Patron Saints for Postmoderns: Ten from the Past Who Speak to Our Future

by Chris R. Armstrong

Are you feeling discouraged in your efforts to reflect Christ each day in our broken world? Does it feel lonely? Too difficult? Too overwhelming? The saints can help you. Especially the ones whose stories Chris Armstrong tells here, because he's chosen them for the ways they've inspired him and deepened his own faith. A professor of church history, Armstrong provides rich portraits of ten people from the past who Knowing their stories buoys our own, and observing their steps gives us lived-out action to go with our theology. Perhaps more important, seeing their ordinariness--their foibles, sins and mistakes--helps us realize that no matter where we come from, no matter how inadequate we think we are, God can change each of us by his grace and use us for his glory. So settle in, and spend some time getting to know these brothers and sisters in Christ who struggled and failed and fought and lived faithfully in their day. Together, Armstrong and ten saints from the past will encourage you in your struggles and help you live faithfully in the present.

Genres: Christian

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each chapter in this book provides a mini-biography of a particular Christian saint—loosely defined—and analysis of what we can/should learn from them today. I found it interesting and useful since I wasn’t very familiar with half of them.

Here’s the table of contents:
1. Antony of Egypt
 Pursuing Holiness and Living Powerfully

2. Gregory the Great
 Discerning Hearts and Finding Balance

3. Dante Alighieri
 Loving the Universe and Saving Our Souls

4. Margery Kempe
 Weeping Over Jesus' Body and Praying His Heart

5. John Amos Comenius
 Learning Diversity and Teaching Peace

6. John Newton
 Proclaiming Grace and Uniting the Church

7. Charles Simeon
 Overcoming Wounds and Shaping Leaders

8. Amanda Berry Smith
 Standing Tall and Breaking Down Barriers

9. Charles M. Sheldon
 Knowing Our Neighbors and Serving Them Well

10. Dorothy L. Sayers
 Keeping It Real and Waking the Church

Conclusion: A Postmodern Challenge from Dante via Sayers


Here’s a passage from the chapter on Gregory the Great:
“One of the places Gregory felt the average person heard most clearly from God was in experiences of suffering. Surrounded by the miseries of war, plague and famine, Gregory himself suffered from ill-health for the whole of his pontificate. (A wise professor of mine once said that the great spiritual divide between people runs not between rich and poor, female and male, young or old, or the like, but between those who've enjoyed good health and those who've had serious physical ills. I think he was right. Perhaps nothing more radically impinges on a person's soul than chronic or incurable disease.) From his own experiences of suffering, along with deep exegetical engagement with the book of Job, he concluded that suffering was not an absolute evil, but rather a special case of God's personal communication to his people. Suffering forces us beyond our own resources to discern our dependence on God.”

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read for information on several religious figures of lesser reknown. Armstrong is direct, balanced and provides a sound summary of each persons' accomplishments, positions, strengths, foibles and successes, as well as pointing out why they were influential. His piece on Margery Kempe was sharp, to the point and easy to read.

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I enjoyed reading these ten biographies, but recognize such a book is not for everyone. Two comments/questions: 1. Could there have been more balance between male and female here; there are three women and 7 men. 2. I was thinking "postmodern" would mean more recent historical figures and the book started with Antony of Egypt and ended with Dorothy L. Sayers who died in 1957.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Armstrong's words are strung together to form absolutely compelling and engaging accounts, across each of the 'patron saints'. Carefully and yet excitedly, we are presented each story, within an immediacy that is contextually relevant to today's post-modern times. Really, I don't believe this book is diminished in any way should we even frame the times in which we now live as being post-post-modern! A truly commendable book; Chris goes beyond stepping into the shoes of - and somehow almost embodying - his chosen subjects, to offer edification and encouragement to the reader - well, certainly for myself. Both compelling and strengthening!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author highlights ten lesser known Christians from history who today's Christian can look to for inspiration. Their lives date from the third century until the 20th century. Their backgrounds, vocations and times. They each had an impact upon Christian history. I enjoyed this book because I like reading how God works in the lives of ordinary people to make an impact for Him.

[Emanuel Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, thought provoking and entertaining book. That’s all I ask for my history books.