January Book of the Month

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Streams of Living Water: Essential Practices from the Six Great Traditions of Christian Faith 
By Richard J. Foster

Description:
Many people in the United States who grew up around Christians or in the church have gained a certain perspective about what “right” and “wrong” Christian worship looks like. If we are honest, we often perceive our own way of practicing the faith as the “right” way, while noticing the short-comings of other ways of worship. And yet, God’s Word reminds us that as Christians, we are to be united in our faith in Jesus even when we worship differently.  So, what does unity look like for a diverse group of people who come from different backgrounds? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the various Christian traditions? How did Jesus reflect each of the traditions during his life?

In his book, Streams of Living Water: Essential Practices from the Six Great Traditions of Christian Faith, Richard Foster reminds us of the richness of six spiritual traditions that are present in Christianity.  Most known for founding the spiritual formation institute, Renovaré, and for writing the best-selling book, Celebration of Discipline and Prayer, in Streams of Living Water, Foster challenges his readers to learn about and engage all of the Christian traditions – even those that may be less familiar.  

Why is the book called Streams of Living Water?
Early on in his book, Foster connects the expression of the Spirit in diverse traditions to Jesus’ words, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Each “stream” reflects an aspect of how Jesus lived.  The idea of the book is that as we continue to mature and imitate Jesus, we are also invited to engage God in a variety of ways, just like Jesus did.

Why Read it?
An accessible read, this book was one of my favorite books from seminary. It is rich in story-telling, history, and biblical wisdom. 

As someone who grew up being exposed to a variety of cultural expressions within Christianity, I find myself drawn to different parts of a variety of Christian denominations.  I enjoy delving into the Bible and listening to promptings of the Spirit.  I desire justice and mercy in our city, and I appreciate the beauty and symbolism of a liturgical service.  I desire to live a life that is fully integrated, and I am drawn to spend time communing with God in meditative prayer.  And yet, many times we are told that we have to choose “one” way to commune with God.  What if followers of Jesus are actually being invited to appreciate and even engage all of the streams? Streams of Living Water is a great book to teach and challenge us to have a more balanced vision of the Christian life and faith.

A Look at the Six Streams

• Contemplative Stream - the prayer-filled life
• Holiness Stream - the virtuous life
• Charismatic Stream - the Spirit-empowered life
• Social Justice Stream - the compassionate life
• Evangelical Stream - the Word-centered life
• Incarnational Stream - the sacramental life

What’s Inside?
The introductory chapter gives an overview of each stream, along with how that stream connects with the life that Jesus lived.  Foster proposes that Jesus embodied all six streams perfectly, setting the foundation for Jesus followers to accept not just one but all streams as we imitate Christ. Each chapter thereafter explains one stream. Foster gives a detailed description of the stream and tells the story of a historical and biblical figure who powerfully embodied that tradition. Foster ends each chapter by giving insight to the strengths and weaknesses of the tradition. 

Contemporary Historical Examples
Streams of Living Water is full of rich examples of Christians throughout history who have leaned into imitating Jesus.  You’ll learn how the Quakers responded to the system of slavery in the U.S. and how Dietrich Bonhoeffer was able to stand up for his faith as a Christian in Nazi-filled Germany. Keep reading and you’ll have the opportunity to travel back to 1906 and experience the Azusa Street Revival, and you’ll meet people like Dorothy Day, Susanna Wesley and William Seymore. 

Going Deeper:
If you’re interested in reading the book and having a workbook to go through at the same time, Renovare’s Spiritual Formation Workbook goes through each of the traditions.  This is a great resource for individual reflection or in a small group!

An Invitation for Redeemer:
Redeemer, my hope is that by reading this book, you will find yourself more connected to God, His mission, and the diverse Christian family that has spanned across generations. May you learn, be stretched, and come to appreciate more fully the ways of Jesus, the One whom we are to imitate here on Earth. I pray that through the rich stories, you’ll be encouraged to keep going, knowing that you are empowered by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by a big family of believers.

God bless you (and I cannot wait to discuss!)
Pastor Adrienne