12 Marks of New Monasticism

Several of us have been reading and discussing the book “12 Marks of New Monasticism”. Here are just a few of the thoughts in each chapter for us to meditate on and pray about each day, while considering our own lives and walk with Jesus.

Chapter 1: Relocation to abandoned places of Empire

• Resist pride, power and reduction of all values to “the bottom line”.
• Express our conversion and commitment.
• Say “yes” to a new way of life (or the search for it) in Jesus.
• Rework the clay – fresh potential for beauty and service.
• Seek first the Kingdom of God.
• Prayer integrated with life and witness.
• Resist non-godly trends and issues (e.g. militarism, poverty and homelessness) and engage in search for solutions.
• Live not dominated by numbers of finance.
• Transformation (of society) that starts with ourselves.
• Ordinariness rather than impressiveness.

Chapter 2: Sharing economic resources

• John Wesley: “If I should die with more than 10 pounds, may everyone call me a liar and a thief, for I have betrayed the Gospel”.
• Do we know the poor or just know about the poor.
• Generosity.
• Redistribution (of wealth) is what happens when people fall in love with each other across class lines.
• When we truly discover love, capitalism will not be possible and Marxism will not be necessary.
• Theology of “enough” – there is enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed.

(Next 2 chapters next week!)

David.