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Upside-Down Spirituality: The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life
In our age when the church can too often seem like a poor copy of the world, Chad Bird challenges us to reclaim the astounding originality of our ancient, backward faith. Where the world stresses the importance of success, Bird invites readers to embrace nine specific failures in the areas of our personal lives, our relationships, and the church. Why? Because what human wisdom deems indispensable is so often an impediment to our spiritual growth, and what it deems insignificant is so often essential to it.
With compelling examples from the Bible and today, Bird paints an enticing picture of the counterintuitive, countercultural life that God wants for us. He helps readers delight in all of the ways that Jesus turned the world upside-down, allowing us to experience true freedom, not from our weaknesses but in the midst of them.
With compelling examples from the Bible and today, Bird paints an enticing picture of the counterintuitive, countercultural life that God wants for us. He helps readers delight in all of the ways that Jesus turned the world upside-down, allowing us to experience true freedom, not from our weaknesses but in the midst of them.
206 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2019
76 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Chad Bird
35 books570 followersChad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. He holds master’s degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has contributed articles to Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Modern Reformation, The Federalist, Lutheran Forum, and other journals and websites. He is also the author of several books, including Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul, Your God Is Too Glorious: Finding God in the Most Unexpected Places, Upside-Down Spirituality: The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life, and Unveiling Mercy: 365 Daily Devotions Based on Insights from Old Testament Hebrew. He cohosts two popular podcasts: “40 Minutes in the OT” and “Hidden Streams.” Chad and his wife Stacy have four children and three grandchildren. They enjoy life together in the Texas Hill Country.
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June 28, 2019
Summary: Highlights nine areas in which Christian faith turns cultural conventions on their head, turning the world "upside-down."
When you ask most people what they think a real Christian is, the answer is often some version of people who are nicer than those around them. Often, we buy that, adopting the way those around us think of a good, or even successful life, covering it with a veneer of Christian-y sounding language.
Years ago, I had a seminary course in New Testament Ethics, the primary text of which was Allen Verhey's The Great Reversal. I have to admit that at the time, I still regarded Christian ethics as a nicer version of the world's, but was bothered by the title. Over the years of reading and re-reading the Bible, I began to suspect more and more that Jesus really did inaugurate a great reversal, literally turning the world's ethics on their head, blessing the meek and the humble and making the least the greatest.
Chad Bird's Upside-Down Spirituality develops a similar idea. Whereas we tend to celebrate good people who succeed, Bird proposes that this common sense needs to be turned on its head. He proposes:
"Failures of a faithful life--that's what we'll be talking about in the chapters that follow. What this world's common-sense wisdom reckons as failures, anyway. The failure to be extraordinary, the failure to live independent lives, the failure to go big or go home, the failure to think love sustains our marriages, even the failure to have a personal relationship with Jesus....For there are areas in all our lives--personally, in our families and marriages, as well as in our churches--where we've become so habituated to the empty platitudes of our culture that we don't even realize our hearts have gone astray" (p. 24).
Bird discusses nine failures under three categories. The first category is how we think of ourselves. He challenges the idea of believing in the God who believes in you. Instead, he argues that God doesn't believe in us but through "Jesus only" we discover the God who loves us despite our failures. He contends that failing to make a name for ourselves, living what may be hidden lives of faithfulness carries the great assurance that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. He calls out a culture that urges us to follow our hearts, and invites us to follow not our hearts, but Jesus.
The second part considers how we think about our lives. He begins by puncturing the dream of being the perfect parent. He cites a Facebook post outlining a long litany of things the perfect mom does and contrasts it with the list used by former generations: "feed them sometimes." The truth is that all of us who have been parents have done mediocre jobs, and that our real hope is that our children grow up, not in perfect houses with perfect parents, but in houses of grace where we all come to understand that our hope is being God's forgiven children. Instead of questing for our ideal "calling," Bird challenges us that there is no sacred-secular divide, and that we may live as called persons wherever we are, and in whatever we do.
The chapter in this part I loved the most was where he argues against the myth of finding one's soulmate. When I hear marrying couples say this, I either gag or tremble, fearing that they are headed to an early divorce if they don't wake up to the reality that no person can live up to that ideal. We are both unique, and often self-centered and marriage will sooner or later bring those differences and our fallenness to the surface. Bird proposes that it is not love that sustains marriages, but rather marriages that sustain love as we press into Christ for his help to do what is humanly impossible.
Finally he challenges some of the success myths of the church. One is the myth of us versus them, that to not conform to the world, we need to cut ourselves off from the world. He explores what it means to be resident aliens, building bridges into Babylon, seeking its peace and prosperity, even as we embrace our true citizenship in the kingdom. He gives the lie to having "a personal relationship with Jesus," that faith is a private thing. Rather, we relate to Jesus as part of communities who are his body.
His final chapter wonders about something I've wondered about. Why do so many of us drive past fifty churches to go to the "big box" church across town rather than worshiping with those who live near where we live? He contends that instead of buying into "bigger is better," we find contentment and joy wherever the crucified and risen Christ is preached.
Each chapter ends with a "beatitude," all of which are summarized at the end. A couple of my favorites:
3. "Blessed are those who don't follow their hearts, for they follow the Lamb where he goes."
5. Blessed are those who fail to find their calling, for theirs is the kingdom where life and love and service find them."
Bird writes with candor and vulnerability. He's been through a divorce and done everything from pastor to drive a big rig. He punctures the success myths of contemporary Christianity as one who has failed and found grace, and a far more vibrant and honest life as a humble follower of Christ. He offers hope that when we fail, we may be closer than ever to the grace of God and the kingdom of Jesus, who turns the world upside down.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
When you ask most people what they think a real Christian is, the answer is often some version of people who are nicer than those around them. Often, we buy that, adopting the way those around us think of a good, or even successful life, covering it with a veneer of Christian-y sounding language.
Years ago, I had a seminary course in New Testament Ethics, the primary text of which was Allen Verhey's The Great Reversal. I have to admit that at the time, I still regarded Christian ethics as a nicer version of the world's, but was bothered by the title. Over the years of reading and re-reading the Bible, I began to suspect more and more that Jesus really did inaugurate a great reversal, literally turning the world's ethics on their head, blessing the meek and the humble and making the least the greatest.
Chad Bird's Upside-Down Spirituality develops a similar idea. Whereas we tend to celebrate good people who succeed, Bird proposes that this common sense needs to be turned on its head. He proposes:
"Failures of a faithful life--that's what we'll be talking about in the chapters that follow. What this world's common-sense wisdom reckons as failures, anyway. The failure to be extraordinary, the failure to live independent lives, the failure to go big or go home, the failure to think love sustains our marriages, even the failure to have a personal relationship with Jesus....For there are areas in all our lives--personally, in our families and marriages, as well as in our churches--where we've become so habituated to the empty platitudes of our culture that we don't even realize our hearts have gone astray" (p. 24).
Bird discusses nine failures under three categories. The first category is how we think of ourselves. He challenges the idea of believing in the God who believes in you. Instead, he argues that God doesn't believe in us but through "Jesus only" we discover the God who loves us despite our failures. He contends that failing to make a name for ourselves, living what may be hidden lives of faithfulness carries the great assurance that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. He calls out a culture that urges us to follow our hearts, and invites us to follow not our hearts, but Jesus.
The second part considers how we think about our lives. He begins by puncturing the dream of being the perfect parent. He cites a Facebook post outlining a long litany of things the perfect mom does and contrasts it with the list used by former generations: "feed them sometimes." The truth is that all of us who have been parents have done mediocre jobs, and that our real hope is that our children grow up, not in perfect houses with perfect parents, but in houses of grace where we all come to understand that our hope is being God's forgiven children. Instead of questing for our ideal "calling," Bird challenges us that there is no sacred-secular divide, and that we may live as called persons wherever we are, and in whatever we do.
The chapter in this part I loved the most was where he argues against the myth of finding one's soulmate. When I hear marrying couples say this, I either gag or tremble, fearing that they are headed to an early divorce if they don't wake up to the reality that no person can live up to that ideal. We are both unique, and often self-centered and marriage will sooner or later bring those differences and our fallenness to the surface. Bird proposes that it is not love that sustains marriages, but rather marriages that sustain love as we press into Christ for his help to do what is humanly impossible.
Finally he challenges some of the success myths of the church. One is the myth of us versus them, that to not conform to the world, we need to cut ourselves off from the world. He explores what it means to be resident aliens, building bridges into Babylon, seeking its peace and prosperity, even as we embrace our true citizenship in the kingdom. He gives the lie to having "a personal relationship with Jesus," that faith is a private thing. Rather, we relate to Jesus as part of communities who are his body.
His final chapter wonders about something I've wondered about. Why do so many of us drive past fifty churches to go to the "big box" church across town rather than worshiping with those who live near where we live? He contends that instead of buying into "bigger is better," we find contentment and joy wherever the crucified and risen Christ is preached.
Each chapter ends with a "beatitude," all of which are summarized at the end. A couple of my favorites:
3. "Blessed are those who don't follow their hearts, for they follow the Lamb where he goes."
5. Blessed are those who fail to find their calling, for theirs is the kingdom where life and love and service find them."
Bird writes with candor and vulnerability. He's been through a divorce and done everything from pastor to drive a big rig. He punctures the success myths of contemporary Christianity as one who has failed and found grace, and a far more vibrant and honest life as a humble follower of Christ. He offers hope that when we fail, we may be closer than ever to the grace of God and the kingdom of Jesus, who turns the world upside down.
________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
April 7, 2019
I have never heard of Chad Bird, until I read his new book Upside-Down Spirituality ~ The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life. However, I quickly did a little research on who he is and read this book. Which I will say, is really good, a must read, one I am sure will be on my top 10 of this year! He touches on some subjects that is happening in our culture and how we as Christian’s should be living and responding to those. I really enjoy his writing style, getting to the point with Truth, his humbleness, and the bit of sarcasm he uses. His focus in this book is: Does it matter what one believes? Or is anything okay, just as long as you feel good about it? He makes nine points with his of what he calls “the beatitudes of upside-down spirituality”. I would think most Christians would know the answer to those two questions, but do we live them, like we should? His answer: “The one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life – He and He alone can tell you what really matters. And He’ll tell you if you believe in Him, if you follow His call to be a disciple, it might not feel good – sometimes it’ll hurt like hell – but it’s the only path worth walking because you’ll have as your companion the God who’ll turn your life upside down in the best and craziest of ways.”
There are three parts to this book. Part 1 is Ourselves, which he writes about believing in ourselves, making a name for ourselves, and how we follow our hearts. Part 2 is Our Lives, which he writes about being the perfect parent, searching our calling and for our soulmates. Part 3 is Our Churches, about being separate, having a private faith, and bigger is better. So if just reading through those you are struggling with what to believe and how to live those areas, then pick up this book immediately and your Bible! Please note though you are not to believe those things about it being about me, that God is telling you to make a name for yourself, to follow your heart, to be perfect, to keep your faith private, that bigger is better, etc… No quite the opposite in fact! Instead Chad says, “Come to grips with just how weird Christianity is, how uncool and unmainstream it is. Because from the perspective of the world, from the view of common sense, Jesus and His followers are an embarrassing band of failures. We fail to believe that life is all about us. We fail to follow our hearts. We fail at….But to fail the world – that is to achieve the upside-down spiritual life.” What we are called for. What the world thinks is a failure, God says this is the Way!
Here are a few of my highlights:
The gospel is “not some self-improvement scheme devised by a God who holds back on us till He sees the improvements. Above all, Jesus wants to make sure we understand that He doesn’t care a fig about our precious results. It doesn’t even make a difference to Him if we’re solid brass bastards, because ‘while we were still sinners, Christ dies for the ungodly'”.
And so we can remember that, in God’s kingdom, everything works backwards. The unknown are known, the last are the first, and little children are the models of exemplary greatness.
The hazards with following our heart arises when the criterion becomes the deciding factor behind our decisions, when our heart trumps every other element in the decision-making process, and especially when “following our heart” leads to a narcissistic life where all that matters is our happiness our satisfaction, our contentment, our fulfillment. To follow our heart, in other words, is often shorthand for running from God to chase after pseudo-gods, especially the idols of me.
To be a Christian parent is to be used by the Father to raise our children in Christ. Instead of pointing, in Walter White fashion, to all we’ve done for them, remind them of what Jesus has done for them. And, while we’re at it, let’s remind ourselves that Jesus did those same things for us.
“Secular” is a nonexistent category, because there is no arena of life that is off-limits to God’s dominion, God’s influence, God’s kingdom. Nor are there neutral zones, where the Lord may or may not be active, depending on whether we opt to insert Him into the situation by talking religion or doing religions stuff. Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, with whomever we’re talking, we stand on sacred ground, doing sacred things, saying sacred words.
When we marry, we step inside an ancient, divine structure that’s bigger and older and more stable than our love or feelings or commitment…We’ll discover this soulmate on the same day we spot the Loch Ness Monster while riding on a unicorn a few strides behind a Sasquatch. They all belong to the same mythology.
How can we be fully present in today’s Babylon? How can we be the new Israel in our modern exile? We can practice the art of twin failure: failure to conform to this world and failure to cut ourselves off from it (Romans 12:2).
A privatized faith is a dying faith. We survive and thrive, we grow and flourish, as part of the body of Jesus.
The Big is not really about size at all but rather what the size can get us, what can CBC give the Kirkpatricks? What longings in their hearts do they think this church will satisfy? Congregations like CBC give us options, options give us control, and control satisfies our desire for independence and self-determination. Which in this way are quintessentially American in ethos…It’s time to rethink. To recalibrate our spiritual compasses. It’s time to rejoice not in megachurches or mini-churches or middle-of-the-road churches – to close our eyes to size. Instead, let’s rejoice in churches that have a laser-like focus on one things and one thing only: determine to know nothing among us except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
There are three parts to this book. Part 1 is Ourselves, which he writes about believing in ourselves, making a name for ourselves, and how we follow our hearts. Part 2 is Our Lives, which he writes about being the perfect parent, searching our calling and for our soulmates. Part 3 is Our Churches, about being separate, having a private faith, and bigger is better. So if just reading through those you are struggling with what to believe and how to live those areas, then pick up this book immediately and your Bible! Please note though you are not to believe those things about it being about me, that God is telling you to make a name for yourself, to follow your heart, to be perfect, to keep your faith private, that bigger is better, etc… No quite the opposite in fact! Instead Chad says, “Come to grips with just how weird Christianity is, how uncool and unmainstream it is. Because from the perspective of the world, from the view of common sense, Jesus and His followers are an embarrassing band of failures. We fail to believe that life is all about us. We fail to follow our hearts. We fail at….But to fail the world – that is to achieve the upside-down spiritual life.” What we are called for. What the world thinks is a failure, God says this is the Way!
Here are a few of my highlights:
The gospel is “not some self-improvement scheme devised by a God who holds back on us till He sees the improvements. Above all, Jesus wants to make sure we understand that He doesn’t care a fig about our precious results. It doesn’t even make a difference to Him if we’re solid brass bastards, because ‘while we were still sinners, Christ dies for the ungodly'”.
And so we can remember that, in God’s kingdom, everything works backwards. The unknown are known, the last are the first, and little children are the models of exemplary greatness.
The hazards with following our heart arises when the criterion becomes the deciding factor behind our decisions, when our heart trumps every other element in the decision-making process, and especially when “following our heart” leads to a narcissistic life where all that matters is our happiness our satisfaction, our contentment, our fulfillment. To follow our heart, in other words, is often shorthand for running from God to chase after pseudo-gods, especially the idols of me.
To be a Christian parent is to be used by the Father to raise our children in Christ. Instead of pointing, in Walter White fashion, to all we’ve done for them, remind them of what Jesus has done for them. And, while we’re at it, let’s remind ourselves that Jesus did those same things for us.
“Secular” is a nonexistent category, because there is no arena of life that is off-limits to God’s dominion, God’s influence, God’s kingdom. Nor are there neutral zones, where the Lord may or may not be active, depending on whether we opt to insert Him into the situation by talking religion or doing religions stuff. Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, with whomever we’re talking, we stand on sacred ground, doing sacred things, saying sacred words.
When we marry, we step inside an ancient, divine structure that’s bigger and older and more stable than our love or feelings or commitment…We’ll discover this soulmate on the same day we spot the Loch Ness Monster while riding on a unicorn a few strides behind a Sasquatch. They all belong to the same mythology.
How can we be fully present in today’s Babylon? How can we be the new Israel in our modern exile? We can practice the art of twin failure: failure to conform to this world and failure to cut ourselves off from it (Romans 12:2).
A privatized faith is a dying faith. We survive and thrive, we grow and flourish, as part of the body of Jesus.
The Big is not really about size at all but rather what the size can get us, what can CBC give the Kirkpatricks? What longings in their hearts do they think this church will satisfy? Congregations like CBC give us options, options give us control, and control satisfies our desire for independence and self-determination. Which in this way are quintessentially American in ethos…It’s time to rethink. To recalibrate our spiritual compasses. It’s time to rejoice not in megachurches or mini-churches or middle-of-the-road churches – to close our eyes to size. Instead, let’s rejoice in churches that have a laser-like focus on one things and one thing only: determine to know nothing among us except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
January 26, 2024
So... this book really stepped on my toes and kicked my butt HARD!!!
And I needed that!!
But each time it humbled me to repentance it also provided the clearest Gospel reprieve and inspiration to comfort me with absolute forgiveness through Christ!!
I've had this book in my library since it was released and now I regret not reading it sooner! It is perhaps the best and most helpful book I've read in a long time (and this past year has seen a long list of five-star books for me)!!
This book redefines success and failure; because the common assumptions about each of those words are total misperceptions of how God's kingdom works! ...and THAT affects EVERYTHING about our lives!! The author hints at that with the subtitle: "The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life!" The nine chapters are equally divided into three sections: Ourselves; Our Lives; and Our Churches. Honestly, I got more out of the first two sections than I did from the final section; but then, I have more than enough adjustment in thinking in those first six chapters!!
I won't even attempt to adequately summarize the book; I'll simply say: read it!!
I normally "highly recommend" a five star book in the review and suggest that "I really think you will enjoy / benefit from it"; but I want to be clear:: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
This is one book I definitely will return to read again and again; because I still need it!!!
And I needed that!!
But each time it humbled me to repentance it also provided the clearest Gospel reprieve and inspiration to comfort me with absolute forgiveness through Christ!!
I've had this book in my library since it was released and now I regret not reading it sooner! It is perhaps the best and most helpful book I've read in a long time (and this past year has seen a long list of five-star books for me)!!
This book redefines success and failure; because the common assumptions about each of those words are total misperceptions of how God's kingdom works! ...and THAT affects EVERYTHING about our lives!! The author hints at that with the subtitle: "The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life!" The nine chapters are equally divided into three sections: Ourselves; Our Lives; and Our Churches. Honestly, I got more out of the first two sections than I did from the final section; but then, I have more than enough adjustment in thinking in those first six chapters!!
I won't even attempt to adequately summarize the book; I'll simply say: read it!!
I normally "highly recommend" a five star book in the review and suggest that "I really think you will enjoy / benefit from it"; but I want to be clear:: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
This is one book I definitely will return to read again and again; because I still need it!!!
February 23, 2021
With his characteristic clarity and humility, Chad Bird has written a masterpiece for the church today. The gist? To succeed, we need to fail.
We hear moralist sermons (both from the church pulpit and the world’s pulpit) about how do good and how to live your best life now. We hear that we can succeed at making ourselves better. We can make ourselves whole. We can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We are the captains of our fate, as one poet puts it. We can, we are. We, we, we. I, I, I. Chad reminds us that the faith we hold is not about us and what we can do, but about Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. We are convicted by the law time and again. We fail to live up to the standard that God has for us. And that conviction of the heart pushes us to the gospel of grace: that God himself has succeed where we fail. Thank God for that.
This book dooms us to failure. Or rather reminds us of the blessing of failure and the doom that comes with success. As an Episcopal priest, who is married with a child, this book hit me right in the heart, in the best possible way. It makes me want to fail, so that I can realize more deeply that “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
This book has become a permanent fixture of my list of books to recommend to parishioners when they ask for something to read about Christian spirituality. It is a book that I will read again and again throughout life as a reminder of my utter dependence on Christ and a check to my ego.
We hear moralist sermons (both from the church pulpit and the world’s pulpit) about how do good and how to live your best life now. We hear that we can succeed at making ourselves better. We can make ourselves whole. We can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. We are the captains of our fate, as one poet puts it. We can, we are. We, we, we. I, I, I. Chad reminds us that the faith we hold is not about us and what we can do, but about Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. We are convicted by the law time and again. We fail to live up to the standard that God has for us. And that conviction of the heart pushes us to the gospel of grace: that God himself has succeed where we fail. Thank God for that.
This book dooms us to failure. Or rather reminds us of the blessing of failure and the doom that comes with success. As an Episcopal priest, who is married with a child, this book hit me right in the heart, in the best possible way. It makes me want to fail, so that I can realize more deeply that “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
This book has become a permanent fixture of my list of books to recommend to parishioners when they ask for something to read about Christian spirituality. It is a book that I will read again and again throughout life as a reminder of my utter dependence on Christ and a check to my ego.
March 18, 2020
This book was chosen for a small group to discuss together on a weekly basis. I found it to be a provocative and challenging book. I think I liked it more than most of the others because this book had a way of ruffling feathers, and that's what I like about it. Each chapter takes an assumed truth or way of doing things and considers whether this is really true or whether we have a truth wrong and what it should truly look like in a biblical/gospel context. I didn't particularly like some of the intros to the chapters, but i did enjoy the meat of the message and being challenged. There is a lot you can disagree with in this book which makes for great discussion. I picture this author as being a provocative person who loves to challenge assumptions and question everything. I would recommend this book to stir up some thoughts of true spirituality in a Christian context. If you are sensitive to being offended or challenged then don't bother with this book.
April 19, 2022
Loved the Beatitudes!
Blessed are those who are inquiring of their heart for they shall find it immensely crooked but renewed by Christ
Blessed are those who are inquiring of their heart for they shall find it immensely crooked but renewed by Christ
August 14, 2024
All of Chad Bird’s books are highly recommended for encouragement and biblical truths. I have a few differences such as baptism but overall such solid truths!!
September 15, 2024
A lot of good stuff here. The chapters on success, marriage, and a personal relationship with Jesus were particularly good.
December 17, 2022
Bird shares wonderful messages of releasing pressures we put on ourselves to "measure up" to what the world and, sadly, some Christians think we should be. We can enjoy the relief of knowing that no matter how lowly our position in life might seem to be, God can use everything we do as part of His ministry. Bird writes in an approachable, direct, sometimes gritty style that emphasizes his points about humility.
May 29, 2019
This was a very gripping read. I enjoyed his writing style and I think he did a great job laying out the 9 biggest ways we mimick the world, and how we can instead mimick Christ.
May 24, 2019
I am terrible at writing reviews. I certainly don’t have the eloquence of Chad Bird and am afraid that I will not give justice to this book - which it deserves in heaps & bounds. It felt as if this book was written just for me and at times it had me in tears. This is an incredible book and one that I cannot recommend heartily enough to all Christians out there - in fact I challenge them to read this book.
February 7, 2020
Another profound work by Chad Bird! I found that I needed to read it just a bit at a time because there was just so much to mull over at each sitting. I agreed with a great deal, disagreed with a bit, and thought about some things in a brand new way. I thought quite a bit about "Be not conformed to this world but be transformed...." and how the Church (with a capital C), our individual churches (with little c's) and even myself individually, sometimes cave to accommodate culture instead of staying true to the Gospel and the Great Commission. With all of the political rift that there has been since the last presidential election in our country, I witnessed many, many, Christians on all sides of the political spectrum claiming to out-Christian each other with their political beliefs instead of focusing on the Gospel and the truth that transcends all political movements, all earthly governments, through all of history. I thought much about that as I pondered Chad's "essential failures" of a faithful life. I recommend this to all, to Christians of all denominations and to non-Christians as well.
May 16, 2019
Bird is one to keep an eye out for. Terrific writer and a fine, helpful book.
July 17, 2019
The early disciples turned the Roman civilization upside down. In spite of ostracization from the Jews and persecution by the Romans, the early Christians maintained their faith and religious practices. They were considered outcasts and failures by society. Yet, the faith they hold on to are very much alive and kicking. The use of false witnesses, smear campaigns, vicious persecutions, and other obstacles could not stop the gospel from spreading. All these happens exactly according to what Jesus had said. We save our lives by losing it; we who are the least would become the greatest; and the way to be first is to come from being last. The counter-cultural spirituality is something that author Chad Bird tries to highlight in this book of "9 essential failures" of the Christian life. Nobody likes to hear about failures. Yet, the very nature of success is that it is the fruit of multiple failings. Failures in things we accumulate about ourselves will save us from ourselves. After all, a good life according to the world is to have everything going right for our selfish selves. A life with Christ however would entail the same manner in which Christ was treated, we too would be treated. This reminds me of the last beatitude of Jesus in Matthew 5:11 that disciples of Christ will be persecuted for his sake. Briefly, the kind of "good" failures Bird talks about are:
1) Failure to believe in ourselves like the world
2) Failure to seek after our own name and fame
3) Failure to let our hearts rule our lives
4) Failure to perform perfectionist parenting
5) Failure to restrict calling to just "making a living"
6) Failure to look for Ms or Mr Perfect
7) Failure to build walls to separate the Church from the world
8) Failure to keep our faith private and confidential
9) Failure to embrace size and numbers as better
The first three "failures" address the way we look at ourselves. The second set of three failures deal with the way we life our lives. The final three failures have to do with the way we run church. The way Bird presents his case works on some kind of a reverse-logic. By challenging us this way, readers are forced to make sure they get their angles right. On the one hand, such a method helps us to read more carefully and think out of the box. On the other hand, there could be some confusion especially for anyone unable to get where Bird is going. Plus, the word "failure" carries a negative image and might discourage some readers from even picking up this book. Thankfully, the author clarifies any doubt by doing a summary chapter at the end of the book. There, he presents his "beatitudes" of failure to ensure we don't get the wrong message. Perhaps, the publisher might want to put these "beatitudes" in the book up front to ensure no confusion.
My Thoughts
All in all, this book challenges us in three ways. First, the author urges us not to fall into the ways and expectations of the world. The world may insist on Godzilla-size achievements and numerical superiority. Jesus instead begins with the mustard seed and highlights a quota of two (Matt 18:20) for His presence. The second way I find this book challenging is the way the author makes us embrace our failures. Seeing the world overtaking us is not nice at all. We feel left out and ostracized when we don't keep up. It takes faith and courage to embrace and pursue the counter-cultural ways of Christ. Finally, we need to do our homework to make this set of nine failures into affirmative actions. It is one thing to say no to things. It is yet another to find out our "yes" as to what our response should be. Here's my sample list on the beatitudes, revised in a more affirmative manner.
1) Blessed are those who delight themselves in the LORD;
2) Blessed are those who make a Name for Christ rather than themselves;
3) Blessed are those who follow after the heart of God rather than theirs;
4) Blessed are parents who try their best but don't kick themselves to bits when they fail to become perfect parents;
5) Blessed are those who live their lives according to their primary calling to Christ;
6) Blessed are those who are contented with their marital status;
7) Blessed are those who conform to the ways of the Kingdom of God;
8) Blessed are those who are part of an active community of Christ
9) Blessed are those that the gospel and grace of God is enough.
I am sure readers will be able to come up with a far better list than mine.
Chad Bird has served as pastor, professor, and guest lecturer. He holds graduate degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He cohosts the popular podcast "40 Minutes in the OT."
Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
1) Failure to believe in ourselves like the world
2) Failure to seek after our own name and fame
3) Failure to let our hearts rule our lives
4) Failure to perform perfectionist parenting
5) Failure to restrict calling to just "making a living"
6) Failure to look for Ms or Mr Perfect
7) Failure to build walls to separate the Church from the world
8) Failure to keep our faith private and confidential
9) Failure to embrace size and numbers as better
The first three "failures" address the way we look at ourselves. The second set of three failures deal with the way we life our lives. The final three failures have to do with the way we run church. The way Bird presents his case works on some kind of a reverse-logic. By challenging us this way, readers are forced to make sure they get their angles right. On the one hand, such a method helps us to read more carefully and think out of the box. On the other hand, there could be some confusion especially for anyone unable to get where Bird is going. Plus, the word "failure" carries a negative image and might discourage some readers from even picking up this book. Thankfully, the author clarifies any doubt by doing a summary chapter at the end of the book. There, he presents his "beatitudes" of failure to ensure we don't get the wrong message. Perhaps, the publisher might want to put these "beatitudes" in the book up front to ensure no confusion.
My Thoughts
All in all, this book challenges us in three ways. First, the author urges us not to fall into the ways and expectations of the world. The world may insist on Godzilla-size achievements and numerical superiority. Jesus instead begins with the mustard seed and highlights a quota of two (Matt 18:20) for His presence. The second way I find this book challenging is the way the author makes us embrace our failures. Seeing the world overtaking us is not nice at all. We feel left out and ostracized when we don't keep up. It takes faith and courage to embrace and pursue the counter-cultural ways of Christ. Finally, we need to do our homework to make this set of nine failures into affirmative actions. It is one thing to say no to things. It is yet another to find out our "yes" as to what our response should be. Here's my sample list on the beatitudes, revised in a more affirmative manner.
1) Blessed are those who delight themselves in the LORD;
2) Blessed are those who make a Name for Christ rather than themselves;
3) Blessed are those who follow after the heart of God rather than theirs;
4) Blessed are parents who try their best but don't kick themselves to bits when they fail to become perfect parents;
5) Blessed are those who live their lives according to their primary calling to Christ;
6) Blessed are those who are contented with their marital status;
7) Blessed are those who conform to the ways of the Kingdom of God;
8) Blessed are those who are part of an active community of Christ
9) Blessed are those that the gospel and grace of God is enough.
I am sure readers will be able to come up with a far better list than mine.
Chad Bird has served as pastor, professor, and guest lecturer. He holds graduate degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He cohosts the popular podcast "40 Minutes in the OT."
Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
April 25, 2019
We go to church, pray, read our bibles and proclaim ourselves as Christians, but sometimes it seems like there is something missing. We say that we follow Jesus, and that’s a good thing, but sometimes the problem isn’t that we’re not following Him, it’s that the way we act when we think we’re following Him, isn’t quite the way He does things, in fact, sometimes we’re 180˚ degrees off.
And so, Chad Bird leads us on a quest for answers to the questions “Does it matter what one believes?” and then, “Or is anything okay, just as long as you feel good about it?” For some things it probably doesn’t matter what you believe: some people ‘believe’ that bacon is only for breakfast, while others ‘believe’ that bacon is one of the basic food groups, and as such can, and should, be eaten at any time of the day. But perhaps when it comes to Jesus, we should be a little more particular in making sure that our beliefs are correct.
And so, we look at Upside-Down Spirituality: the 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life (Baker Books, 2019). A problem with Christianity in the West today is that numbers are declining, a lot of people are just giving up on organized religion because it really doesn’t seem to meet their needs. We have gotten to the point where Church is so easy that it’s hard to keep people engaged, they get bored and leave. But Christianity and Church was never meant to be merely a spectator sport. There’s more to it than whispering a prayer and then showing up to church once in a while, and at the end of the month if there’s any money left, putting a dollar or two in the collection place. Church is meant to be an action verb.
So, Bird leads us through a series of things that well-meaning Christians do on a regular basis, which have no basis in what spirituality should look like. The introduction is appropriately titled Turning Our World Upside Down. I say appropriately because that’s what happened in the first centuries after the resurrection; somehow though we’ve lost that momentum and need to regain it.
There are 3 sections in the book, several chapters each on areas of our lives, where many of us make mistakes. When Bird talks about ‘ourselves’ in section one, he highlights several things that people fail to do: 1) they fail to believe in themselves, 2) they fail to make (or even try to make) a name for themselves, and 3) they fail to follow their hearts—their passions.
When it comes to our lives, we make some mistakes too. We beat ourselves up because we’re not perfect at parenting, we don’t take time to search out our calling so our careers and vocations aren’t as satisfying as we might like, and lastly, when our marriages hit a rocky patch we know it’s because we didn’t find our soulmate, we should have tried harder
And it’s at church also where we sometimes get things backwards. For example, we forget that as a body, as the bride of Christ, we have been set apart, set aside for God's purposes. Instead of trying to change the world, we embrace it, hoping that eventually they will be so enamored with us, that they’ll change on their own to become like us—but why would they? We’ve already changed to be like them. And of course, we have our own private and personal relationship with Jesus. That’s okay, until it becomes so private, so personal that we refuse to tell anybody about it. Remember the end of each of the Gospel accounts includes a sending, a commissioning: the disciples were sent to the world to proclaim the good news. And go they went-it wasn’t enough to just send a check and hope that someone else would carry the message. And then we forget that there is a place in the world for small churches; as long as they are healthy and doing kingdom work, there’s a need for them, yet we often fall into the trap of bigger is better. And in our search for bigger, we get caught up in all that church has to offer me, and we forget about offering of ourselves to help the church.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of their Bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review. But I did. 5/5
And so, Chad Bird leads us on a quest for answers to the questions “Does it matter what one believes?” and then, “Or is anything okay, just as long as you feel good about it?” For some things it probably doesn’t matter what you believe: some people ‘believe’ that bacon is only for breakfast, while others ‘believe’ that bacon is one of the basic food groups, and as such can, and should, be eaten at any time of the day. But perhaps when it comes to Jesus, we should be a little more particular in making sure that our beliefs are correct.
And so, we look at Upside-Down Spirituality: the 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life (Baker Books, 2019). A problem with Christianity in the West today is that numbers are declining, a lot of people are just giving up on organized religion because it really doesn’t seem to meet their needs. We have gotten to the point where Church is so easy that it’s hard to keep people engaged, they get bored and leave. But Christianity and Church was never meant to be merely a spectator sport. There’s more to it than whispering a prayer and then showing up to church once in a while, and at the end of the month if there’s any money left, putting a dollar or two in the collection place. Church is meant to be an action verb.
So, Bird leads us through a series of things that well-meaning Christians do on a regular basis, which have no basis in what spirituality should look like. The introduction is appropriately titled Turning Our World Upside Down. I say appropriately because that’s what happened in the first centuries after the resurrection; somehow though we’ve lost that momentum and need to regain it.
There are 3 sections in the book, several chapters each on areas of our lives, where many of us make mistakes. When Bird talks about ‘ourselves’ in section one, he highlights several things that people fail to do: 1) they fail to believe in themselves, 2) they fail to make (or even try to make) a name for themselves, and 3) they fail to follow their hearts—their passions.
When it comes to our lives, we make some mistakes too. We beat ourselves up because we’re not perfect at parenting, we don’t take time to search out our calling so our careers and vocations aren’t as satisfying as we might like, and lastly, when our marriages hit a rocky patch we know it’s because we didn’t find our soulmate, we should have tried harder
And it’s at church also where we sometimes get things backwards. For example, we forget that as a body, as the bride of Christ, we have been set apart, set aside for God's purposes. Instead of trying to change the world, we embrace it, hoping that eventually they will be so enamored with us, that they’ll change on their own to become like us—but why would they? We’ve already changed to be like them. And of course, we have our own private and personal relationship with Jesus. That’s okay, until it becomes so private, so personal that we refuse to tell anybody about it. Remember the end of each of the Gospel accounts includes a sending, a commissioning: the disciples were sent to the world to proclaim the good news. And go they went-it wasn’t enough to just send a check and hope that someone else would carry the message. And then we forget that there is a place in the world for small churches; as long as they are healthy and doing kingdom work, there’s a need for them, yet we often fall into the trap of bigger is better. And in our search for bigger, we get caught up in all that church has to offer me, and we forget about offering of ourselves to help the church.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of their Bloggers’ program. I was not required to write a positive review. But I did. 5/5
February 22, 2022
Bird explores the Christian life by critiquing a lot of pop-religious assumptions that are out there about feelings, success, self-esteem, numbers, etc. A common thread is "failure" as a means of experiencing the gospel. His critiques are apt, though sometimes he has to make a stretch to make it fit with a sense of failure - but he makes it work. His habit of using sentence fragments is a bit annoying. But the beatitudes he concludes each chapter with (and the book with at the end) do a really good job of making his ideas concise and applicable. It's good food for thought.
This book would be good to read in complement with William Willimon's "The Gospel for the Person Who has Everything". (See my previous review.) It would be interesting to have these two men sit down and talk together about their respective insights, as Bird's book naturally begs the question: Where does success fit in with the Christian life (even if it's succeeding in authoring a book about failure).
This book would be good to read in complement with William Willimon's "The Gospel for the Person Who has Everything". (See my previous review.) It would be interesting to have these two men sit down and talk together about their respective insights, as Bird's book naturally begs the question: Where does success fit in with the Christian life (even if it's succeeding in authoring a book about failure).
July 9, 2023
What a great book! Chad Bird takes the world’s expectations and turns them upside down to show us what God expects instead. If you come across a chapter title that irks you because you disagree, give it a chance. Read the chapter to see where he’s going with it. I considered dumping the book in the trash when I got to chapter 8, “There’s No Such Thing as a Personal Relationship With Jesus.” I not only disagree with that statement, but I’ve spent the past several years trying to explain to people how to do just that! But, I read the chapter anyway and realized that he was defining “personal relationship” differently, and he pointed out those differences very clearly. I highly recommend this book, as well as his memoir, Night Driving. If you are searching for truth and hope, you will find it in these books.
March 31, 2023
Chad Bird highlights Biblical truths as they apply to our Christian faith and walk. They run counter to what we have learned and have too often accepted in our culture. We are told how important it is to believe in ourselves and follow our hearts, for example. Bird rightly points out that Scripture teaches us to believe in Jesus and follow Him. We fail. We flounder. We sin. We need our Savior. Straightforward presentation that elevates this basic truth: Christ crucified and risen for us. Because we can't do it for ourselves.
July 22, 2023
Both a reflection and a call to faith, Bird draws on his own life and lessons to compellingly argue for a collective change in perspective, what he calls upside-down spirituality.
This book gave me a lot to think about... Including the merit of ambition and success, our essential need to fail in order to recognize how much we need God, and our purpose as the body of Christ here on Earth.
Recommended by my dear friend Michael, this book encouraged a lot of good reflection & I'd encourage others to read it as well.
This book gave me a lot to think about... Including the merit of ambition and success, our essential need to fail in order to recognize how much we need God, and our purpose as the body of Christ here on Earth.
Recommended by my dear friend Michael, this book encouraged a lot of good reflection & I'd encourage others to read it as well.
April 5, 2019
This book was wonderful writing, very inspiring and compelling to read with that also giving us to see more version and understand more completely to the main point of gospel and turn our life of what we all thought and what we living in this world making is to failures of a faithful life. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book Baker Books Bloggers for this review”.
February 12, 2023
Has good points and highlights some common human pitfalls.
Really weird that he threw in an unnecessary Jordan Peterson quote since, besides the fact that Peterson is crazy and pointlessly anti various things, one of Peterson's main talking points is that young people, specifically men, need to focus on themselves and bettering themselves to fit into society. Which is the exact opposite of the first couple of chapters of this book.
Really undercuts his entire message.
Really weird that he threw in an unnecessary Jordan Peterson quote since, besides the fact that Peterson is crazy and pointlessly anti various things, one of Peterson's main talking points is that young people, specifically men, need to focus on themselves and bettering themselves to fit into society. Which is the exact opposite of the first couple of chapters of this book.
Really undercuts his entire message.
April 8, 2025
Chad Bird is a master with words, storytelling, and robust theology, and they all converge in this easy read. I took it slow because the content has substance and staying power. This is the kind of book I'll return to again and again to pull back from the habitual craving for success in the world's eyes.
October 27, 2025
This book was pretty good, but a lot of it didn’t stick. In my opinion, the best part, what captured my attention most, maybe because it keeps showing up in other places, is near the end where he talks about our cultural focus on personal, what the church can do for us, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, self sufficiency, for which the flipside is community and involving others in our need.
January 8, 2020
Great quick read. I appreciate Chad Bird's well-earned wisdom. You can tell that he's wrestled with the lessons he's so kindly giving to us.
Listened because he was a guest on the Pirate Monk Podcast.
Listened because he was a guest on the Pirate Monk Podcast.
June 16, 2020
One of the best Christian books I have read in along time
Chad Bird really has captured the essence of Christianity and the Christian life. I couldn’t put the book down and highly recommend it.
Chad Bird really has captured the essence of Christianity and the Christian life. I couldn’t put the book down and highly recommend it.
February 20, 2022
Fantastic grace filled book. As one who struggles deeply with legalism and feeling like I’m not enough, this book of 9 essential failures helped loosed the chains and pull back the shroud of oppression that the gospel light might pour in. Excellent humble book with so much upside down insight.
March 22, 2023
An excellent book that provides a truly Christ-centered, Scripture-focused view of the Christian life--a life that appears to be a failure to the world because it is lived beneath the cross, but in Christ is truly blessed because of what he accomplished on the cross. Definitely worth the read!
December 17, 2023
This book encourages the Christian reader to live a normal and uneventful life. The life Christ encourages us to live is not in the spotlight but in his presence. Bird tells us that failure can be the springboard to a greater life in God:
April 11, 2019
I'm gonna call it now. Favorite book this year.
April 18, 2019
Outstanding! Chad has done it again. The foolishness of the cross shines through in this little book about the right kind of failure.
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