Book Review: Retro Christianity by Michael J Svigel

The word Retro has many meanings. It could refer to a clothing style of a decade long past like the 1970's. It could also refer to an old way of getting things done. For Michael J Svigel, he uses the term retro as to going back to basic teachings of the Christian faith or, as he puts it, the forgotten faith.

The question for this book is: "If the church fathers or Reformers showed up at your church, would they worship...or run?" Svigel deals with traditional truth in this book that all churches must come back to. This means taking a look what we currently believe and match it with those who have gone before us. Svigel gives a good definition of what Retro Christianity is:

Retro Christianity is an adjustment of the attitudes and actions of individuals and churches, retrieving ideas and practices from the whole Christian past, thus renewing personal and corporate identity and providing evangelicalism a positive path toward the future

Svigel clarifies that Retro Christianity is a way to "bridge the gap between the church of yesterday and the church of today without going into two extremes: (1) idealizing the past and condemning the present, or (2) ignoring the past and glorifying the present." This book deals with looking into the past without saying they are wrong and what we are doing in the present is right.

This book deals with truths that will never change as well as talking about how the church should work along with the myths about the church. The last three chapters deals with one's growth in Christ in the sanctification process which was something I did not expect from the book. This was a great read and recommend it to all who care about the Christian faith.

Thanks Crossway for letting me review this book.