felt excited and empowered as the vision was shared for Christian living beyond church walls, where the church trusts its members to hear from the Lord while offering them tools for their growth. (Aaron has an excellent section describing the difference between a church for the people and a church of the people.)
How I celebrated his encouragement to learn from other faith traditions within Christianity, and the wisdom to be found from other practices. It felt so humble and beautiful to be reminded of what different aspects of spiritual formation each tradition tends to be drawn to, and what we can learn from them. I felt heartened by his words on the diversity that is found within the church as a whole. But they weren't just words. My heart felt so full to hear Aaron share about his church family who represented the full spectrum of political stances, and how they chose to pray for Trump together after his inaguration.
"No political party if fully aligned with God's kingdom, and we need to find a way to engage the full reality of society without selling out to one side. This is incredibly difficult, and I'll be the first to say that I don't do it perfectly. But we can't give up. The world desperately needs a brave and humble "third way." May God be gracious as we stumble forward--three steps forward and two steps back--into humble and meaningful engagement with the world that God so loves." (170)
I'm so grateful for this book and the way Aaron is offering practice-based tools and hope for the church. A for me.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.
Aaron Niequist (yes, husband to Shauna) shares some of his own spiritual journey in these pages. As someone who thought it was enough to give up fun and believe the right things, he talks openly about how incredibly painful it was to feel like he was losing his faith in a dark season. He says he was missing the invitation to be part of the richness of the real rest and freedom that come from actively participating in the work Jesus is doing.
One of the things I deeply loved about this book was that it wasn't all talk. Aaron shares incredibly tangible practices, both for a community to engage in and as an individual. Whether he's sharing about his experience with leading a community of believers, or the ways he's brought litgury into his family or his own time with the Lord, I was so encouraged at getting to truly see what practices are feeding his soul. Aaron speaks of adding tools to the toolbox of faith of each Jesus follower. The goal is not just to have a good church service. The goal is to empower and help the members of this community beyond Sunday, in engaging with their REAL life; everything from a toddler's tantrum to forgiving a family member. I felt excited and empowered as the vision was shared for Christian living beyond church walls, where the church trusts its members to hear from the Lord while offering them tools for their growth. (Aaron has an excellent section describing the difference between a church for the people and a church of the people.)
How I celebrated his encouragement to learn from other faith traditions within Christianity, and the wisdom to be found from other practices. It felt so humble and beautiful to be reminded of what different aspects of spiritual formation each tradition tends to be drawn to, and what we can learn from them. I felt heartened by his words on the diversity that is found within the church as a whole. But they weren't just words. My heart felt so full to hear Aaron share about his church family who represented the full spectrum of political stances, and how they chose to pray for Trump together after his inaguration.
"No political party if fully aligned with God's kingdom, and we need to find a way to engage the full reality of society without selling out to one side. This is incredibly difficult, and I'll be the first to say that I don't do it perfectly. But we can't give up. The world desperately needs a brave and humble "third way." May God be gracious as we stumble forward--three steps forward and two steps back--into humble and meaningful engagement with the world that God so loves." (170)
I'm so grateful for this book and the way Aaron is offering practice-based tools and hope for the church. A for me.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher. My opinions are my own.
May 13, 2023
I didn't realize I had put this on my tbr list in June of 2018. I finally read it here in 2023 after a friend gave it a glowing recommendation. I agree with my friend: 5 hearts, 5 stars. I briefly stumbled in reading when I found out who Niequist's in-law is; however, I don't know Niequist personally, and I'm rating the book on the writing alone.
Niequist describes innovative practice -- the Practice church and some additional spiritual formation practices / disciplines -- as well as describing both ancient church practices and some practices that were re-introduced to the body of Christ through Dallas Willard and Richard Foster's writings (among others and also through Renovare Institute around 1991). Richard Rohr's quote on the book cover is accurate: "An impassioned call to move beyond spiritual observation into divine participations".
One reader (who still did give the book 3 stars) feels James K.A. Smith's 'You Are What You Love' does a better job with the topic of Niequist's book (Niequist's subtitle as the topic: "How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us From Drowning"). I read Smith's book when it first came out, loved it, gave lots of stars to it, have recommended it...but...it's not the same. I like both books. I would recommend both books; however, if a reader can only go with one and prefers more hands on ideas, more practices to try, more vernacular and a little less philosophical notes, I would go with Niequist. Certainly go for both if you're willing. I'd say they complement one another. Smith's book changed my mind; Niequist's book, I won't say "changed" because I had already started down this path, rather "enhanced" my actions and practices (and also left me longing for a *Practice church). For others who have not started the spiritual formation journey, this book could be a life changer.
Niequist also quotes from a vast majority of my favorite spiritual formation writers (Willard, Smith, Ortberg, Wright, Rohr, Lawrence, Scazzero, Barton, Benner, Peterson) and gives a host of others new to me that I'm eager to read (Holmes, Van Postal, Rah, Rolheiser, Heuertz, Hoang, Anzaldúa among others).
Would my mother read it? Maybe? She definitely wouldn't get through James K.A. Smith's book, but I wish she would give this book a try. But, then, she didn't really get into James B. Smith's books, and I truly feel the books of JBS are accessible and as accessible as this Niequist book.
Just read the back cover and this statement is also accurate: "'The Eternal Current' offers a vision and set of concrete practices for a deeper, more vibrant, beatitude-like faith rooted in sacred memory and holy imagination."
* A Practice church is not one that expects non-stop good works and leaves everyone tired, weary and overworked. It is a church that does not focus on super star preachers and music leaders or a one hour lecture once a week to fill one's head with knowledge and belief. Instead, it focuses on "how can we practice this (what we learned, know, and believe)". Does this practice lead us closer to loving God and loving others or farther away (or does nothing)?
Niequist describes innovative practice -- the Practice church and some additional spiritual formation practices / disciplines -- as well as describing both ancient church practices and some practices that were re-introduced to the body of Christ through Dallas Willard and Richard Foster's writings (among others and also through Renovare Institute around 1991). Richard Rohr's quote on the book cover is accurate: "An impassioned call to move beyond spiritual observation into divine participations".
One reader (who still did give the book 3 stars) feels James K.A. Smith's 'You Are What You Love' does a better job with the topic of Niequist's book (Niequist's subtitle as the topic: "How a Practice-Based Faith Can Save Us From Drowning"). I read Smith's book when it first came out, loved it, gave lots of stars to it, have recommended it...but...it's not the same. I like both books. I would recommend both books; however, if a reader can only go with one and prefers more hands on ideas, more practices to try, more vernacular and a little less philosophical notes, I would go with Niequist. Certainly go for both if you're willing. I'd say they complement one another. Smith's book changed my mind; Niequist's book, I won't say "changed" because I had already started down this path, rather "enhanced" my actions and practices (and also left me longing for a *Practice church). For others who have not started the spiritual formation journey, this book could be a life changer.
Niequist also quotes from a vast majority of my favorite spiritual formation writers (Willard, Smith, Ortberg, Wright, Rohr, Lawrence, Scazzero, Barton, Benner, Peterson) and gives a host of others new to me that I'm eager to read (Holmes, Van Postal, Rah, Rolheiser, Heuertz, Hoang, Anzaldúa among others).
Would my mother read it? Maybe? She definitely wouldn't get through James K.A. Smith's book, but I wish she would give this book a try. But, then, she didn't really get into James B. Smith's books, and I truly feel the books of JBS are accessible and as accessible as this Niequist book.
Just read the back cover and this statement is also accurate: "'The Eternal Current' offers a vision and set of concrete practices for a deeper, more vibrant, beatitude-like faith rooted in sacred memory and holy imagination."
* A Practice church is not one that expects non-stop good works and leaves everyone tired, weary and overworked. It is a church that does not focus on super star preachers and music leaders or a one hour lecture once a week to fill one's head with knowledge and belief. Instead, it focuses on "how can we practice this (what we learned, know, and believe)". Does this practice lead us closer to loving God and loving others or farther away (or does nothing)?
October 5, 2018
Good read! I thought this book was an encouraging and challenging read about studying beyond our own denominational and theological camps and learning from the wider Kingdom of God in spiritual practice and engagement. Even from a Reformed perspective, although there are small quibbles of disagreement that I had with the book, I thought the emphasis on liturgy and studying Church history was refreshing.
The following are my “quibbles” with the book:
I wish the book would have relied a bit more on the Scriptures and how those practices have impacted the Church historically. Church history is important but even as a Protestant the question should be: “What does Scripture say about spiritual practices?” The book almost assumes you have an understanding of biblical spiritual disciplines, but that shouldn’t be a case. The few practices he cited did have limited Scripture references but I really desired to see a stronger biblical precedent.
I wish there was more information regarding spiritual practices from Church history in general. I was surprised that only a couple were mentioned and with limited clarification on why they should be utilized. I understand that this book seems to be more of an introductory level so the reader gets their feet wet and has plenty of additional readings referenced in the book.
I wish he would of recognized strong Protestant Puritan traditions that have a high-church liturgy and rich tradition of spiritual practices. I’ll be the first to say that Reformed denominations are not always known by their spiritual discipline and lifestyles, but historic Puritan Protestantism is full of it. It seems the author has mostly a ‘charismatic’ and ‘modern-pragmatical church’ figures in mind for his ‘Protestant’ audience and assumes only Protestant Anglican or Roman Catholics have a high-church liturgy and rich tradition of spiritual practices. It’s a shame if that’s the case, but maybe he’s just trying to get people to reach even further outside their theological comfort zones?
The things I loved about the book are his insistence on spiritual discipline individually, as a church body, and engaging the world for Jesus. I think the general theme of the book is worth reading for Christians who find themselves stagnant in their spiritual walk and honestly are tired of shallow, non-practical ‘relationship religion’ that doesn’t feel like a loving relationship and doesn’t reflect genuine religion of faith. We are called to pursue and engage God holistically and reverently in sacred space, and I think Niequist does a good job in carrying the reader to see Christianity in its biblical experience.
All in all, I found the book really helpful and motivating. A book that causes you to stop and think is a book worth reading — regardless if you agree or disagree in the end (although I generally agree with the author).
The following are my “quibbles” with the book:
I wish the book would have relied a bit more on the Scriptures and how those practices have impacted the Church historically. Church history is important but even as a Protestant the question should be: “What does Scripture say about spiritual practices?” The book almost assumes you have an understanding of biblical spiritual disciplines, but that shouldn’t be a case. The few practices he cited did have limited Scripture references but I really desired to see a stronger biblical precedent.
I wish there was more information regarding spiritual practices from Church history in general. I was surprised that only a couple were mentioned and with limited clarification on why they should be utilized. I understand that this book seems to be more of an introductory level so the reader gets their feet wet and has plenty of additional readings referenced in the book.
I wish he would of recognized strong Protestant Puritan traditions that have a high-church liturgy and rich tradition of spiritual practices. I’ll be the first to say that Reformed denominations are not always known by their spiritual discipline and lifestyles, but historic Puritan Protestantism is full of it. It seems the author has mostly a ‘charismatic’ and ‘modern-pragmatical church’ figures in mind for his ‘Protestant’ audience and assumes only Protestant Anglican or Roman Catholics have a high-church liturgy and rich tradition of spiritual practices. It’s a shame if that’s the case, but maybe he’s just trying to get people to reach even further outside their theological comfort zones?
The things I loved about the book are his insistence on spiritual discipline individually, as a church body, and engaging the world for Jesus. I think the general theme of the book is worth reading for Christians who find themselves stagnant in their spiritual walk and honestly are tired of shallow, non-practical ‘relationship religion’ that doesn’t feel like a loving relationship and doesn’t reflect genuine religion of faith. We are called to pursue and engage God holistically and reverently in sacred space, and I think Niequist does a good job in carrying the reader to see Christianity in its biblical experience.
All in all, I found the book really helpful and motivating. A book that causes you to stop and think is a book worth reading — regardless if you agree or disagree in the end (although I generally agree with the author).
August 8, 2018
The Practice is a service and a community that embraces the idea that “A Sunday service is not the main event but rather a training ground to help all of us become people who can live the way Jesus would if he were in our place.” Because of that we should engage in practices together that prepare us to walk in this world as followers of Jesus. Every service is centered around liturgy and practice and sends you with a charge to live out what you’ve just learned. It’s this idea of a practice based faith that Aaron Niequist writes about in his book The Eternal Current.
The book begins by walking you through Aaron’s journey and the Practice service. If you’ve had the chance to visit the practice this is a great look behind the curtain at what drives this service. If you’ve never been to the practice (which you should if you can), this a great picture of what a practice based service looks like.
The wider story of the book is focused on what Aaron calls swimming in the eternal current. We have all received an invitation to swim with Jesus in this river of faith. We are called to follow him by swimming and not just believing. For many of us this consists of keeping strictly to our way of doing and believing, but the truth is the river has been flowing for a long time and our tradition is merely a part of it. While there’s so much richness in this book, the best way for me to sum it all up is that Aaron’s vision is that we would embrace our traditions alongside the traditions of our other brothers and sisters in Christ and learn how to swim more deeply in the current. We need to move beyond the motions of Sunday worship and simply believing the truths of scripture. We need to join together and embrace Jesus’ way of living.
While Aaron’s words aren’t necessarily new or revolutionary, he joins a long history of other pastors and authors who are making the same call to swim in the Eternal Current. The great thing is that his book comes with the experience of living out what he writes, and you too, if you are in the Chicago area can go and experience the practice as well. I hope that you will pick up this book and take the challenge to swim in the Eternal Current.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The book begins by walking you through Aaron’s journey and the Practice service. If you’ve had the chance to visit the practice this is a great look behind the curtain at what drives this service. If you’ve never been to the practice (which you should if you can), this a great picture of what a practice based service looks like.
The wider story of the book is focused on what Aaron calls swimming in the eternal current. We have all received an invitation to swim with Jesus in this river of faith. We are called to follow him by swimming and not just believing. For many of us this consists of keeping strictly to our way of doing and believing, but the truth is the river has been flowing for a long time and our tradition is merely a part of it. While there’s so much richness in this book, the best way for me to sum it all up is that Aaron’s vision is that we would embrace our traditions alongside the traditions of our other brothers and sisters in Christ and learn how to swim more deeply in the current. We need to move beyond the motions of Sunday worship and simply believing the truths of scripture. We need to join together and embrace Jesus’ way of living.
While Aaron’s words aren’t necessarily new or revolutionary, he joins a long history of other pastors and authors who are making the same call to swim in the Eternal Current. The great thing is that his book comes with the experience of living out what he writes, and you too, if you are in the Chicago area can go and experience the practice as well. I hope that you will pick up this book and take the challenge to swim in the Eternal Current.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
May 3, 2021
As a lifelong Evangelical Christian, I have grown comfortable with church looking and feeling a certain way: a few worship songs, a culturally relevant message (that may or may not be fully rooted in Scripture), perhaps the passing of an offering bucket or communion tray, then a closing prayer, and off we all go to post-church lunch. Worship pastor Aaron Niequist was also quite familiar with this church format, but for him it was no longer comfortable. The limits of his church and faith experience left him feeling spiritually empty, and his search for a deeper, more fulfilling and more fruitful faith led him to step outside of his own faith tradition to reclaim some of the practices and traditions of the past and of other denominations.
The Eternal Current walks through Niequist’s personal experience of creating an intentional, practice-based faith community within his own megachurch. Niequist offers a portrait of a “practice-based faith” that is anchored in ancient personal and communal spiritual practices such as centering prayer, liturgy, confession, and a Eucharist-centered worship service. Niequist understands the importance and value of Sunday church but emphasizes that this single hour one time per week cannot be the main event of our spiritual formation, and he offers tools for a practice-based life outside the church walls as well. Through participation in these practices, we accept Jesus’ invitation to step into the River of grace, rest, and freedom for the sake of the world.
Niequist’s vision for a practice-based faith is intriguing and inspiring. In my own faith journey over the last several years (specifically since participating in a spiritual formation course ten years ago) I have adopted a number of the practices he describes, and these practices have enhanced my walk with the Lord in some powerful ways. While I’m not a church leader, Niequist’s enticing descriptions of the communal faith practices have me brainstorming ways to introduce them to my own church or small group, as I have no doubt they would offer great value. I was also deeply encouraged by Niequist’s high esteem for the church in all of its many facets, and his reminders of the depth that can be gleaned from believers of other denominations, ethnicities, and cultures.
This book skims the surface of the various options for spiritual practice. Niequist offers numerous resources to those hoping to explore them further, but I wish he had gone into a little more depth in his own book. However, I appreciate the book’s vision and its invitation to step outside our comfort zone in order to access a richer spiritual life.
The book ends with an inspiring call to reintegrate through memory and imagination—embracing the wisdom and treasures of those who have gone before us, while building upon those memories to reimagine what those same practices may look like for us as Christians today. I love the idea of incorporating “new” old practices into my already robust spiritual traditions—all while remembering that, like knowledge or perfected theology, spiritual practices are not the point, but they ARE helpful tools for aligning with the Kingdom of God.
This review first appeared on my personal blog, https://kendranicole.net/may-2021-qui...
Please visit my site for more book reviews: https://kendranicole.net/category/boo...
The Eternal Current walks through Niequist’s personal experience of creating an intentional, practice-based faith community within his own megachurch. Niequist offers a portrait of a “practice-based faith” that is anchored in ancient personal and communal spiritual practices such as centering prayer, liturgy, confession, and a Eucharist-centered worship service. Niequist understands the importance and value of Sunday church but emphasizes that this single hour one time per week cannot be the main event of our spiritual formation, and he offers tools for a practice-based life outside the church walls as well. Through participation in these practices, we accept Jesus’ invitation to step into the River of grace, rest, and freedom for the sake of the world.
Niequist’s vision for a practice-based faith is intriguing and inspiring. In my own faith journey over the last several years (specifically since participating in a spiritual formation course ten years ago) I have adopted a number of the practices he describes, and these practices have enhanced my walk with the Lord in some powerful ways. While I’m not a church leader, Niequist’s enticing descriptions of the communal faith practices have me brainstorming ways to introduce them to my own church or small group, as I have no doubt they would offer great value. I was also deeply encouraged by Niequist’s high esteem for the church in all of its many facets, and his reminders of the depth that can be gleaned from believers of other denominations, ethnicities, and cultures.
This book skims the surface of the various options for spiritual practice. Niequist offers numerous resources to those hoping to explore them further, but I wish he had gone into a little more depth in his own book. However, I appreciate the book’s vision and its invitation to step outside our comfort zone in order to access a richer spiritual life.
The book ends with an inspiring call to reintegrate through memory and imagination—embracing the wisdom and treasures of those who have gone before us, while building upon those memories to reimagine what those same practices may look like for us as Christians today. I love the idea of incorporating “new” old practices into my already robust spiritual traditions—all while remembering that, like knowledge or perfected theology, spiritual practices are not the point, but they ARE helpful tools for aligning with the Kingdom of God.
This review first appeared on my personal blog, https://kendranicole.net/may-2021-qui...
Please visit my site for more book reviews: https://kendranicole.net/category/boo...
August 7, 2018
Short Review: This is a short introduction to historic liturgically informed Christianity, primarily written toward low church evangelicals. I feel like I have been on a similar journey as Niequist. I have read most of the same books. I started spiritual direction at about the same time. I have followed his journey with the Practice from afar.
I affirm much of what it is the book. But I am still a bit unsure about whether the non-denominational world can add liturgical practice to their structure without joining a denominational structure that really supports it. Can you be liturgical and not episcopal (not in the sense of a denomination but in the sense of an ecclesiology).
Part of what has to be said here is that this is coming out a couple days after yet another woman accused Neiquist's father in law (Bill Hybel) of sexual harassment (at the very least). So structure does matter to the content of the book.
I really do think this is a book worth reading. But many of my questions about structure and ecclesiology, the bias toward mono-cultural (and mono-racial) worship that happens with most liturgical churches, and how we help people move out of their all ready too busy lives to actually be impacted by the liturgy are not really answered. That isn't to say that the questions that are raised here are not important. But that there are additional questions that I still have.
My longer (about 1300 word) discussion is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/eternal-current/
I affirm much of what it is the book. But I am still a bit unsure about whether the non-denominational world can add liturgical practice to their structure without joining a denominational structure that really supports it. Can you be liturgical and not episcopal (not in the sense of a denomination but in the sense of an ecclesiology).
Part of what has to be said here is that this is coming out a couple days after yet another woman accused Neiquist's father in law (Bill Hybel) of sexual harassment (at the very least). So structure does matter to the content of the book.
I really do think this is a book worth reading. But many of my questions about structure and ecclesiology, the bias toward mono-cultural (and mono-racial) worship that happens with most liturgical churches, and how we help people move out of their all ready too busy lives to actually be impacted by the liturgy are not really answered. That isn't to say that the questions that are raised here are not important. But that there are additional questions that I still have.
My longer (about 1300 word) discussion is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/eternal-current/
August 7, 2018
When I first started reading this book I felt as if Aaron Niequist was reading my journal and putting it in his book. Then I realized that I don't have a journal. Since I don't think Aaron is a mind reader then maybe I am not the only one that had come to a point in my faith that I felt like walking away from it all. Maybe I am not the only one that has faced the decision to "give in or give up".
The idea of practice based faith is an important discussion. For too long the church has presented this idea that just believing all the right things was the key to being a Christian. I think this has led to a lot of disillusionment as to the the health of our souls. Correct belief may be enough to get us into heaven but does not answer the practical questions about how we live our lives as Christians. How do we grow in our faith? How do we love our neighbor? What does it mean to love God?...
Maybe you are at the point of considering giving up on your faith. Or, maybe you are not at that point but feel like there is something missing in your faith. This book offers practical suggestions for moving beyond the stagnant pool of trying to believe all the right things. Aaron encourages and challenges the reader to take an active role in their own faith by implementing some spiritual practices and learning to swim in The Eternal Current.
The idea of practice based faith is an important discussion. For too long the church has presented this idea that just believing all the right things was the key to being a Christian. I think this has led to a lot of disillusionment as to the the health of our souls. Correct belief may be enough to get us into heaven but does not answer the practical questions about how we live our lives as Christians. How do we grow in our faith? How do we love our neighbor? What does it mean to love God?...
Maybe you are at the point of considering giving up on your faith. Or, maybe you are not at that point but feel like there is something missing in your faith. This book offers practical suggestions for moving beyond the stagnant pool of trying to believe all the right things. Aaron encourages and challenges the reader to take an active role in their own faith by implementing some spiritual practices and learning to swim in The Eternal Current.
September 23, 2018
"I was going to learn how to swim with Christ or drown trying" - Aaron Niequist
This novel is a great tool for those looking to deepen and expand their faith. Aaron's beautiful work helped me with something that I have been struggling with lately which is how different denominations and individuels worship and practice their faith. I have been praying for discernement when looking into different ways to deepen my faith. I have been nervous about stepping into things that are not common in my pentecostal upbringing. I love how Aaron shows that both new and ancient spiritual practices are important to look at when building a faith that can withstand the tumultuous lives we live. A practice based life is not one where we replace God with broaken religion, but rather a life that is intentional about drawing near to our loving Saviour. Aaron encourages spiritual exploration as a way to stretch our faith so as to not get caught up in the motions of what has always been.Aaron also addresses how it is beneficial to surround ourselves with people who practice faith differently. We are all given a piece of the puzzle which is meant to be joined with others for the benefit of the body of christ. I am excited to explore different faith practices and to grow in faith and relationship with our Creator.
This novel is a great tool for those looking to deepen and expand their faith. Aaron's beautiful work helped me with something that I have been struggling with lately which is how different denominations and individuels worship and practice their faith. I have been praying for discernement when looking into different ways to deepen my faith. I have been nervous about stepping into things that are not common in my pentecostal upbringing. I love how Aaron shows that both new and ancient spiritual practices are important to look at when building a faith that can withstand the tumultuous lives we live. A practice based life is not one where we replace God with broaken religion, but rather a life that is intentional about drawing near to our loving Saviour. Aaron encourages spiritual exploration as a way to stretch our faith so as to not get caught up in the motions of what has always been.Aaron also addresses how it is beneficial to surround ourselves with people who practice faith differently. We are all given a piece of the puzzle which is meant to be joined with others for the benefit of the body of christ. I am excited to explore different faith practices and to grow in faith and relationship with our Creator.
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