Wednesday, February 13, 2013

UNTAMED


Book Review.

Hirsch, Alan.  Hirsch, Debra.  UTAMED.  Reactivating a missional form of discipleship.  Baker Books.  2010.

A.H.- founding director of Forge Mission Training Network.

D.H.- a minister at Tribe of Los Angeles.

Comment.  Henry.

As an octogenarian the term untamed (wild) does not really ‘turn my crank’.  Furthermore, the concept of discipleship like the concept of prayer usually becomes a source of guilt because of ‘short-comings’.  Having confessed that, I must say that this book is a very interesting, motivating read.  There is much to think about and it is the absolute intention of the authors to encourage us all to raise the level of our commitment to discipleship that will move us into the direction of “Christ likeness”.

“Jesus is, must be, the central reference point for the Christian.” (36)  We have been made in the image of God but there is a dangerous tendency to make God (Jesus) in our image. God is like Jesus so we do well to develop a proper image or understanding of who Jesus really was.  “All of us entertain false notions of God to some degree.  None of us gets it all right.” (57)  Discipleship is the result of “right thinking, right acting, and right feeling.”  It is “birthed and maintained” (84) in the Spirit.  “Constant change and a substantial amount of risk” (96) will be ongoing in discipleship.  Some ingredients of such discipleship will be love, learning, discernment, transformation, etc. 

The way to deal with the unavoidable affluence and consumerism of our culture is through generosity that is not threatened by poverty.  Discipling is not limited to believers.  “We are called to disciple everyone who comes into our orbit of influence.” (147)   Church organizations tend to form as an “open (or centred) set rather than a closed (or bounded) set.” (152-153)  A rethinking and refocusing of what it means to be a ‘God family’ is part of missional discipleship. 

“Loving God and loving others (Shema) is foundational to the formation of our identity, but knowing we are loved by God and others is perhaps even more important for us to arrive at healthy selfhood.”  (189)   We are made (created) in the image of God however we need to understand that becoming like him (Christ-likeness) is a process that will not be complete until we ‘see Him face to face’.  “Holistic discipleship” (215) must include sexuality and its spiritual power. 

A missional form of discipleship includes “six incarnational discipleship practices- presence, proximity, powerlessness, provenience, proclamation and passion.” (235)  The gospel was always meant to be conveyed incarnationally.