Church 3.0: Upgrades for the Future of the Church (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) Book

I found this book to take the same trajectory as many of the nonfiction, information laden books I read. The first third of the book I was captivated and fascinated. I read every sentence and took copious notes. As the book wore on though I began scanning more and more, reading the headlines, and skipping larger and larger sections that seemed unnecessary and superfluous.

In Church 3.0 Neil Cole explains and espouses the organic church model, a model he terms church 3.0. Learning about the church model was very informative and interesting. Beginning in chapter four however he begins comparing the organic church movement to other movements that are happening across the country and the world. Perhaps this is the postmodern in me (he discusses postmodernism and its effect on culture and the church fairly extensively in chapter one) but I grow suspicious of anyone who knocks down other Christian movements as being wrong. In my opinion and having been part of many different church movements throughout my lifetime I strongly believe God works through all of them. I strongly dislike any time Christians tear one another down- which is what Cole seems to be doing to other church movements. Why can't we just accept that God reaches people in a multitude of ways and get along? Why is it so important that one way of doing church and worshipping God is the "right" way?

I agree with many of Cole's conclusions based on my own study of the Bible and personal experiences. I just don't like the tone he seems to convey in the latter chapters of his book. I understand, of course, that this book's purpose is to espouse the benefits of the organic church movement, but that doesn't change the fact that it makes me uncomfortable that there is a strong tone of superiority that comes off the page.

I'd recommend the first three chapters of the book. They are enlightening and educating. I'd even hesitantly recommend the rest of the book, but not for intensive reading or study.