I am currently about 2/3 of the way thru Pete Ward’s Liquid Church and really enjoying his thoughts. He blends insightful sociology with some excellent theology – but I’m not convinced yet!
If I read him right it would seem that he is advocating church as simply an informal network of relationships that exists any time people come together in 2’s or more. His ideas flow out of the fluid interpenetrating nature of the trinity.
I agree that we are the church everywhere all the time – a refreshing thought – but so far there doesn’t seem to be any scope in Ward’s imagination for the ‘gathering’.
I appreciate he is seeking to wildly re-imagine church – with a missional focus but I think there is a biblical case for ‘gathering’ as an expression of church. I will keep reading!