Book Review: The First Time We Saw Him

When I first saw the title and make-up of this book I was intrigued and excited. I have been pursuing the life and teaching of Jesus for a while and I thought that this might offer a new viewpoint or a way that I could share the life and words of Jesus with others differently. At the very least this book held the potential to reconnect with familiar passages in a new way. As far as these are concerned I was not disappointed.

Mikalatos essentially retells the basic story of the Gospels in modern language but also places them in a contemporary setting. He recasts various stories from the Bible and guides the reader through the real emotions that might be present if we encountered Jesus today.

There were many things that I liked about this book. It is easy to read. It does not just tell the stories but Mikalatos interacts with the theology and implications of Jesus on our lives. The book has a fresh and up front way of talking about Jesus and the importance of the interactions told in the Gospels. For the new believer or the person that has grown weary of reading the same passages over and over this may be a good surge to the soul as they see Jesus differently. However, those who are still captivated by Jesus and seek to read in order to obey this book doesn’t really add much value, if any.

This brings me to the things that I did not like about the book. One issue is that the stories were cherry picked. I get that the author was not trying to retell the Bible but it feels like so much was left out. The other thing is that the author tried to harmonize the Gospels. He picked from different Gospel writers without carrying over the unique theological thrust that these stories communicate as they are tied together in a particular way.

All of that being said this is a good book. It may not  be for everybody but it is a well written and certainly creative expression of the life and teaching of Jesus.

Book Review | The Atheist's Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs

A trip to a local bookstore today will reveal dozens of books from the “New Atheists” and their popularity is growing as everyday people accept their message as truth. There have always been men and women within the Christian worldview rising to answer these atheist insinuations but the books that they write can be complicated. This is also to the advantage of the atheist. 

In The Atheist’s Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs, Norman Geisler and Daniel McCoy have responded by displaying the conflicting logic used in the writing these many atheist books. Geisler and McCoy show the atheist’s words and treat them fairly and fully. The vast majority of the book is simply showing the contradictions used in “God in the Dock” arguments.

They look at:

The problem of Moral Evil

The value of human autonomy

Submission and favor

Death and faith

Guilt and Rules

Punishment and Pardon

Hell and heaven

Inconsistencies

The bulk of their arguments flow from the first two subjects here and they look at the conflict that come up in atheist arguments because of the tension in the problem of moral evil and the value of human autonomy. Then the authors display the unnecessary rebellion and rejection of God that these atheists make with undue certainty.

What I liked.

There was much in this book that is valuable and enjoyable. The writers know how to deal with difficult topics with simplicity and grace. They are fair to the writings of the atheists that they disagree with and try to let them speak for themselves. If you interact with people that are influenced by popular atheist writing (or if you are reading them for yourself) then you need to read this book.

The book was written logically and with such a style that you go through the chapters very quickly. I was surprised by how the book flowed and there were so few times that I was bogged down by philosophy or formal language.

What I did not like.

I wish there were some areas that would help the everyday Christian get into discussion with the everyday atheist. There are few helps here for that, however. This is more of a discussion about atheist authors than the everyday atheist. Few atheists that I know are going to jump into “God in the Dock” arguments (assuming that God is real). They still have contradicting beliefs but they are not dealt with here. So if you are looking for an everyday help to answer the reason for the hope that lies within you to your atheist friend you probably will not find much here. However, there could be some great discussions brought up if your atheist friend reads popular atheistic writing.

Book Review | 10:10 Life to the Fullest

There are many within the tradition of Christianity searching for a deeper walk with God. They are trying to manage a relationship of substance and worth. Many become frustrated and distanced from the one they long to know more. Daniel Hill has written an encouragement to those that are looking to live “life to the fullest” in 10:10.

Hill follows the reasoning that the reason most people do not experience “life to the fullest” is because of fear. He argues that most people do not admit that they are struggling in this way and so it compounds the problem. He traces the biblical response to fear through the life of Joshua and encourages the reader to live life in “3D”. The 3 dimensions are faith and fear, faith and intimacy, and faith and mission. These become the outline of his book.

WHAT I LIKED

There are many wonderful points within this book. Hill walks through the Bible and firmly roots his reasoning and guidance within the witness of God’s Word. This book is written in a way that anyone can understand and be encouraged by the lives of those listed for us in Hebrews 11. There is also an attempt to get a little deeper in these passages as Hill works through some details of these “heroes of faith”.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

As a student of the Bible there were some places in this book where I struggled. In chapter 6, Hill claims that the rich young ruler was one that “loved God and genuinely wanted to be obedient” (Luke 18). While I see where he may get this assumption it is probably better to understand this man as assuming that because he follows the law that he has a relationship with God and is therefore suited to follow Christ. However, Jesus sees his heart and reveals that not only is this young man not ready to follow Christ but he really does not love and obey God. He is revealed to be an outsider regardless of his following rules. Jesus does that.

So Hill does this a few times with passages. He makes application his primary hermeneutic. That is dangerous and can become sloppy writing. I applaud the attempt to encourage but if we have to loosen our grasp on Scripture to accomplish encouragement then we have not achieved much in reality.

CONCLUSION

Taken as a whole, this book is worth reading for someone that is not walking deeply with Jesus and needs a little encouragement in the right direction. It is well written but not well researched or interpreted. That may not bother a new believer or even a struggling believer that needs something simply to encourage them. But if you are not one of these then you may be bothered by some of the lack of proper scholarship.

My Top 5 Online Missional Resources

Are you looking for some solid content and guidance on living missionaly or forming a foundation for a missional community?

Here are my top 5 resources for disciple-making and living every day with the intentions of the Gospel.

1. Gospel-Centered Discipleship http://gcdiscipleship.com

Here is one of my favorite sites for articles and resources for encouragement and handing to those that I am leading in discipleship. There are some very solid books that they publish for an awesome price as well.

2. Verge Network http://www.vergenetwork.org

This site has a huge amount of multi-media content for the missional church. The videos are enough to fill hours with content rich exploration. They also offer free ebooks and a training course on the missional church so be sure to sign up for all that they offer.

3. Exponential http://www.exponential.org

This is a site connected to the popular conferences. On the site is a vast amount of free ebooks and weekly updates to those that are working in the trenches of disciple-making. I often find incredible content for myself and those that are following Jesus with me.

4. Discipleship.org http://discipleship.org

This is a relatively new resource but look over who is collaborating together on this and you will find that it will soon make its way to the top of the list. The free ebook that they offer is incredible and a sure foundation for disciple-making groups.

5. V3 http://thev3movement.org

This is another fairly new resource but the content makes up in the quality. There are consistent articles geared toward the missional church and I am always finding them helpful. This is also a great place to connect for help with the planting process. 

So there you go. Some resources to help you in the disciple-making journey. Check these out today and let me know if you have some favorites of your own. I would love to share them.

Discipleship is Impossible!!!

I admit that for the nearly 10 years that I spent working on a church staff I am not sure if I made one reproducing disciple of Jesus Christ. I am a hard worker. I take pride in my books and teaching. I have worked hard to make sure the Gospel is the center of all I do and teach. Yet, not one reproducing disciple.

Why?

Well, I guess along my journey this is what I learned about discipleship.

DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT EASY

I spent much of my time focused on writing lessons. I tried to make sure that they communicated truth from the Word of God. I sought to make every lesson, every story, every teaching opportunity point to Jesus. I wanted to display to the people that I was teaching the grace of God toward the lost, hurting, and broken. That took a lot of time.

Time is a key to relationship. Relationship is the core of discipleship. That is hard when you are busy.

So, I substituted teaching for relationship. I counted time on a stage or in a classroom or in an office as time that I was engaged in discipleship. It is not discipleship. Discipleship is not easy. You cannot create a curriculum (or buy one), develop a 101-501 class structure, or bring people to your office once a week and call that discipleship. That is easy. But that is not discipleship.

I know why we do it. Well, I know why I did it. I was busy. I was working. I was trying. I cared. But I did not pursue the only thing that Jesus commissioned me to do, "make disciples of those that need to know the real Jesus."

DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT HARD

The truth is that I had a load full of excuses but there was nothing in the way of me forming relationships that centered on the person of Jesus Christ. Discipleship happens in everyday life. It happens as you go out to eat and have a chance to share Christ with the waitress (with someone else watching). It happens as you discuss the Bible and then look at each other and say "okay, let's go do this...right now." It happens when you gather people over at your home from around your neighborhood and love on them (with someone else watching). Discipleship is not hard.

I think that is why it hurt when I graduated seminary, looked at my relationships in the church, asked myself if this is the life Jesus called me to, and began to get honest about the people that I had discipled over a decade of ministry. It hurt. Because it is not hard.

DISCIPLESHIP IS IMPOSSIBLE

I have been discipling reproducing disciples for less than a year. I have already seen Jesus move in mighty ways. I am not very good at this. But that is okay. I am learning. We walk together through the real stuff of real life. We share life on life. We see the people that gather in my home being moved by God and we get excited because we get to share life in community. I have a schedule arranged to reach my neighbors and we get to rejoice with every conversation, game of kickball, or opportunity to share food. We share life on mission.

But life is messy. We take steps backward, We takes steps forward. And we get stuck in the status quo for days and weeks at a time. My heart has rejoiced...my heart has broken. I have tried. I have failed. I have tried again.

One thing that I have learned...Discipleship is Impossible.

For me.

But God's Holy Spirit keeps reaching, keeps moving, and keeps changing our lives.

So keep in mind...Discipleship is not easy...Discipleship is not hard...Discipleship is Impossible.

I see God reach into people's hearts in ways I never could. I see him teaching and using me every now and then to share some helpful truth from his Word. I see him drawing us together by the power of the love of his Son and his Holy Spirit. It encourages me to take risks, to talk to people I might not have before, to share more than I think I can. Because I have found freedom when I venture out into the impossible.

It is the best experience of my life. 

Jesus and Women | The God of Missional Justice

Few stories have flowed over the pulpits of churches all across the world than the one given in John 7:53-8:11. Jesus is spending time teaching in the temple when a woman that has been caught in adultery is brought to him to receive his judgment. The scene is tense and seemingly simple. Here is a woman that has broken the law and she deserves, according to the law, punishment. That punishment should be death by way of stoning.

But this passage reveals much about Jesus Christ. I am afraid that for all of those sermons on this passage far too many of them miss the point of the text: Jesus is the just judge. Period. He is the beginning and end of the law. He wrote it. He will defend his people from those who attempt to usurp his authority. Jesus moves in to display what is true and right in places where deep wrongs are occurring.  In short, Jesus is the face of God's justice.

Let's see a few reasons why this is true.

JESUS KNOWS THE HEARTS OF MEN

There a few key verses in the Gospel of John. One of them is 2:23-25. Here Jesus is declared to keep from trusting himself to the Jewish leaders because he is fully aware of what is in the hearts of men. For an answer to what is in the hearts of men read chapters 3 & 5-12!

This is also a wonderful example of the hearts of these Jewish leaders (called scribes and pharisees). Jesus clearly perceives their intentions. They want to place Jesus in a lose-lose situation. They do this by pitting the Roman law (it was unlawful to put other to death) against the Mosaic law (it was commanded to put one guilty of adultery to death). This is not the first or last time that these leaders try to pull this trick. Their point is to gather a "charge" by which Jesus may be arrested. It seems on the face that this woman is on trial but it is actually Jesus.

A HALF TRIAL IS NO TRIAL

But even though Jesus perceives that he is the one that is on the hook. He addresses the sin of this woman. He cuts to the heart of the issue. He cuts to the heart of the men. He reveals what is in their hearts. 

First, there was a crime of adultery. But adultery takes two. There is only one standing here, the woman.

Second, it was against the law to bring someone to punishment without a trial. They are not searching for justice but rather they are conducting a lynching.

Third, Jesus cut to the issue by calling the bluff. To kill this woman without proper proceedings and having the man present is to break the law. This would make everyone taking place in the lynching guilty. So, Jesus says in essence, "anyone who wants to be guilty of this sin throw the first stone."

Game, set, match.

USING THE LAW TO BREAK THE LAW

This interaction with Jesus and the Jewish leaders is paramount for how we see Jesus. How he reveals the Father's justice. How he deals justly with all of his children, even the lawbreakers! Jesus reveals this amazing truth of the gospel as he comes face to face with a woman, a nameless, faceless woman.

The bigger sin in this passage was not adultery. It was using the law to break the law. Using the justice system to commit injustice. This is still common among us and as the people of Jesus Christ we must still stand with the afflicted. 

Jesus never forgave this woman (at least as far as we know). This passage is not about forgiveness (my apologies to 95% of the sermons preached on this) this passage is about justice. This passage is about the Father's heart and the Son's willingness to stand next to the guilty in the face of injustice.

There are many ways we could take this one simple truth.

Instead of trying to exhaust them I will simply say, the justice system is not our standard of justice.

Jesus alone is our measure of what is just.

Jesus and Women | The God of Missional Grace

The narrative of the Samaritan woman is a story of a broken heart and a broken soul. She represents a broken people living in a broken land. John 4 shares how Jesus makes his way into all of this brokenness and displays one of the millions of reasons why we can say that God is a missional God.
 
In perhaps one of the most well known portions of the Bible Jesus makes his way into a land that was expressly avoided by good Jewish people. He was not afraid to go into places of need, places that other people avoided. Why would he go there? Simply, because God loves Samaritans. Not because they deserve love but because God is a God of grace. How ironic that a people who celebrated God choosing them would try to withhold him from others. How much more ironic that many try to do the same today.

In Samaria, Jesus comes to an interaction with a woman that has come to the well at midday. She comes at a time of low social interaction around the well. She is about to be surprised. The interaction with Jesus displays at least two things: One, this woman is deeply affected by sin and shame. She had been married many times before and she was still not done (she lived with another man). These attempts at "fixing" her deepest needs with these poor substitutes had taken its toll on her life. The second display is the need for a better reality. She needed something more real that what she thought was real. Relationships are real. They cause hurt and pain and longing and despair. Relationship without foundation and purpose becomes a cheap alternative to the real thing. Reconciled relationship with the Father of all things is what makes real, become real. She interacted with Jesus over her sin and shame and water. She found grace that addressed all of these. She found a satisfaction for her real thirst.

The grace of Jesus Christ doesn't stop with this woman. Even the confused disciples needed the missional grace of God. Why? Well, because they did not understand mission...at all. So Jesus explains to them the mission that he is on. They got it. Well, maybe not right away but in the book of Acts we find Peter and John back in Samaria, back among these people, preaching, laying hands on them, and praying for them to know the love of Jesus by grace through faith. They were unaware at the time that they met this Samaritan woman how this missional grace would change their future. But eventually they got it...by God's grace we will too.

Finally, the missional grace of God becomes contagious. Grace is like that. This woman declares that she is known. She calls the people that she purposely avoided to come to know the one that knows her. What good news! You are known. Really known. Known by grace. Known for all of your faults...failures...shame...guilt...and yet...grace. Grace that moves toward you. Grace that steps into your mess. This grace is overwhelming to those that know the depths of their failure. This grace is life-giving to those that have failed at life.

Here, with this woman that is not known by name... not pictured or described... just a nameless, faceless woman, the savior of the world declares his mission of grace, openly, for the first time. The cosmic purposes of God, that have been millennia in the making, collide here...in Samaria...with this woman...such amazing grace.

When Jesus was moved to mission, even mission to people unlike himself, he did not pack up his stuff and move to a new country. He did not buy a house in Samaria. He did not stop doing all that he had been doing in his life before this time to make room for mission. Why do we?

Why do we feel that mission is moving? Or mission is special training? Or that mission is something foreign and forced? Mission is meeting. Meeting people that God is calling and sharing with them cosmic moments of God's amazing grace. They are your neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers...for now. God's grace transforms us all into his adopted children.

We have people all around us that are broken and seeking to quench an unquenchable thirst with water that will never suffice.

Pray that our hearts are ripped by grace.

Pray that we step out of our patterns and see the people that God is calling all around us.

Pray that we equip and encourage one another to offer living water.

Pray we follow Jesus, the face of the God of missional grace.