Perimeters of Light: Biblical Boundaries for the Emerging Church by Elmer L. Towns, Ed Stetzer

The title of this volume clearly gives away its approach and content. The assumption is that the current discussions surrounding missional/emergent and even contemporary evangelical church growth models need careful “perimeters” to keep them from drifting into biblically unsound territory. The book proposes several such perimeters. The authors come from diverse backgrounds. Towns is a recognized authority from a highly pragmatic, Sunday school-based, church-growth perspective, and Stetzer is a missiologist who came through contemporary evangelicalism into what is now a more missional-convergent orientation. It is likely that their most appreciative readers will be preachers from a traditional or quasi-church-growth orientation. But for this audience, it would be difficult to find a more helpful text. They will appreciate the simple, straightforward, yet theoretically grounded wisdom. They will also find a number of helpful tools for expressing ministry philosophy to their congregations through the numerous drawings, charts, and visualizations.

In my opinion, the best use of this text is for preachers of more traditional, conservative churches whose elderships or governing boards are fearful that adopting contemporary or missional models goes “too far…” or who may fear angry opposition from folks in the pew. Ministers in these situations are always looking for reasonable, non-threatening ways of communicating the need to be more effective in a changing culture. They must constantly overcome barriers to innovation and work hard to maintain the trust of anxious leaders and not be perceived as “having an agenda.” For ministers in this situation, this book is a treasure. Self-taught ministers will appreciate the non-technical language. Seminary-trained ministers may see one page as homespun, but then be surprised by the theoretical description on the next page.

A few examples illustrate the overall content. First, in discussion on boundaries of practice, they discuss the “Hughes Scale” that suggests a balance between one extreme of being biblically sound but culturally blinded and the other extreme of being culturally relevant but having abandoned the faith. Second, in a discussion of makes worship Christian, they offer six balanced benchmarks that should occur in all true worship. Third, in their discussion of worship, they propose seven biblical principles to help determine if music is Christian. They offer similar guidelines on issues such as preaching, evangelism, and over-all church practice.

Throughout, the authors bring their experiences as ministers, mentors, professors, and consultants to the issues. For churches that speak a similar language as the authors, it would be hard to find more balanced advice. The book is very easy to read, well-organized, to the point, with helpful questions at the end of each chapter. It is the kind of book ministers love to put in the hands of their elders.