A More Christlike Way: A More Beautiful Faith

by Bradley Jersak

Christianity’s infamy is that our way and our faith have not been very Christlike. A More Christlike Way is a book for our time, where so much of what is called Christianity has been hijacked to serve agendas that are decidedly un-Christlike. In this sequel to A More Christlike God, Brad Jersak an award winning author, accomplished theologian, grounded in Scripture and Patristics, writes from decades of pastoral experience. A More Christlike Way is a book about Jesus Christ. Jersak lays out how Jesus Christ of Nazareth, in his fully human nature, forged the path for a new and true humanity. We’ll call it the Jesus Way.The author critiques four common counterfeits to the Jesus When Morality Becomes Heresy2 Partisan When Politics Trump Morality3 Retributive Are You on the Spectrum? 4 Nationalism & Civil ReligionHe then describes seven facets of a more Christlike 1 – Radical Self-givingFacet 2 – Radical HospitalityFacet 3 – Radical UnityFacet 4 – Radical RecoveryFacet 5 – Radical Peacemaking/Forgiveness Facet 6 – Radical SurrenderFacet 7 – Radical Compassion/JusticeFinally, Jersak closes with “A More Beautiful Abba’s ‘I have a dream speech’”A More Christlike Way sets forth a vision for following Jesus that is in keeping with the kind of faith that first turned the world upside down two thousand years ago.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Church, Christian, Christianity

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2019

Reviews

[Janall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I should note- This is not my normal book to read. I don’t read non-fiction, and certainly not books about faith. And yet 5 stars- heres why:
I was originally interested in reading this book for two reasons 1) to learn to lead a more Christ centered life. I believe that in my heart that whatever is wrong with this world- so much meanness and anger, that Jesus must be the answer. I found myself wondering what ever happened to the WWJD ( what would Jesus do) bracelets that everyone was wearing a few decades ago. and 2) Confession time: to use it’s info as ammo to beat “conservatives” over the head for their support and condoning unchristian like behavior of our countries leaders - separating children from their parents, answering mass shooting with thoughts and prayers instead of legislation, writing policies that make the wealthy even richer, while the working poor chose between food and a place to live etc.

First, the author really resonated with me as he makes a clear definition between what is today called Christian and the term “Christ-follower,” which he defines “those who follow (or intend to) the Jesus Way as lived and taught by Jesus Christ. By that definition, not all Christians are Christ-followers and not all Christ followers are Christians. Gandhi was a Hindu, not a Christian. But given his devotion to following the Jesus Way of the Sermon on the Mount, he was arguably a Christ-follower. So too are many millions of Muslims today. This doesn’t mean that Muslims and Christians agree. It’s just that many have come to love and follow Jesus, their orthodoxy notwithstanding”.

He then goes on to discuss some of the false idols the church has built today to justifying it moving ever further away from the teaching of Jesus. He calls then the four fraudulent faiths •Moralism—puritanical religion •Partisan Amoralism—politicized faith •Retributive Factionalism—culture wars ideology •Nationalism and Civil Religion—clan and country.
Everything rang true to me. See this is what I see, people calling themselves Christians, who are anything but.

However, a few chapters in the finger was pointed at me- I was not living the life Christ asks.
“If someone says, ‘I love God’, but hates their brother or sister, that person is a liar. Someone who doesn’t love a brother or sister whom they have seen, how can they love God, whom they haven’t seen?”(1 Jn. 4:20).” Hmmm perhaps I judge too much.

There is a warning about “ otherness” that is exactly opposite of what Jesus wants- and how we all like to comfortably separate ourselves from those who are different.
“ Do you feel more at home with the squeaky-clean folks of good reputation? Or with those on the messy margins? Do you rub shoulders more easily with the up-and-comer or the down-and-outer? Do you relate better to the religious elder or the rebellious sibling? Either way, how might we make space for all those who feel most “other” to us?”

So, for me to follow his example it’s not about me embracing gay people, or the homeless, (I already do that easily) Its about me inviting people I despise ( Rupert Murdoch and Mitch McConnell) and those that actually wish to do me harm- to my table and loving them. Not making nice to their faces but actually loving them. Sheesh.
When Jesus said pick up the cross and follow me, he didn’t say it would be easy. The author gives numerous examples of how difficult it can be to learn to love our enemies- whether it be internet trolls out to ruin a life, or Islamic terrorists. Hate breeds hate and can only continue to escalate. It’s only though love can we make the world a better place.

In summary, while reading this book I highlighted over 300 passages. This book touched me and enlightened me more than I hoped. It is beautifully written and speaks directly to my heart. Highly recommend for those want to let go of anger and bring in love.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing transformative balm for my bruised faith. I can relate to so many of the personal struggles that the author shares. I am humbled and grateful for so many practical applications to revive my trust and continue on the way of my Savior with solid suggestions for dealing with the depression, misunderstanding, anxiety, and rage that can creep in after experiencing spiritual abuse. Beautiful explanations of beautiful scripture and a beautiful love given to us all at the cross. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the follow up book to Brad Jersak’s a more Christlike God. He has a chapter on deconstruction and suggests reformation is a better term. He has 4 chapters on unchristlike ways to live: moralism, partisan moralism, retributive factionalism and nationalism & civil religion. He is careful to define his terms to not be simplistic. He offers 7 radical (he means root or dramatic alternative) Christlike ways. Here he gets quite personal about his own demons he wrestles. I found the book a bit hard going and took time to digest and absorb. Worth persevering though.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not let the religious theme stop you from reading this book. I am not religious and really don’t know much about religion. However, I am constantly trying to be a better person. This book helped me to more clearly see my faults and understand them so that I can work on fixing them.

#GoodreadsGiveaways

[Connie Hintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jersak does a good job of helping us move from understanding Christianity as a set of beliefs to understanding it as a way of life. He suggests that there are Christians and there are Christ followers and not all Christians are Christ followers, nor are all Christ followers Christian.

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jersak has a casual, conversational tone in his writing. It’s a disarming rhetorical device: it allows those who wouldn’t normally read books in this genre to understand him, and it disarms those who would be predisposed to disagree with him.

In one sense, it’s nice to read a book on orthopraxy that decidedly *isn’t* systematic in its instruction. Life isn’t lived in such organized ways. But Jersak replaces the conceptual with the personal, delving deeper into his own story to draw from his own experience. But there is no bait and switch. Instead of prescribing “the Jesus Way” in absolutes, he makes the matter a confessional of how he tries (and sometimes fails) to live out the message Jesus teaches.

This book is at once less theological, but perhaps more immediately helpful, than its predecessor, “A More Christlike God”. A book like this could do serious heavy lifting for communities and new converts.

[Chasity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I concur with Wm. Paul Young from his foreword. But I am saying it.
At the deepest and most sacred place of my longings, this is what I want. I want this Way to flow like a living river from within me and into all my relationships and encounters. I want people to watch my life and say, "She doesn't have to say a word. She is one of those Jesus Way people."
This book will open you up to how you may or may not be walking the Jesus Way without condemnation.
"Lord have mercy"

[Brandon Hannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time reading a book by Jersak (the first being A More Christlike God) and it was just as enjoyable and enriching. I think he gets more personal in this book, which I appreciate. It makes the reader feel less alone in our own problems, especially if the problem(s) resemble your own.

[Marc Schelske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the More Christlike trilogy, which taken together, provide a beautiful direction for Christians today who struggle with the many ways the church is failing, but are still compelled by Jesus. This entry focuses on discipleship and how we might live out an other-centered, co-suffering kind of faith. Highly recommended.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, I was not a fan of this book. However, there were good tidbits here and there, especially about judgement and hate. I lost interest through most parts due to the author seemingly continuing on about something for far too long.

[Rachel b00ksrmagic · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many books that deconstruct the faith focus on what not to believe. This book is the opposite. Stripped of the trappings of religion, what does the Jesus Way look like? What does it really mean to follow Jesus? There’s so much to ponder here. I feel like I need to read it again!

[Allan S. Contreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more peaceable way...

The last two chapters alone make this book worth reading.
This is an excellent book by Brad Jersak and a must read for every Christian seeking to understand what Christianity is about.

[Julie Dahlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book a 5 star rating for content, but an overall 4 star rating because the writing style is clunky at times. I think it is Jersak's amazing intelligence that comes out awkward in written form. This is my second Jersak book I have read and I will continue to read more of his writings.

[Vaughn Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, Brad gives clarity of Jesus from scripture and His purpose and now our purpose in living out life with a foundation of Love in reflecting our Lord through out are lives.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a powerful meditation on living more Christlike life. Very challenging. My favorite chapter was radical peacemaking, radical forgiveness.

[Wayne's · Rating 4 out of 5]

An open explanation of an ancient way, the Jesus way.

[Benjamin Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended! I’ll add more later on why.

[Glen Grunau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently I have read a few books that have helped me in my ongoing wrestling with the violent Old Testament image of God that remains so prevalent in contemporary evangelicalism.  None was more helpful than Brad Jersak's A More Christlike God in convincing me that the invisible God as revealed in Jesus Christ gives us a more reliable and complete picture of the true God than much of what is conveyed throughout the Old Testament.

I frankly wondered how Brad would be able to live up to this high standard in his sequel - A More Christlike Way.  He did not disappoint.

So much of what I have learned in my lifetime about Christian discipleship prioritized belief systems and obedience to commandments.  Thankfully, Jersak expands on what discipleship masters such as Dallas Willard have taught about the importance of simply focusing on the Jesus Way, as most succinctly and fully revealed in Jesus' infamous Sermon on the Mount.

There was much I appreciated about this book but I will focus on just a few points.

First, Jersak does a marvelous job of clearly setting apart the Jesus' Way from the distortions represented in the recent spread of nationalism and in the growth in partisan politicization of the Christian religion, most clearly represented in the American Christian Right.  He reveals the dangers for Jesus followers of becoming so strongly affiliated with our position on the political spectrum, whether left or right,  the we end up creating a new religion out of our politics that supplants the Jesus Way as revealed in the Sermon on the Mount.

Second, Jersak helps us grapple with the way of retributive violence that continues to prevail in much of Christendom despite the contrasting Way of the Cross which would lead us to overcome evil from a posture of self-giving weakness rather than punishing it from a position of retributive power.  How could we have missed the cruciform way that Jesus revealed on the cross? This is so much more than a strategy for forgiving sin. It is a template for us to follow in responding to evil and violence.

By the way, Brad may be the first other person I know who has experienced the 1979 movie Apocalpyse Now in the same transformative way that I did as a young man of 20 years. I would never see war in the same way again after that jolt in the theatre! I really appreciated Brad's description in his book of his exchange of letters with the lead male actor in that movie, Martin Sheen, a self-proclaimed Jesus follower.

Third, Brad has some good things to say about prayer that I found very helpful. He was able to capture the strengths and the shortcomings of both the charismatic and contemplative approaches to prayer that I found helpful in sorting through some of my own difficulties with prayer.

Finally, this is a very personal book. Brad becomes increasingly transparent in speaking out of his own personal struggles along the Way, revealing his weaknesses as well as his struggles with violent fantasies against perpetrators of evil in the world as well as against those who have directed violence at him and the members of his family. The truth he sets forth in this book is much more than a theoretical set of principles. It is a way that has been learned through his own personal shedding of blood, sweat, and tears.

This is a very good book, a natural and necessary extension of what Brad introduces in his groundbreaking prequel, leaving us with a valuable and relevant companion set on knowing and following Jesus that is highly relevant for our current political climate.  

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christlike way as....
-Radical Self-Giving
-Radical Hospitality
-Radical Unity
-Radical Recovery
-Radical Peacemaking and Forgiveness
-Radical Surrender
-Radical Compassion and Justice

So much better than the moralism, partisan amoralism, factionalism, and nationalism that our times has on offer.

[mcarans · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this sequel to Brad Jersak's majestic "A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel", the author considers what "a new and true humanity" flowing from the theology of the first book would look like. Taking our understanding of the God of triune Love whose cruciform and kenotic nature is revealed perfectly in Christ, we are lead on a journey to discover what it means in practice for us to follow the path forged by Jesus.

And what a journey that is! Jersak is unafraid to tackle some of the difficult issues of our time from a firmly Christ-centred perspective, starting with what it means to identify as Christian when Christianity has become tarnished by the unChristlike behaviour of some adherents. He proposes a new approach to deconstructing a toxic faith before introducing the Jesus Way in Scripture.

Whatever your political persuasion, part 2 will challenge as Brad considers how faith is lead astray through various "isms". The book concludes with an exposition of a more beautiful faith expressed through seven "radical" facets, ending with a truly inspiring vision.

"A More Christlike Way" can be read without having completed the earlier book, particularly if you are already familiar with Cruciform Theology. Nevertheless, I recommend reading "A More Christlike God" first, not just because it is a clear and easily digested introduction and overview of the cruciform way of thinking, but also because it is helpful to follow Jersak's progression from theory to practice.

I had high expectations because the prequel was a foundational pillar of my theology. I am delighted to report that "A More Christlike Way" is a worthy successor and stimulating read from which I have learnt a great deal about the human aspects of our cruciform pilgrimage.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of the book to review.

[Dennis Warkentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this sequel to A More Christlike God, Brad Jersak an award winning author, accomplished theologian, grounded in Scripture and Patristics, writes from decades of pastoral experience. A More Christlike Way is a book about Jesus Christ. Jersak lays out how Jesus Christ of Nazareth, in his fully human nature, forged the path for a new and true humanity. We’ll call it the Jesus Way.

The author critiques four common counterfeits to the Jesus Way:
1 Moralism: When Morality Becomes Heresy
2 Partisan Amoralism: When Politics Trump Morality
3 Retributive Factionalism: Are You on the Spectrum?
4 Nationalism & Civil Religion

He then describes seven facets of a more Christlike Way:
Facet 1 – Radical Self-giving
Facet 2 – Radical Hospitality
Facet 3 – Radical Unity
Facet 4 – Radical Recovery
Facet 5 – Radical Peacemaking/Forgiveness
Facet 6 – Radical Surrender
Facet 7 – Radical Compassion/Justice

Finally, Jersak closes with “A More Beautiful Vision: Abba’s ‘I have a dream speech’”

A More Christlike Way sets forth a vision for following Jesus that is in keeping with the kind of faith that first turned the world upside down two thousand years ago.