Books that are changing my understanding of what it means to be a Christ-follower:
Stuart Murray, “Beyond Tithing.” Murray traces biblical texts on tithing in both the old and new testaments. His treatment challenges the reader to review their thinking on money and giving. Murray suggests that the New Testament norm for giving was spontaneous sacrificial generosity for the purpose of taking care of the poor and helpless. New Testament giving, according to Murray went far beyond tithing. To paraphrase one of the early church fathers, “If you’re not really going to follow Jesus then at least tithe.”
Michael Frost & Alan Hirsch, “ReJesus.” Great book on our need to reorient our lives around the life and teaching of Jesus rather than continuing to form Jesus in our image. This book is both inspiring and convicting. I’m inspired to live with a renewed passion and commitment to what Jesus invited me to and what my soul longs for. I am convicted because I can see how thoroughly I have capitulated to a cultural interpretation of Jesus that strips him of his radical, life giving nature.
Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears, “Vintage Church–timeless truths and timely methods.” Driscoll and Breshears combine scriptural/theological insight in the Reformed tradition with practical suggestions that have been applied primarily in the context of Driscoll’s church on how to be the church in the 21st century. I enjoyed the book and gained some good insights from both the articulation and application of biblical truth within Driscoll’s ministry context. The Reform emphasis on “right thinking” which leads to doing was a little disappointing for me. While I need to confess that truth that I need my sins forgiven and Jesus is the only one who can forgive we also need to teach that embracing Christ’s forgiveness opens the door to a relationship with him that grows in intimacy, maturity and strength. Vintage Church maximises the truth of Christ and how that plays out in/through church but fails to address how Christ actually leads the church relationally. while the authors give a good description of the function of elders and deacons there is little regarding the gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher and their role within the church . I also found it interesting that the authors say that Anabaptists disappeared during the enlightenment–I guess I along with the hundreds of thousands of Anabaptists are a myth. 
next read, Thomas Finger’s 500plus page “A Contemporary Anabaptist Theology.”500 plus pages of Anabaptist history. I know, I know you’re all on the edge of your seats. I got through a couple of hundred pages before I faded out. It’s good to know where I’ve come from spiritually and what events and experiences have shaped our denominational and family history. Many, many people died for the freedom to follow Jesus apart from state/church political-spiritual ruler-ship. Many would rather die than capitulate to the state. They simply wanted to follow Jesus and did so even though their lives were at risk. To say “yes” to Jesus and to act on that commitment through the act of baptism was like signing one’s own death warrant–and many did. I’ll say more once I get back into the book.
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