Deep Church, by Jim Belcher
IVP Books, 2009
233 pages

Jim Belcher, founder and lead pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California has written a book called "Deep Church". In it Jim tries to identify a 'third way' between the traditional evangelical church and the emerging church.

There is a lot about the book that is well done. Jim does a great job in the first section identifying what drives and defines the emerging church. He also does a great job at helping the reader understand why the traditional and the emerging church are at odds with each other and seem to be reacting against each other so powerfully. Belcher is fair in his assessment of each side and their positions but he does not have a problem with identifying flaws in both side's thinking and application of the gospel.

OK. That's great.

I wish the rest of the book was as well treated as the first section.

What Belcher proceeds to do in the rest of the book is take each point of contention between the emerging and traditional church and then show what he calls a 'third way' that in his opinion is the most biblical way forward. So, for instance, with regard to ecclesiology, he looks at the emergent approach and then at the traditional approach and then he comes up with a third way that is the best of both and the most biblical, calling it 'Deep Ecclesiology'. He proceeds to do this with the following issues:

Truth
Evangelism
Gospel
Worship
Preaching
Ecclesiology
Culture

What's wrong with that? Well, I found it rather discomforting that in each situation the best way, the 'third way', the Deep Church way, is the way that Jim's church, Redeemer Presbyterian, does it.

So, in each protest/reaction topic Jim lays out the strengths and weaknesses of the emerging and traditional church and then proceeds to show the best way is the way he does it.

Belcher couches this 'third way' in a narrative that recounts how he came to find the most biblical way for each topic.

I don't think he meant it this way, but to me it came off as arrogant, as if somehow Jim Belcher is smarter than both camps and has successfully applied biblical truth where many others have fallen short.

I don't think he would have come off as arrogant if he had included a number of examples of other fellowships doing the same thing. If we had a view into other leaders who were applying his concept of Deep Church and who were successful in moving in this 'third way' then I believe the reader (at least this one!) would feel like Belcher was providing us with insight into a new movement. What we are left with is not a movement, but a lifting-up of Jim's ministry. I am not convinced it is intentional, but regardless, that is what Belcher does.

I also had a hard time with the very concept of naming his way 'Deep Church'. I work in marketing and my company among another things helps our clients position themselves. I could not help but read this book with a constant marketing dialog in the back of my head. It kept saying, "It's wrong to call this thing Deep Church! By doing that you make everyone else look like they are not deep."

In positioning there are only two positions a company, brand, product or service can hold. It can either be the leader or it can be positioned against the leader. "We are the cheapest" (Leading) "We are not expensive like the other guy is" (Against the leader) "We have the highest quality product" (Leading) "We give you value for your money" (Against the quality leader) and so on.

When you call a church the Deep Church what you are in effect saying is that your way of doing this is the Deepest. You are most thoughtful, deep, caring, real, etc. What else is left? How does the next guy label his church movement? Really Deep Church? Deeper Church? Cool Church? Right Church? Best Church?

If Belcher had to name this thing he has come up with, why not give it a more neutral name? The Third Way would have worked just fine. It is not the right way or the deep way, just a way that he is working on and thinks is valid. But you see, I don't think he could allow himself such a neutral label as the whole book is about how his church has gotten it right and more biblical than both the emerging and traditional evangelical churches have.

Jim Belcher is not the first person to do this. Just look around your community. You'll find at least one First Bible Baptist. Trying to tell the world that your way is the right and best way has been a favorite pastime of the church for ages now.

Jim Belcher is intelligent and experienced. He does a good job showing the differences that the church seems to be struggling over and he does a good job sharing his journey to find a better way. One has to look past the title and realize they are reading a book about how he chose to shape Redeemer Presbyterian. I am disappointed by what seems to be a bit of self aggrandizement and hubris. Sharing what one has learned and experienced is always valid and can be helpful. Calling your way the Deep Church borders on a pride that the church just does not need any more of.

Something amazing just happened this evening. A young man (I'll call him Mfalme since I did not ask permission to use his real name) our family met just a few months ago just got baptized in Lake Ontario. It was dark, windy, raining, cold and the water numbed my feet within seconds, but it was awesome!

I had the privilege along with another brother to take part in the baptism. I am grateful for that because it was not too long ago I was complaining that I did not know of any new believers. Everyone I knew had been a Christian for a while and it was bothering me. Being a part of Mfalme's proclamation of faith on the deserted beach was an answer to prayer. God is good.

Earlier today when Mfalme and I were talking he told me about a discussion he had with a pastor a day or so before. The pastor had asked him when he had decided to get baptized. Mfalme answered, "I have not decided to get baptized" and left it at that. Everyone present was left with the impression that he did not want to be baptized.

Later that evening one of the people present said, "You don't have to get baptized if you don't want to, there's no pressure" and Mfalme answered, "But I do want to get baptized!" Of course this person was confused. "But you just told the pastor that you had not decided to get baptized," to which Mfalme answered, "It was not my decision. As soon as it was made clear to me by the Holy Spirit that I needed to be baptized I knew it was time to do it. There was no decision on my part, as there was nothing for me to decide! It's what God wanted."

I am encouraged by this man's faith, as it is based on obedience to the Lord. It is clear to me in talking with him these last few weeks that he is keen on walking in obedience and that he understands that he is not serving Christ for his own well being but for the sake of giving his life to God as a sacrifice.

I talk to too many brothers and sisters who choose a fellowship based on the quality of the youth program or how enjoyable the Sunday sermon is. I hear a lot of our culture's consumer mentality when I talk to fellow believers. What I don't hear much of is discussion of laying our lives down for Christ and his kingdom. I certainly don't see it in action here. We have a lot of churches in Rochester, but not a whole lot of savor.

We have plenty of great programs, wonderful buildings, excellent teaching, modern equipment, rocking worship, busy sunday schools and friendly greeters. And those things are fine, I guess. But there has to be more. Where is the power of God being demonstrated to the city of Rochester? Where are believers offering up holy lives to God as their spiritual worship?

Look, don't get me wrong. I am not saying I am some great example. I try, but most of the time I get it wrong. I am asking because I am convinced that to do this well, it has to happen in community, as the body of our Lord, not just some holy Joe out on his own. It takes a group of people saying, like my brother Mfalme, "there was nothing for me to decide!"

Mfalme was obedient to his Father today. It did not take a member vote, special classes, fund raiser or leadership training. It did not need any special facilities, ordinations, order of service or pastoral covering. He just obeyed the Holy Spirit and the community, as small as it was, supported him. What a great example of how simple it is to follow Jesus. I want this for every day of my life. Who else feels this way? I know you are out there.