Centered-Set Churches -- A Book Review from George Bullard

Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism

Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism

For many years I (George Bullard) used the concept of centered sets and bounded sets to describe the difference between Protestant Christian congregations and denominations who function like an organization – bounded – and those who function like an organism – centered.

Ones who are rules and regulations based and ones who are innovative beyond the essentials. Ones who are bounded by a school of thought on the written word of God, and ones who were freed by the unconditional love of the Living Word of God – Jesus Christ.

Ones whose doctrinal positions are contained in a boxed atmosphere where any belief outside of the box is unacceptable. Ones centered on Jesus with tolerance for people on a journey away from the center exploring where the Holy Spirit is leading them in ways compatible with the core doctrinal values of the center.

While exploring the missiological and anthropological work of Paul G. Hiebert, it was good to run into this book written by Mark D. Baker which is inspired by Hiebert’s writing such as Anthropological Reflection on Missiological Issues (Baker Academic, 1994).

Hiebert describes churches who are bounded, fuzzy, and centered. With this in mind, “the purpose of this (Baker’s) book is not merely to explain these categories, but to help churches become communities that are centered on Jesus so that they can lovingly walk with each other on a journey of transformation.” (14)

The fuzzy category is new to me. I get it. I affirm it as a needed addition to the typology. Part of the added value of the fuzzy category is to realize that even without a clearly defined set of essentials of the Christian faith, they can be just as legalistic and purveyors of judgmentalism as are bounded congregations and denominations.

In chapter 5 the reference to an “Alignment Committee” affirms my focus on “Vision Plus Intentionality” or “Clarity with Alignment”.

I enjoyed seeing a book that refers to the writings of French philosopher and theologian Jacques Ellul. As a reader you should get extra points if you know who Ellul is. Even more points if you have read some of his writings. Living out God’s revelation in an unbounded way rather than turning revelation into a bounded religion is a helpful thought I had while reading the reference to Ellul.

I loved the use of Paul’s letter to the Galatians as an example – even a case study – throughout the book. Also, the use of the parable of the lost sons.

The simple matrix of low and high expectations and inclusivity is a valuable illustration.

Borrowing and building on the concept of bounded-set churches being about building fences, and centered-set churches drinking from deep wells was a very helpful image. Added to it was the idea of the fuzzy-set churches being like cattle roaming in open country without a fence or a well.

The book was divided into four parts. Part One that explained the concept was the most helpful to me. Part Two added some great insights. The other two parts were occasionally helpful. The first and second parts contributed 90 percent of what I learned.