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.
