Comments on: Thoughts on "A Jesus Manifesto"

By: Jesus Manifesto : JulieGlavic.com

Jesus Manifesto : JulieGlavic.com — Fri, 13 May 2011 23:31:26 +0000

[...] the Supremacy of Jesus Christ." The bullet points are not elaborated, though, because Julie Clawson and (my) Paul have elaborated them already (and [...]

By: BILL BRADLEY

BILL BRADLEY — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:01:09 +0000

I think when Jesus is your life that all these missing
elements you believe are missing in the Jesus Manifesto
will come into play. You can't be in love with Jesus
Christ and not want to help people, love people etc.
It is impossible.

I have been struggling with the Church System and I am
an Elder at a Church. I see our Church and many others
trusting in programs, buildings and increasing membership,
but we many times miss our Father ,because we trust in ourselves
not in Jesus

Peace,
Bill Bradley

By: Steve Hayes

Steve Hayes — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:48:40 +0000

At the risk of simply repeating was others have said, I must say I agree with you, and you have said it very well.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:04:11 +0000

I had several reactions to Len Sweet and Frank Viola's recently released Jesus Manifesto for the 21st Century, but I'll restrict my comments here to just one point.

Although the manifesto claims that its Christocentric focus is the only thing that will heal the rifts within the church–rifts over social issues like abortion and homosexuality, but about other things as well–it fails to recognize the narrowness of the unity it wants to establish. The manifesto proclaims that Christianity=Christ; in this way it makes clear its Christocentrism. It then proceeds to develop a very high christological understanding of Jesus. For the authors of the manifesto, these are foundational, non-negotiable positions.

My problem with this is that the manifesto's christocentrism and high christology effectively bar anyone with a lower christological view from participating in the unity they earnestly desire. As a result, the manifesto feels strangely parochial. It purports to be a unfiying device but it simultaneously performs the role of gatekeeper, admitting those who share its high christological and christocentric positions and turning away those who don't. Ironically, none of the first century followers of Jesus would have passed Sweet's and Viola's litmus test.

By: Julie Clawson

Julie Clawson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:36:38 +0000

Adam – they say they will delete any comment that isn't edifying – so I guess they're part of that group that thinks anyone disagreeing with them isn't appropriate.

wondering – emergent isn't everything. but when you are part of a group and get attacked, one responds from within that group.

By: wondering...

wondering... — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:32:25 +0000

Why so self-focused on emergent church?

this manifesto sounds like it speaks against emergent missional people, sure, but also against many other followers of Christ in general who are seeking Christ's shalom and Kingdom on this earth.

i just dont get it why everything is emergent and why emergent is everything

By: Charlana Kelly

Charlana Kelly — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:28:32 +0000

Great post!

One of the things I love most about Jesus is the FACT that He is a revolutionist.

I've heard several times over the years from an impotent church that it's wrong for individuals to step outside the church to start ministry in their community; in other words para-church ministries are in rebellion to church leadership. Jesus' season of ministry was the most powerful "para-synagogue" ministry that ever invaded the earth!

By: How to let Him know you don’t care « getting free

How to let Him know you don’t care « getting free — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:44:06 +0000

[...] just not 'little Christs.' I wish this story wasn't epidemic, but it is. Just as Julie Clawson has described, the Jesus to admire, even adore, (but not listen to or follow) is still quite popular, thanks to [...]

By: Adam Moore

Adam Moore — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:36:55 +0000

I decided to comment on the jesus manifesto blog because I wanted to share my critique more directly, rather than through other blogs.

Unfortunately my comment was deleted. Not exactly sure why…kind of surprised. It wasn't an angry or inappropriate comment, just a critical response.

By: Mike Clawson

Mike Clawson — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:35:51 +0000

I've heard Sweet denounce the social transformation side of the emerging church conversation more than a few times in recent years (I'm recalling an interview in Relevant magazine from a while back in particular). I get the impression that it was a direction he wasn't really interested in going, and perhaps he wants to "reclaim" the conversation back towards whatever his main emphasis is (I don't personally know what that is since I've never read a Sweet book all the way through – just don't care for his style, too many obscure and slightly-cheezy metaphors).