Book Review (Part 1): Transformation - How Glocal Churches Transform Lives and the World

The author of this book is Bob Roberts Jr., pastor of NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas since its founding in 1985. Northwood church has since birthed 89 churches in the U.S., many of which have birthed churches of their own. In addition, NorthWood has helped to assist many other church plantings and his been very involved in reaching out to people in other countries.

I guess a good place where to start would be to say what Roberts means by glocal. Glocal is a combination of “global” and “local.” At its simplest, glocal churches seem to be those that live up to the book's subtitle, that is, transforming lives and the world, both locally and globally.

I thought the first part of the book was a bit unorganized. It basically details many of the things that Roberts finds wrong with modern Western churches. Perhaps his biggest criticism is that churches have made many converts to Christianity, but somehow most of these converts are not having their lives transformed - their lives are no different than their non-Christian neighbors besides their church going. Roberts says that if transformation stops after conversion that it is not a true conversion.

Other things Roberts finds wrong with the modern Western church:

• It has become lost in modernity. In mimicking culture's individuality, reason, science, and optimism, the church in many ways became indistinguishable from culture.
• It has become lost in consumerism, with people focused merely on what their church can provide them.
• It has defined success too much by growing numbers and not transformation.
• It has neglected to strive for the Kingdom of God.
• It has subcontracted out its responsibility for missions.
• It has reduced evangelism to inviting people to church.
  

part 2 of the review

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