The old maxim that you can’t judge a book by its cover is profoundly true. However, you *can* judge a book by the people who endorse it. ReJesus by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch is endorsed by the following notable names: Ed Stetzer, Greg Boyd, Leonard Sweet, Felicity Dale, Howard Snyder, and Dan Kimball. Now that’s no shabby bunch of folks!
This impressive list of endorsers is a testament to the quality of this particular work.
I have often said that the main thing that is missing in Christianity today is JESUS CHRIST. So many religious “things” have replaced the centrality, supremacy, and preeminence of Christ. “Things” related to Him, “things” about Him, along with “things” He doesn’t particular care for . . . but not Him.
“Christian” methods, mechanisms, strategies, techniques, doctrinal propositions, theologies, activities and the like have all-too often subverted the living, breathing Person of Jesus.
For this reason, I welcome this book wholeheartedly as a robust step toward reminding us of the center and reality of the Christian faith and the missional impulse of God and His Church. And that center and reality is the Lord Jesus Himself.
Throughout the book, Hirsch (author of The Forgotten Ways) and Frost bring out six important points that I greatly appreciate. First, there is no separation between being a Christian and being a disciple (a follower) of Jesus. And being a disciple involves all of one’s life. Thus the popular notion that conversion is required but being a disciple is optional is something that cannot be sustained by the New Testament. Second, the authors stress that Christianity without Christ equals Religion, and Religion is not Christianity. Third, while the authors mostly focus on the earthly life of Jesus, they emphasize the revolutionary dimension of His life and ministry – something that is often neglected today. Fourth, they argue strongly that the church has no other grounding or center but Jesus, and God’s will is to conform His people into His glorious image. Fifth, our understanding of the Triune God begins with Christ. Sixth, the gospel is Jesus and Jesus is the gospel.
Add to that, this is the only “missional book” I’ve ever read that had something to say about God’s eternal purpose. Even though the authors treat it very minimally, they get three enthusiastic cheers for mentioning it. (May their tribe increase.)
An observation: In my experience of speaking to Christians in conferences in the U.S. and overseas, I’ve noted that God’s people often fall into one of two categories. There are those who understand that being a Christian means following the Lord Jesus Christ – giving Him full reign over their lives. However, many of these folks have been so beat up by condemning, legalistic, “try harder” messages that they know little of what it means to rest in Christ. They know little about what it means to live and serve by God’s indwelling life rather than by their own human energy. They know little of what it means to be free in Christ. While they are serving the Lord with pure motives, they don’t know Him very well. In addition, they are held captive to religious duty, condemnation, guilt, and the limiting power of their own soul-life.
It’s very common to be “saved by grace,” but then to live and serve by one’s own strength. This is what I call “the bait and switch gospel,” and it’s in the drinking water of modern evangelicalism. The book of Galatians speaks to this group of people.
The other category are those Christians who have trusted in Christ as their Savior, but they’ve not bowed the knee to His complete Lordship. They remain in the driver’s seat. In addition, they have constructed a Jesus after their own image – one whom they are quite comfortable with. The book of James speaks to this crowd, and so does ReJesus in many respects.
All told: I predict that ReJesus will stand as one of several missional books that will begin reorienting God’s people toward seeing Christ as the center of God’s grand mission and eternal plan as well as the living, breathing foundation of authentic church life.
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Check out www.Shapevine.com (founded by Hirsch and Lance Ford) for some helpful missional resources. Also, Alan and I will be at the Recalibrating Concepts of Church event at George Fox University with Leonard Sweet and Dan Kimball in February. Should be a fun time.
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[...] http://frankviola.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/book-review-rejesus-by-michael-frost-and-alan-hirsch/ January 8th, 2009 in Uncategorized [...]
Great summary of the two camps in the church! And yes to “Eternal Purpose” thinking. Fromke was part of our foundations way back in the seventies. We gave away many of his books.
May his tribe increase indeed!
Steve
Thanks for reviewing ReJesus, Frank! On a somewhat unrelated note, here’s an article on tithing that you might really enjoy. I don’t know anything about the writer of the article. http://yomisays.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/the-trial-of-pastor-enoch/
Thanks for the review, Frank. I’ll bear it in mind as I read the last couple of chapters on the train home this evening!
Pax
J
May I also point your readers to a resource by perhaps a “smaller fish” in the missional conversation (though not any less smart, creative, or Spirit-led) who, from 2005-2006, wrote “Revolutionary,” an e-book about Jesus. The book focuses on the subversive, counter-cultural entrance, life, words, death, and resurrection of Jesus, applying it to our role to in some way imitate Him in faith communities in the world. Really ahead of its time in many ways, as it was written before “Jesus for President,” “ReJesus,” “Exiles,” or some of the other books that have been released in the last couple years.
Here’s the link to the chapters of the e-book, and I believe additional chapters are available at other locations on the interwebs. (someone help me out finding them)
It looks like the A-Team hooked up with the cast of “Touched By and Angel” to redecorate your page. Nice.
Thanks for the review, Frank. This is the next book I’m planning to read and it’s good to know that it should worth its time. Looking forward…
“Christ the Sum of All Spiritual Things” by Watchman Nee
we truly do stand on the shoulders of giants.
[...] Book Review: ReJesus by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch [...]
[...] Book Review: ReJesus by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch [...]
[...] Book Review: ReJesus by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch [...]