Books

How God Works Through Ordinary Churches

Ruth A. Tucker writes about how small churches are doing Christ’s work.

This book is one part prophetic critique, one part autobiography, and one part lament for a vanishing era of small, mostly rural churches.

Tucker has great faith in stories. Left Behind in a Megachurch World brims with fascinating accounts of small, “left-behind” churches quietly doing Christlike ministry—often despite conflicts, dysfunction, and rundown facilities. These stories, some from Tucker’s early, painful years as a pastor’s wife in two fundamentalist churches, make the book highly engaging.

Tucker has nothing good to say about megachurches, however. “Evangelicals have been swept away by culture—and megachurches are leading the way.” She says megachurches follow the Wal-Mart model, betraying the gospel and sucking the life out of smaller churches. “Seeker-sensitive” and “purpose-driven” churches redefine the church by consumerist American values and “do not reflect the theological underpinnings of the Cross and of failure.”

Here Tucker paints too broadly, but she is right that “marketing is not a neutral formula that leaves substance untouched.” Unbewitched by marketing techniques, churches should remember that “the last shall be first.”

Tucker acknowledges small-church dysfunction, but also tells stories (many drawn from fiction) of redemptive ministry in “left-behind” congregations. She raises more questions than she answers, but her last chapter, “New Life for the Left-Behind Church,” shows how small congregations can authentically be Jesus Christ to lost and hurting people.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Left Behind in a Megachurch World is available through Christianbook.com and other retailers.

Dick Staub interviewed Tucker on a previous book, Walking Away from Faith: Unraveling the Mystery of Belief and Unbelief.

Christianity Today reported on Tucker’s allegations against Calvin Seminary.

Ruth Tucker’s site through InterVarsity Press hosts candid conversations about religion. She also blogs at RuthTucker.net, River Rat Reflections, and elsewhere.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

News

Looking for God in Russia: Finding Jesus in Orthodox Robes and Evangelical Jeans

God's Word in an Old Light

The New Context of World Missions

News

Long-Distance AIDS Ministry

Plethora of Talent

Rx for Recidivism

Middle East Morass

Behold, the Global Church

Stopping Cultural Drift

Dreaming of Dystopia

Imagining a Different Way to Live

A Good Death

Editorial

Look at All the Lonely People

Into the Silent Land

A Practical Understanding of Jesus' Life

Shoot-First Apologetics

Worth Protecting

Editorial

Theocracy, Anyone?

No Theocracy Here

Meet the Patriot Pastors

Autumn

News

Races to Watch: Tammy Duckworth vs. State Sen. Peter Roskam

Children of a Lesser Hope

Races to Watch: South Dakota's Abortion Ban

Q&A: Newt Gingrich

Races to Watch: Governor of Michigan

Margin of Victory

News

Passages

High-Impact Leader and Shaker

News

Quotation Marks

The Other <em>Plan B</em>

News

Morning-After Headache

News

Go Figure

Does Islam Need a Luther or a Pope?

Gallery of Accusations

News

<em>Christianity Today</em> News Briefs

News

Cutting Out <em>VeggieTales</em>' Core

News

Malay Melee

News

Public Grievance

Expelling InterVarsity

Clash of Churches in Lebanon

View issue

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Review

The Virgin Birth Is More Than an Incredible Occurrence

We’re eager to ask whether it could have happened. We shouldn’t forget to ask what it means.

The Nine Days of Filipino Christmas

Some Protestants observe the Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, predawn services in the days leading up to Christmas.

Why Armenian Christians Recall Noah’s Ark in December

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The Bulletin

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The Bulletin talks about Christians in Syria, Bible education, and the “bad guys” of NYC.

Join CT for a Live Book Awards Event

A conversation with Russell Moore, Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund, and Award of Merit winner Brad East.

Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

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