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ReJesus: Remaking the Church in Our Founder's Image [Revised & Updated Edition]
OUR CHURCHES NEED REJESUSING LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
We live in a fractured and divided world. Nationalism and political extremism are rife in the church, scandals involving well-known Christian leaders are on the rise, and ideologies and idolatries abound. Badge and brand are espoused more than servanthood and sacrificial love.
In this timely revised and updated edition, Frost and Hirsch get to the root of these issues, exposing the many ways we have formed Jesus in our own image and co-opted him for our own agendas. ReJesus is a clarion call to recenter our lives on Christ so that we might become a people who look, act, think, and sound like Jesus.
Now more than ever, our world needs a church remade in our Founder’s image.
We live in a fractured and divided world. Nationalism and political extremism are rife in the church, scandals involving well-known Christian leaders are on the rise, and ideologies and idolatries abound. Badge and brand are espoused more than servanthood and sacrificial love.
In this timely revised and updated edition, Frost and Hirsch get to the root of these issues, exposing the many ways we have formed Jesus in our own image and co-opted him for our own agendas. ReJesus is a clarion call to recenter our lives on Christ so that we might become a people who look, act, think, and sound like Jesus.
Now more than ever, our world needs a church remade in our Founder’s image.
- GenresDiscipleshipFaith
227 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2022
36 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Michael Frost
61 books100 followersMichael Frost is the founding director of the Tinsley Institute at Morling College. He is an internationally recognised Australian missiologist and one of the leading voices in the missional church movement. His books are required reading in colleges and seminaries around the world and he is much sought after as an international conference speaker. Michael Frost blogs at mikefrost.net
See also other Michael Frosts.
See also other Michael Frosts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 26, 2024
The book argues that the modern Western church has lost its way and has become more like the Pharisees than Jesus. It offers a solid critique of the church's focus on power, cultural dominance, and a non-threatening view of Jesus. The authors highlight Jesus' radical teachings and challenge readers to examine their beliefs and practices in light of the Gospels.
The book is full of thought-provoking questions and challenges, encouraging readers to consider how their faith should shape their lives. While it offers many principles to fix the problem, it fails to provide practical solutions for how to "reJesus" the church and reclaim a more authentic faith. While the authors emphasize the need for personal renewal and a deeper understanding of Jesus, they provide few concrete steps for implementing these changes within the church as a whole.
The book is an important contribution to the discussion about the role and relevance of the church in the 21st century. It calls readers to return to Jesus' radical, unsettling, and transformative message. However, readers may want more practical guidance on how to navigate the challenges it raises.
Some favorite quotes:
"To limit Jesus to a spiritual tap that can be turned on and off to suit our purposes and to meet our need for affirmation is a terrible mistake. It leads to us remaking Jesus in our image rather than us being molded to our Founder’s likeness."
"Nonetheless, part of the process to reJesus the church will involve a dismantling of its much-loved temple theology. While Jesus embodies the fact that the Trinity is both sent and sending, his followers very often seem to prefer a deity who reveals himself in sacred buildings, liturgies, and sacramental practices. So-called temple theology locates God as a withdrawn deity calling recalcitrants back to his temple/church/cathedral to be reunited with him."
"Jesus communities today must never lose sight of the essential work of the cross and celebrate that work as often as they meet together."
The book is full of thought-provoking questions and challenges, encouraging readers to consider how their faith should shape their lives. While it offers many principles to fix the problem, it fails to provide practical solutions for how to "reJesus" the church and reclaim a more authentic faith. While the authors emphasize the need for personal renewal and a deeper understanding of Jesus, they provide few concrete steps for implementing these changes within the church as a whole.
The book is an important contribution to the discussion about the role and relevance of the church in the 21st century. It calls readers to return to Jesus' radical, unsettling, and transformative message. However, readers may want more practical guidance on how to navigate the challenges it raises.
Some favorite quotes:
"To limit Jesus to a spiritual tap that can be turned on and off to suit our purposes and to meet our need for affirmation is a terrible mistake. It leads to us remaking Jesus in our image rather than us being molded to our Founder’s likeness."
"Nonetheless, part of the process to reJesus the church will involve a dismantling of its much-loved temple theology. While Jesus embodies the fact that the Trinity is both sent and sending, his followers very often seem to prefer a deity who reveals himself in sacred buildings, liturgies, and sacramental practices. So-called temple theology locates God as a withdrawn deity calling recalcitrants back to his temple/church/cathedral to be reunited with him."
"Jesus communities today must never lose sight of the essential work of the cross and celebrate that work as often as they meet together."
July 3, 2022
A Catalyst Needed Still Today!!
This is probably my third journey through Alan Hirsch’s & Michael Frost’s ‘ReJesus’. In all three times, it has catalyzed an inspiration in my soul to realize we cannot simply read the story of Jesus and not feel compelled to respond in life transformation.
This particular time, I read while spending a much too long stay in the hospital and wondering, in what way can I possibly find my life ReJesused within the isolation of confined bedrest and a life of disabilities?! Hirsch & Frost revealed a Jesus who remained courageous amidst the chaos of unpredictability around him. They showed a Jesus who sought to heal those in sickness and the struggles of suffering while embracing his own scars, afflictions, and persecutions, sharing the gospel of God‘s kingdom being near to all in equity not because of there condition but inspite of it.
I am deeply indebted to both of them for their work and willingness to embody the likeness of Jesus in their lives as it has always inspired me in the ministry journey I have taken through the years!
This is probably my third journey through Alan Hirsch’s & Michael Frost’s ‘ReJesus’. In all three times, it has catalyzed an inspiration in my soul to realize we cannot simply read the story of Jesus and not feel compelled to respond in life transformation.
This particular time, I read while spending a much too long stay in the hospital and wondering, in what way can I possibly find my life ReJesused within the isolation of confined bedrest and a life of disabilities?! Hirsch & Frost revealed a Jesus who remained courageous amidst the chaos of unpredictability around him. They showed a Jesus who sought to heal those in sickness and the struggles of suffering while embracing his own scars, afflictions, and persecutions, sharing the gospel of God‘s kingdom being near to all in equity not because of there condition but inspite of it.
I am deeply indebted to both of them for their work and willingness to embody the likeness of Jesus in their lives as it has always inspired me in the ministry journey I have taken through the years!
March 3, 2023
tell me again…
This book deserves close reading (and rereading).
A clarion call to the church to return to the life and teaching of its founder, modelling our lives on His.
A plea to reject the gods of this present age and submit afresh moment by moment to His Lordship and leading.
One of my favourite books of 203 already!
This book deserves close reading (and rereading).
A clarion call to the church to return to the life and teaching of its founder, modelling our lives on His.
A plea to reject the gods of this present age and submit afresh moment by moment to His Lordship and leading.
One of my favourite books of 203 already!
June 21, 2024
I am extremely grateful to have read this book when I did. I sometimes am tempted to list out all the items I agree or disagree with when reading a book like this; but instead I’ll say that I sincerely appreciated the reminder of who Jesus is and what He is calling us towards. For that reason alone, I’d say it’s a must read.
August 6, 2022
Title is Really Self-Explanatory
Do we as Christians try to conform to the image of Christ and follow in His footsteps, or do we try to make Him over into our own image? If the latter, how can we rectify our errors and "reJesus" both our individual selves and the Church?
Do we as Christians try to conform to the image of Christ and follow in His footsteps, or do we try to make Him over into our own image? If the latter, how can we rectify our errors and "reJesus" both our individual selves and the Church?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews