04 April 2011

Jesus Manifesto


Claiming that the church is at a pivotal crossroad, Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola have captured the essence of what it means to have a faith centered around Jesus Christ. What is lacking, they say, is the groundbreaking revelation of Christ that boggles the mind and enraptures the heart.

Sweet and Viola provide much to digest, but quotations from poets and philosophers break up the text and help readers grasp somewhat complicated abstract concepts. Though some might suggest that the work is aimed at pastors and seminarians, all Christian readers will discover a new perspective and deeper purpose.

The authors make what are seemingly broad claims about the “church” in general throughout the work, yet they do not spend time developing their case for the lack of focus on Christ in specific situations. In this regard, the authors seem to be stating universal claims in hopes that sentiment is shared among other unsatisfied Christians.

The book claims to be a manifesto, and it serves such a role. It is a public proclamation of the need for the church to focus on Christ as the central figure of the faith and the impetus for religious practice. But as a manifesto, the work does not venture very deep into the subject matter. As such, Sweet and Viola’s work provides an excellent starting point in returning to the sovereignty and supremacy of Christ in the life of the church. The practical and pragmatic aspects will need to be further explored in other areas.

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