Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians - by Chris R Armstrong (Paperback)

About the Book

Introduces the spiritual riches of the medieval church to contemporary Christians, exploring key ideas, figures, and movements in conversation with C. S. Lewis and others.

Book Synopsis

Many Christians today tend to view the story of medieval faith as a cautionary tale. Too often, they dismiss the Middle Ages as a period of corruption and decay in the church. They seem to assume that the church apostatized from true Christianity after it gained cultural influence in the time of Constantine, and the faith was only later recovered by the sixteenth-century Reformers or even the eighteenth-century revivalists. As a result, the riches and wisdom of the medieval period have remained largely inaccessible to modern Protestants.

Church historian Chris Armstrong helps readers see beyond modern caricatures of the medieval church to the animating Christian spirit of that age. He believes today's church could learn a number of lessons from medieval faith, such as how the gospel speaks to ordinary, embodied human life in this world. Medieval Wisdom for Modern Christians explores key ideas, figures, and movements from the Middle Ages in conversation with C. S. Lewis and other thinkers, helping contemporary Christians discover authentic faith and renewal in a forgotten age.

From the Back Cover

"A wonderful introduction to our neglected Christian tradition"

"With lilting prose and sparkling insight, Armstrong draws us into the spiritual riches of medieval Christianity. He uses the insights of C. S. Lewis and other modern interpreters to shine a light on that long-past yet still remarkably relevant era. This book will serve equally well in college, seminary, and church education classrooms."
--Grant Wacker, Duke Divinity School

"Using the wisdom of C. S. Lewis as a point of entry, Armstrong unpacks the material and sacramental world of the medieval church, demonstrating why such dated material is much needed in the life of the evangelical church today. This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the evangelical church's future."
--Greg Peters, Biola University; author of The Story of Monasticism

"Armstrong's approach to introducing twenty-first-century Christians to the rich resources of medieval and monastic wisdom is ingenious. He uses C. S. Lewis to invite us into a conversation with other contemporaries who have found that this oft-neglected period of Christian history provides the kind of embodied and holistic spiritual life that is needed as a remedy for today's gnostic, individualistic, and shallow spirituality."
--Dennis Okholm, Azusa Pacific University; author of Dangerous Passions, Deadly Sins: Learning from the Psychology of Ancient Monks

"With a searching evaluation of his own evangelical leanings and inspired by the discerning medievalism of his spiritual mentor C. S. Lewis, Chris Armstrong takes us on a delightful tour through the insights of medieval Christians that have most profited him. With Armstrong's sparkling prose, the journey never turns arcane or becomes tiresome, and it leaves us with many treasures to ponder."
--Robert B. Kruschwitz, Institute for Faith and Learning, Baylor University

"A wonderful introduction to our neglected Christian tradition for all those who feel something is missing in the modern church. It is also a real treat for fans of C. S. Lewis."
--Devin Brown, Asbury University; author of A Life Observed: A Spiritual Biography of C. S. Lewis

"An excellent introduction to medieval spirituality, philosophy, theology, and Christian practice."
--David Neff, former editor in chief, Christianity Today and Christian History

About the Author

Chris R. Armstrong (PhD, Duke University) is a program fellow on the Faith, Work, and Economics team at the Kern Family Foundation in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He was the founding director of Opus: The Art of Work at Wheaton College and formerly served as professor of church history at Bethel Seminary. He is also senior editor of Christian History.