restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
On the Writing (and Reading) of Books
In the current welter of religious publication, it might be helpful to explain why, with my latest book, Ive decided to throw another pound or two of paper on the heap.
Heres the expanded table of contents. I think it speaks for itself.
The Downward Path of Jesus: From Cultural Conformity to Radical Discipleship
Preface
1. Introduction: The Downward Path of Jesus
Smashing Our Idols
Imitating Christ
The Jesus Paradigm
A Cruciform Lifestyle
Making Disciples
2. The Liberated Church: Recasting Our Vision of Discipleship
Cultural Christianity or Costly Discipleship?
Churchianity or Christ?
Two Allegiances?
Lions or Lambs?
The End of Christendom?
Reformation, Revival, or Restoration?
3. The Radical Reformation: The Anabaptists and Suffering Servanthood
New Testament Church Life
The Anabaptists and Clerical Ministry
A New Covenant Approach
Apolitical Christianity
The Brotherhood of All Believers
The Anabaptists and Missions
Conclusion: Why Study the Anabaptists?
4. The Priestly Kingdom: Communal Ecclesiology and Every-Member Ministry
The FDR-ing of the Church
Whose Responsibility Is It to Admonish the Unruly?
Every Member a Minister
From Serve Us to Service
Every Member a Missionary
5. The Community of the Spirit: Leadership Jesus Style
Hows Your Hekastology?
Theres Only One Senior Pastor
Church Leadership According to Philippians 1:1
Pastors as Shepherds
Summary: Who Rules the Church?
6. The Politics of Jesus: Disarming the Principalities and Powers
The Seduction of Politics
An American Theocracy?
A Post-Political Church
Christian Politics?
The Just War Tradition and Pacifism
Cross-Based Politics
A Test Case: Iran
Addendum: Comparison of the 1925, 1963, and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
7. The Future of Christianity: Habits of the Upside-Down Kingdom
Upside-Down Deviants
Doing the Kingdom Together
The Gospel of Hospitality
Hows Your Serve?
What really surprises me is that I had not thought of writing this book earlier in my career. For New Testament teachers, a subject as central as discipleship can be ignored only at our peril.
In some ways, Ive returned to my youth, when as a Jesus freak I extolled the Jesus way of life (while spouting the worst platitudes). But Jesus freaks never go out of style. If you think there are already enough books on this subject, you are probably right. I offer my own views not as an autonomous work but as an intellectual nod to my mentors, namely Bonhoeffer, Ellul, and Muggeridge. I planted, Apollos watered but neither of them mattered in the least. The essential thing is to get the message across, nest pas?
I must have the book finalized before I leave for Central Asia next month. Ive entrusted the manuscript to a very select group of friends and colleagues whose criticisms I await like an anxiety-ridden mother.
Jacque Ellul once said, Look at the one speaking, study that persons face, learn that persons life, and then take his or her words seriously or dont. I like that. Its really the only way to judge a publication. A book is true only when we can trust the one who wrote it.
Then again, only imbeciles will orient their faith and thinking toward mere men. Everything in our lives goes perversely wrong when we place our trust in any human author. Our faith must always and only be in Christ.
So please do not expect too much from this little book of mine. In the end, the Logos made flesh is the only one we can trust.
August 20, 2008
David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.