Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions (Relit Theology) by Gerry Breshears, Mark Driscoll
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Book Reviews of Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions (Relit Theology)
Book Review: A Book that Deserves a Wide Audience
Summary: 3 Stars
According to the subtitle of Mark Driscoll's new book, Vintage Jesus (Crossway, 2008) aims to provide "timeless answers to timely questions." Actually, this book offers the reverse - timely answers to timeless questions.
Vintage Jesus takes weighty theology and breaks it down into today's vernacular through the inclusion of quotes and stories from a variety of cultural sources. The way that Vintage Jesus has been crafted may tell you as much about Jesus as the content. Here is theology that takes on flesh, namely - the current flesh of contemporary American culture.
Driscoll stands out as a pastor and author because he is well-read, not only in theology, but in culture. His innate ability to communicate theological concepts in a timely, relevant manner has brought this book attention in the forms of both praise and criticism.
In Vintage Jesus, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears take important questions about Jesus, strip them down to their essence, and then answer them in the "in-your-face" style that Driscoll has become known for. Questions like "Is Jesus the Only God?," "Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?" and "What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?" are answered in an easy-to-understand way and with cultural points of contact that keep the reader interested. Driscoll doesn't shy away from tough questions. He hits them head-on and offers solid answers.
Strengths
The strengths of Vintage Jesus are numerous. First, the book's outline shows how theological questions are relevant to the Christian faith and to every-day life. Anyone involved in ministry with 20-somethings can probably testify to fielding these questions. Driscoll has provided an immensely-readable book that dives into deep theological waters without drowning newcomers to the Christian faith.
Secondly, the points of cultural contact help readers to make connections between the biblical worldview and the world we live in. I can see this book being well-received by those in my Sunday School class. In fact, I have already decided to pass this book along to a young man in jail who I am discipling. (No big books are allowed, so I am having to copy portions of the book and staple them together in book form!) Rarely do I come across good theology that is expressed in such a readable, relevant way.
Third, Vintage Jesus saves the best chapters for later in the book. The first few chapters are the most entertaining for sure, but as the book progresses, it seems to get better and more theologically precise. One of the later chapters mentions the great contributions of Christianity to the world and responds well to objections to the Christian faith.
Weaknesses
Vintage Jesus has already caused a stir in the blogosphere - in true Driscoll-like fashion - as many reviewers have criticized some of the crude, seemingly irreverent language that Mark employs to get his point across. Because of some of the reviews, I started this book fully prepared to despise certain aspects of it. Surprisingly, though there are times where Mark crosses the line into juvenile humor, I did not find the book irreverent or blasphemous. Most of the people I minister to would not bat an eye upon reading words like "shagging" or "knocking boots" as euphemisms for other activities. (My only issue with using this terminology is not its potential "irreverence" but that it contributes to the trivialization and cheapening of sex - a sacred gift from God.)
This kind of language necessarily dates the book. In many ways, using current lingo is a strength, as it makes the book accessible to today's generation. But the timeliness of Driscoll's delivery virtually ensures its eventual relegation to the Bargain Book section of Christian bookstores. Imagine picking up a book from the 1970's that talked about how "groovy" Jesus' disciples were.
The other weakness of Vintage Jesus is that Mark tends toward oversimplification, and ironically, this leads to a lack of clarity in some cases.
Take for example this statement from Mark about the eternality of Jesus. "Finally, the statement that he came down from heaven also indicates Jesus' eternality; he existed before his birth as a man, which is the repeated teaching of the New Testament." (18) Mark is clear that Jesus was pre-existent, but because this affirmation is merely stated, rather than explained, we're left with the puzzling sentence: "He existed before his birth as a man." This could mean one of two things: "Jesus, before his birth as a man, existed" (the orthodox belief that teaches that Jesus had not yet become human, though he eternally existed as the Son) or that "Jesus existed as a man before his birth" (a heretical teaching that denies the special nature of the Incarnation). I'm confident that Mark believes Option 1, but his simple, hard-hitting style sometimes leaves us with less clarity, not more.
At other times, Driscoll overstates his case. Take for example this statement: "Jesus clearly, emphatically, and repeatedly said he is God." (21) Of course, the Gospels show Jesus clearly implying his deity both in his words and actions, but we do not see him walking around "clearly, emphatically, and repeatedly" saying "I Am God" in such terms (which is the picture that Mark paints). I admire Mark's desire to simplify doctrinal teaching, but at times, he makes simple, bold affirmations of truth that his readers/listeners may find expressed differently in Scripture itself and which will lead them to later cast doubt on Mark's teaching, however solid and orthodox it may be.
Overall, Vintage Jesus is a great book that deserves a wide audience. If Driscoll continues upon this current trajectory, I suspect that his influence over conservative evangelicalism will increase. I hope his book sells well and that we will see more books in this series.
Book Review: Presents the person and work of Jesus Christ in a meaningful way for the average reader.
Summary: 5 Stars
This isn't your Grandpa's theology book. Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears bring a fresh approach to timeless Christian doctrines about Jesus in a way that is sure to resonate with those (especially non-Christians and new Christians) in their twenties and thirties. Driscoll's engaging, but sometimes shocking style is on display at various points throughout this work. Even if you're amongst those who have criticized Driscoll in the past for his sometimes raw and edgy language, I'd ask that you give him the benefit of the doubt and give this book a chance.
This work is divided into twelve chapters. Each of these chapters answers an important question about the life and work of Jesus. The questions are as follows:
* Chapter 1: Is Jesus the Only God?
* Chapter 2: How Human Was Jesus?
* Chapter 3: How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
* Chapter 4: Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
* Chapter 5: Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
* Chapter 6: What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
* Chapter 7: Did Jesus Rise from Death?
* Chapter 8: Where Is Jesus Today?
* Chapter 9: Why Should We Worship Jesus?
* Chapter 10: What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
* Chapter 11: What Differences Has Jesus Made in History?
* Chapter 12: What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?
In each chapter, Driscoll unpacks one of the twelve questions. He engages them in several ways. First of all, he explores how culture (modern & historic) has responded to these questions. Second, he presents a Christian response to each question, utilizing the Bible, church history, and sound Christian doctrine and theology. Gerry Breshears' contribution to this work shines through in the "Answers to common questions" found at the end of each chapter. Here Dr. Breshears offers solid Biblical and historical answers to additional questions that are commonly asked about the subject matter discussed in the chapter. Additionally, I appreciated the subject index, scripture index, and notes found at the end of this book. It's nice to see well devised references and indexing in a work of this size.
I highly recommend this recent work from Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears. They've done a great job of presenting the timeless truths about the person and work of Jesus Christ in a way that will make sense to those entrenched in our modern culture, whose view of Jesus is often confused at best. In addition to this book, I'd also recommend another recent book by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears titled: Death by Love: Letters from the Cross. This new work has a unique format in which Mark Driscoll responds to a member of his church in a pastoral letter that explains how Jesus' work on the cross is sufficient for the sin or issue they're struggling with.
Mark Driscoll is the founding pastor of Mars Hill church [www.marshillchurch.org] in Seattle. He is also co-founder and president of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network [www.acts29network.org]. Mark has penned an ever-growing list of books including: A book you'll actually read series, Vintage Jesus, Death by Love, and Vintage Church (January 31, 2009). Mark is married to his high school sweetheart Grace. They have been blessed with 5 children.
Gerry Breshears is Professor of theology and chairman of the division of biblical and theological studies at Western Seminary. Other books by Dr. Breshears include Death by Love: Letters from the Cross, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (January 31, 2009), and Personal Doctrinal Statements.
Book Review: good college small group book
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great book to use with a college small group. It is easy to read,entertaining,informative, and funny yet very orthodox. We're using it to train new leaders and get to know where students are with their basic beliefs. Driscoll can be caustic and over the line at times as he is want to do, but i think the way he confronts common misconceptions and ideas in the world of christendom more than makes up for the burned bridges. He is logical, upfront, and honest . . . with a few glimpses of compassion! :-) Book Review: Solid as a rock!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is very well written. It's got everything a bible-believing Christian would want in a book- theology, sarcasm, humor, facts, stories, and JESUS! I love Driscoll because he holds fast to the Bible and to Jesus yet is able to hold culture in an open hand. So much of the American Christian culture now blends with the secular culture around it. The result is truth is relative, in order to be an "educated" Christian we need to engage in "conversations" about Christian beliefs and allow room to change what the bible says about God and what the culture says about Jesus. Well, Driscoll does not let that happen, amen!!
This book is a great hermaneutic about the life of Jesus and answers so many questions that both non-christians and christians have about Jesus and his life. Driscoll really keeps Jesus at the center of the book and then lets culture come from the outside. In this book Jesus influences culture. So much of the Christian church today lets culture be in the center and Jesus sits on the outside.
This book benefits everyone, both for the non-christian who knows peanuts about Jesus, to the new christian who needs a foundation for his life, and to the pastor who preaches to hundreds and thousands of people every week about Jesus. I think that this book will have the same influence on the church 50 years from now that C.S. Lewis's books now have.
Book Review: Great book
Summary: 5 Stars
This book does a good job of describing the necessity of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ