Benjamin Vineyard

This book has been an wonderful reminder to what Christianity is about — a revolutionary lifestyle that looks at the pace and preoccupations of the world at large and says, boldly and calmly, “I know a better Way.”

For leaders and, well, really, everyone, this book is a fantastic reminder that what we’re about as a revolutionary movement as followers of Christ is not about creating an empire of church buildings with institutional ideas that have never lasted, ever. Instead, we’re about a lifestyle revolution – one that reaches out to people who are sick and tired of the useless games of pursuing “success” only to have a stroke when you’re 64. Tired of the stupidity of working 90 hours a week and forgetting who your family is — all for the sake of looking like you know what you’re talking about — truth be told, I think we already know the 90 hour per week workers have nothing to talk about. I mean, is 90 hours per week living a life at the fullest? Man, those poor guys… And they choose to do it! …poor guys.

Some of the staples of Hirsch’s book that I found influential:

• Institutional forms of “churchianity” (my word) are in the way of the Christ movement. The necessity of sending someone to a seminary vs. raising and sending them out in the locale they’re at is disabling (Hirsch’s concept).
• We need to revisit the concept of DISCIPLESHIP. Really, getting people out of passivity and into lifestyle renovation, walking with Jesus. (Nothing new stated here — really something just nice to hear again.)
• We need to rephrase how we help people worship — contextualize. KNOW that we’re in a mission field and that “attracting people” to “church” is not mission – it’s advertising for a historical society reenactment (my words).
• FINALLY — the most important thing of the book — is something Hirsch calls Apostolic DNA, which is really implanting the essence of discipleship, being sent to all people around you and wider, and all other things, into the hearts and minds of the Christian people. I mean, it’s not something that we really implant — it’s the essence of the Christian lifestyle. A new way of life that is life at the fullest simply works in your heart a desire to spread that hope and love. I mean, really, it happens. (I think we need to foster and grow that awareness — that “evangelism” is not about getting people to “church” but getting them into contact with Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life.

Thanks to Hirsch for writing a fantastic book! May we all learn to live this Jesus Way! Get us out of passivity! Get us back into LIFE!

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