DESCRIPTION
Throughout history the church has been composed of two types of people--those who "do" ministry and those to whom it is "done." In this provocative book R. Paul Stevens shows that the clergy-laity division has no basis in the New Testament and challenges all Christians to rediscover what it means to live daily as God's people.
Exploring the theological, structural, and cultural reasons for treating laypeople as the objects of ministry, Stevens argues against the idea of clericalism. All Christians are called to live in faith, hope, and love, and to do God's work in the church and world. This biblical perspective has serious implications for the existing attitudes and practices of many churches as well as for our understanding of ministry. Stevens shows that the task of churches today is to equip people for ministry in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
Written by a scholar and pastor well known as an active advocate for the whole people of God, this thought-provoking book--made even more useful with the inclusion of case studies and study questions at the end of each chapter--offers inspiring reading for anyone interested in what the Christian life holds for the other six days of the week.
REVIEWS
Englewood Review
"Written by a scholar and pastor well known as an active advocate for the whole people of God, this thought-provoking book—made even more useful with the inclusion of case studies and study questions at the end of each chapter—offers inspiring reading for anyone interested in what the Christian life holds for the other six days of the week."
Issues in Christian Education
"A challenging and well-written appeal to the modern church to examine the distinctions made between clergy and laity. . . I recommend The Other Six Days as a thought-provoking, heartfelt exploration of what it means to celebrate the divine mystery of the Church as God's representative to the world."
The Life@Work Journal
"In a world of bite-size ideas, The Other Six Days is a multicourse gastronomical event for the mind, heart and soul of the working stiff. . . Stevens broadens the scope of living a holy and meaningful life without diminishing the importance of the evangelical witness. The Other Six Days tries to show how regular people can live holy lives, even as they go about their work. "
The Bible Today
"Much of this provocative study is devoted to demonstrating that the Scriptures make no distinction between 'laity' and 'clergy' and that this distinction has led the Church to ignore or distort the Christian vocation in the world. . . [Stevens'] reflections about a theology of work and the fundamental vocation of all Christians to a life of devotion and service are solid. They address a much needed perspective today when so much of the discussion about vocation and 'ministry' seems fixed on roles within the Church rather than in the workplace."
The Mennonite
"All God's people are called to ministry, Stevens argues, and that ministry includes our work in the world, not just in our church buildings. Especially helpful are discussion starters at the end of each chapter."