Ranges Community Church

Its great to read Australian Christian Books, and it was with great delight that I set about reading Credible Witness by Darren Cronshaw.

There are a number of reviews on this book out there, including John Mark Ministries, and the Australian Christian Magazine. Instead of another review I thought I would point out some elements that triggered some thoughts.

David Tacey’s Edge of the sacred: This is not a Christian book yet I found it deeply spiritual. It provided an overview of Australia in a spiritual context. In many ways Darren’s book was the conclusion or missing chapters of Tacey’s Edge of the sacred, putting Australian spirituality in a Christian context. This then got me thinking about Patrick White’s book ‘Voss’, exploring the harsh Australian Outback with vivid descriptions of the outback and all the suffering which goes with it.
I couldn’t help but identify with the missionary models of the book. An urge to go back to Australian literature such as Lawson, and what he has to say about egalitarianism, hardship, poverty. It made me realize with the advent of mass communication and 24 hour travel that this has taken away part of the Australian identity which was ours 100 years ago. In many ways they are still there, just submerged with distractions from the internet, and the media which makes us think that Hollywood is just next door.

Darren summarises much of the book in Chapter 5. Its good to think that this is looked at in an Australian Context now as well as historically.

‘Spiritual companions help people connect faith and spirituality to everyday life. Chaplains get alongside people in the midst of their secular context. Shepherds care for people and protect the life of the community. Prophetic advocates point out how the church and world could better reflect God’s justice. Servants are ready to sacrifice themselves and demonstrate whatever practical care is needed.’

The good thing for me now, I’ve three more Australian Christian books to go. None brought at Koorong or Word! Mmmmm.