Additional information
by Paul Smith (Author)
This book presents a model of Christianity that incorporates the insights of a Jesus-centered theology of biblical interpretation, integral philosophy, and over fifty years of pastoral experience in leading evolutionary change in the local church. The perspectives of integral theory and practice, articulated by Ken Wilber, help uncover the integral approach that Jesus advocated and demonstrated in the metaphors of his time and that traditional Christianity has largely been unable to see.
Smith incorporates elements of traditional, modern, and postmodern theological viewpoints, including progressive, New Thought, and emerging/emergent ones. However, he goes beyond all of them and moves to a Christianity that is devoted to following both the historical Jesus and the Risen Christ whose Spirit beckons to us from the future. Smith says, "The oldest thing you can say about God is that God is always doing something new. Jesus pushed his own religion to newness by including the best of its past, and transcending the worst of its present. He calls us to do the same, whatever our religion is today."
Author Biography
During Paul Smith's nearly half a century of innovative pastoral leadership at Broadway Church in Kansas City, Missouri, the church has evolved from a traditional Southern Baptist church to the integral model described in Integral Christianity. Smith has taught on the evolving church at seminaries and churches around the country. In addition to numerous articles, booklets, and teaching CD's and DVD's, he has authored Is It Okay to Call God Mother? Considering the Feminine Face of God. His dream has been to develop an inclusive, theologically progressive, healing community focused on the spiritual transformation that comes from following Jesus Christ.
