The Original Jesus

by Daniel Darling

"Who do you say that I am?"

From hit songs to bumper stickers to football eye-black, Jesus is trending high wherever you look. But at the end of the day, many "try Jesus" and come away disappointed in the experience. That's because the Jesus of popular culture looks much more like us than the God-man who appeared in the flesh two thousand years ago. We've developed plenty of imposter Jesuses that feed into our selfish desires--Guru Jesus, Braveheart Jesus, Dr. Phil Jesus, Free-Range Jesus. The problem is, they don't have the power to save us or transform us into new creations.

The Original Jesus calls us back to the Jesus who demands our worship--the potter who molds us, the clay. Seekers, skeptics, and sojourners in the way of faith will see Jesus for who he really is: God in the flesh, calling us to surrender our very lives that we may truly live.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Daniel Darling is an author, pastor and Christian leader. He currently serves as the Director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College.

Prior to his leadership of the Land Center, Darling served as the Senior Vice President for Communications of the National Religious Broadcasters. He also has served the Southern Baptist Convention as the Vice President of Communications at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He has also pastored churches in Illinois and Tennessee.

Reviews

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Jesus?

Daniel Darling reminds us of who Jesus truly is while pointing out the false perspectives that our currently popular about Jesus in our 21st century culture. I found the work enlightening, affirming, and inspiring.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will the Real Jesus please stand up! It really does come down to the question that Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say I am”.

That is the question we must ask ourselves as well. How we answer that question reflects if we are following Jesus or if we want Jesus to follow us…answering a prayer now and then, rescuing us from a catastrophe here and there, and helping us achieve the goals we set for ourselves. The actual living, breathing, Jesus of Nazareth doesn’t do any of that. The Original Jesus brings us to the Jesus of the bible (and that is the Old and the New Testament) and exposes what we have made Jesus into.

Ten chapters of Jesus made in our own image.

The Guru Jesus-Reveals all other titles but King and Savior. John Frame says the deity of Christ is a “pervasive doctrine of Scripture and he sums up Scripture’s claims with 3 statements.
Jesus bears divine attributes, holiness, perfect truth, wisdom, almighty power, immutability glory.
Jesus performs divine acts: creation, providence, miracles, forgiveness of sins, final judgment.
Jesus in Scripture is an object of faith and worship.

Red Letter Jesus-Jesus is more than the red letters of your bible. He is the word.

Braveheart Jesus-Jesus is more than the masculine mascot. Sanctification is our reflection of the image of God in our roles of female and male. Living out the fruit of the spirit is not gendered based but based on our gifts and where God places us.

American Jesus-When we make Jesus our political agenda instead of the gospel. We need Jesus. You need a Savior. Jesus is Lord. It is the gospel that changes and transforms communities, hearts, and marriages When it becomes about the rules that only become broken, we have lost the gospel.

Left-Wing Jesus-The social Jesus instead of the Jesus of salvation. We need the gospel and justice. It is by using our gifts to find the best ways to help others from poverty to human trafficking.

Dr. Phil Jesus-Where Jesus becomes our life coach and the gospel becomes about self-improvement instead of redemption and transformation. Where we are called from a life of idolatry instead of called to a life of comfort.

Prosperity Jesus-Pursuit of the now instead of the Kingdom to come. Pursuits that do not last instead of the pursuits that live beyond. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all shall be added. Seeking the Kingdom is God-centered, not self. What do we treasure? Pursuing the Kingdom of God leaves his people joyful instead of greedy.

Post-Church Jesus-Commitment to the church where the gospel is lived out and faith is deepened. Finding strength with other church members. Jesus will reveal the gospel within the body of the church. The church his is bride. Going to church and being a part of a community of church is surrender to the will of God. Going to church is a declaration of war. It declares that Jesus is king.

BFF Jesus-Jesus is not the buddy we have made him up to be. Have we made Jesus to familiar? Are we being fed You Can do it and a marketing pitch or do we see the gospel as more? Are we selling Jesus or proclaiming him as God. A liturgy service brings the gospel to center with a call to worship, a prayer of confession, assurance of pardon, tithes and offerings, and Eucharist. It engages all to the gospel and keeps the gospel center.

Legalist Jesus-Are we committed to Christ and the work of the Gospel or we committed to a holy lifestyle and a set of moral values? Do we live by the list or do we run do the cross? Do we justify ourselves by our own works? Because if we do, it is not the gospel and it will never be enough. Do we find worth in what we do or what Christ did and is doing?

The writing is engaging and winsome.

Be challenged with the original Jesus. He is worthy to pursue and to follow! It is a hard road (biblically speaking it is the narrow road) but it is where real joy is found.

A Special Thank You to Baker Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is also posted on Book by Book.

In The Original Jesus: Trading the Myths We Create for the Savior Who Is, Daniel Darling addresses many misconceptions society has constructed around the character of Jesus and determines to show, too, how the biblical Jesus is better than the misconceptions. I think Darling has a lot of valuable points about Jesus and who he is, and I appreciated his perspective on the various misconceptions. However, I do wish the writing of the book was organized in a better way to more effectively and directly make its points, along with a clearer, more distinct definition of each “Jesus.” Still, Darling offers good information in The Original Jesus and it could provide an insightful and quick read to any reader.

Thanks to Baker Book Bloggers, I received a copy of The Original Jesus and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I received this book, I was truly hoping to read about the REAL Jesus. Instead I got a book that focussed on all of the myths behind Jesus. You know the ones, the Jesus that would be conservative and back the Republicans, the left-wing hippy type Jesus that promotes Marxism, and let's not forget my absolute favorite: Prosperity Jesus, the one that says that if you follow God, He will bring you earthly riches beyond your wildest dreams.
While the author did a great job of bringing into the spotlight each of these Jesus' we have created, I don't feel as if he shed light on what Jesus was truly like. Unfortunately, all of these Jesus' that have been created are American Jesus'. Perhaps this is on par with the audience the author is focussing on, but he could be so much more inviting and explanatory in regards to other countries as a whole, or to humanity as a whole.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Darling makes some great points, I feel the book doesn’t live up to its title. The book spends much of its time correcting myths about Jesus but could do with more of a focus on positively identifying Jesus. After the sections on what Jesus is not, I would have loved a final chapter clearly consolidating who Jesus is and what this means for us.

[Ltcls · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very poorly written and edited. The author just doesn’t explain his case clearly at all. The description doesn’t match what the book says, although understanding it is difficult. Our Bible Study group also didn’t like his conservative viewpoint. Enjoyed his Easter and Christmas books, but doubt I will ever read anything else by this author.

[Lisa Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without Jesus, there would be no Christianity, and so it is imperative that we know, to the extent that we are able, who we are talking about when we talk about him. In this book, Daniel Darling helps us to trade "the myths we create for the savior who is."

I was intrigued by the chapter titles for this book, each one debunking a common label that we sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, apply to Jesus. These include, but are not limited to: Braveheart Jesus (the idea of the savior as the epitome of modern manliness), Prosperity Jesus (the "Jesus just wants you to be happy" trope), American Jesus, BFF Jesus, Legalist Jesus, etc.

For each one, the author mixes some personal experiences and observations with Scripture to present the problems and limitations or inconsistencies with each perception, and point us to passages and principles in Scripture that contradict our shallow labels. I could certainly nod my head in agreement at ideas and concepts I've seen in the culture around me, and also, unfortunately, in my own heart as well. This book is most definitely gospel-driven, but I didn't feel the theology was too deep to understand or too heady to feel personal. The author also has a humorous voice when appropriate, which helps the book read in a conversational way.

This is a short book--only 160 pages including notes and introductory sections (are books getting shorter or is it just the English major in me?) There are parts that I felt could have been fleshed out more. Certainly, a separate book could probably be written on the subject of each chapter. But that's not to say it isn't as thorough as it can be for its length. Ultimately, the author hones in on the primary problem behind all of these labels in the first place:

"I'll admit, I want to accept the Jesus who conforms to my image, the Jesus whose statements fit nicely on coffee mugs and T-shirts. But this safe, sanitized Jesus looks nothing like the real one, the one who came not to give me what I want but to rescue me from the kingdom of darkness. This Jesus, the real Jesus, is dangerous and unpredictable, calling me to lay aside my life and follow him regardless of what it costs. Jesus came not to conform to our desires but to transform us into his image."

Even though this book primarily focuses on what Jesus is NOT, there is still room to succinctly spell out who he ultimately is, although this book is no substitute for reading about him in the gospels. But it is a good takedown of our cultural stereotypes. I would recommend it not only to Christians, but also to those who are seeking more information about him, or are dissatisfied with the stereotypes. For further reading, especially reading that focuses on a more chronological look at Jesus's life, I'd recommend Philip Yancey's "The Jesus I Never Knew."


Disclosure: I received this book free from Baker Books through the Baker Books Bloggers www.bakerbooks.com/bakerbooksbloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa....

[Evan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy of this book, for free, through Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for my honest review.

The Original Jesus, by Daniel Darling, was not at all what I expected. After seeing the smiling “Buddy Jesus” caricature on the cover, and reading the descriptive blurb on the back of the book, I was anticipating a fun, humorous, and insightful point/counterpoint discussion about how Jesus is being presented in popular culture versus the Jesus described in The Bible. Reading the table of contents, it appeared the author had done a fantastic job of identifying the most common stereotypes, such as Guru Jesus, American Jesus, Dr. Phil Jesus, and BFF Jesus.

Despite the straightforward premise, the book seemed to lack focus. By the end of the first chapter, I realized the point/counterpoint discussion wasn’t to be. The “Guru Jesus” chapter can be summed up with, “If you’re not a Christian, you should become a Christian. Here’s why.” Later, the “Post-Church Jesus” chapter preached, “If you’re a Christian, you should regularly attend church. Here’s why.”

Where are the outrageous quotes from the sermons of megachurch pastors? Where are the misguided song lyrics? Where are the oversimplified bumper sticker slogans? Where are the examples of athletes, politicians, and born-again celebrities all perpetuating the Jesus myths identified by the author? In the “American Jesus” chapter, the author vaguely refers to a “political deejay” who is “not a Christian at all but a lapsed member of another faith. And he readily admitted to cultivating an outrage fest for profit”. I have a good idea of whom the author referring to, but what exactly did he say that perpetuated the myth of the so-called “American Jesus”? It’s difficult to offer a rebuttal when it is unclear what is being rebuked.

If the book had delivered on what it promised, it would have been an enjoyable read. Instead, I found The Original Jesus to be very disappointing.

[Wesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesus is many things to many people. Pope Francis, currently visiting America is a decent example: people project onto figures like these who they want them to be, eager to claim them as their own. To conservatives, Jesus is a capitalist and for liberals, he is a hippie. These are prevalent examples because of the political polarization in America so these images get a lot of airtime today. Most misconceptions about who Jesus is stem from either hardcore presuppositionalism or sheer ignorance of who he really is.

Cue Daniel Darling's book The Original Jesus: Trading the Myths We Create for the Savior who is. Darling, a former pastor, is the Vice President of Communications for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Church. In his book, Darling takes down various counterfeit and socially constructed Jesuses made in our own images. Jesus as a guru, Jesus who ignores the Old Testament, Mark Driscoll's hyper masculine Jesus, Pro-American nationalistic Jesus, liberal Jesus, self-help Jesus, Prosperity Gospel Jesus, Church hating Jesus, BFF Jesus, and legalistic Jesus are all casualties of Darling's work. The only thing about this book I found lacking was an explicit picture of who Jesus is. It's implicit throughout the book but one conclusive chapter at the end would have been a solid inclusion. Either way, this book is a good, accessible resource, particularly for pastors and ministers who will be working with people who have been exposed and may share in those socially constructed Jesus.

[Mariejkt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Original Jesus" by Daniel Darling is a book about tearing down the myths our society has created about Jesus. This author does not mix words and is willing to tear down Christian society sacred cows. What do I mean by sacred cows I mean the attitude such as Jesus would be a conservative Republican or a liberal democrat (it always was interesting to me that people think he would be either one). In other words beliefs that people will argue with you over even though they can't back it with Scripture. He also goes after the super popular word of faith or otherwise known as the name it claim Jesus. Or the Dr. Phil Jesus which is the Jesus that will make your life better and not about salvation from sin. He really tears into the false Jesus's the American church as build up which I was very thankful that he did. But I will call irony on one of the recommendation on the back of the book which is the recommendation of Jim Daly president of Focus On The Family. They are well known for at times pushing a conservative Republican Dr. Phil type Jesus so the irony of that just go to me. I will add that book was good but could have been better if he would have added more scriptures on the true Jesus of the Bible but I am glad he pushes/points the reader to search the scripture not man's opinion of Jesus. I will recommend this book but also seek the scriptures more than any man's book.

I was given this book from BakerBooks a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Darling is concerned about the views of Jesus the American church is promoting. He identifies the wrong images but then fails to present a true image of Jesus. He did a pretty good job of showing the errors. I felt he really went off track a couple of times. One was in the chapter about the "Left-Wing Jesus." He writes about what really works to help the poor, free market economy, the accumulation of wealth, the right to private property. He lets us know he understands Jesus did not endorse all the elements of our economy. I did not know Jesus endorsed any aspects of our economy. And this was right after the chapter on the "American Jesus." Odd. The other area was his writing about the necessity of being part of a church body. He quotes much from the epistles of Paul but really not much from Jesus.
What was truly missing from the book was the correct image of Jesus. I would have liked a paragraph or two at the end of each chapter identifying what Jesus did or said, revealing his true character. Darling had the opportunity to take us to the feet of Jesus, humble us and show us his majesty, but did not.
You can read my entire review at http://bit.ly/1V76sAX.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often when I hear people speak about Jesus it sounds like they have picked a few aspects, words, or events they like and ignore the rest. Honestly, all of the "tribes" of Christians do that. This book takes on the most popular versions of Jesus in current American culture. In doing so the author gives a rather comprehensive picture of Jesus.

This book is a great idea. It is well executed and very readable. It is not a book for the ages. It will need to be rewritten every 10 to 20 years as the culture changes.

I recommend it for all Christians and anyone who wants to think about the current perspectives on Jesus.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great concept, average to poor follow-through. Prone to tangents and meandering. A thesis and points would help most of his chapters. A bit too superficial to help anybody except those who already agree with him. He did force me to think about topics that I don't normally think about while reading popular-level, Christian non-fiction.

[Philip Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has plenty to make you think and makes some good points. However it is very American in outlook, eg. problem with hunting, but no concern about going to the shooting range and uses lots of American language.
The point that Darling is making is quite valid in that we all tend to make God and Jesus into the image that suit us.

[sharon stashuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus who is God

I have to say this book was very interesting. But there were terms and facts regarding the modern day church that I have never heard of nor could understand. His understanding and revelation of the true gospel was spot on. I would recommend it for anyone that maybe unsure what the real or true gospel is.I'm

[Zachary Hanje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book dismantling many false caricatures of who we suppose Jesus to be.