Comments on: ‘A Jesus Manifesto’ Revisited: An Interview with Frank Viola

By: Jo Ann W. Goodson

Jo Ann W. Goodson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:54:24 +0000

I read the Jesus Manifesto and really like what it states. It is my belief that Jesus is, or should be, central to all that we believe, say and do. For me, I/we cannot or should not try to imitate Jesus. There was and will always be just one Jesus. I believe that God created each of us special and unique and we should find out just who/what that person was created to be and do. For me, I can only be the very best Jo Ann that I can be. I have studied all my life trying to learn as much about God, Jesus and The Holy Trinity and how that affects me and my “being” and “doing.” What I read about Jesus, not just his teachings, but how he treated people, how he took care of himself, how he loved God, what he thought about himself in relationship to God, how he loved everyone and how he treated everyone, etc. gives me insight into the type of “Christian” I should be or could be. I have also learned much from my experience and relationship with God and all God’s children. As I practice what I have learned and “repented”/turned around, and loved Gods children, I hope one day that God will also say to me, “well done my good and faithful servant/child.” I so admire people of all faiths that are williing to share their faith and beliefs with me and others. They are such inspirational folks. As I gain further insight into God through others I thank God for each of you, especially writers.

By: Mark Sequeira

Mark Sequeira — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:30:35 +0000

God bless you Pete and may He fulfill your every desire for Himself!!!

By: pete zimmerman

pete zimmerman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:34:14 +0000

man. when I decided to drop out of the masters of social work program and stop living as an individual american agnosto-christian, it was because I knew that real change could only come through dedicated people….like the church. my commitment was to the social gospel. and that was good because it was gospel. but after being a chaplain this summer, and now trying to start a church, all my actions and beliefs have gotten me to a point where I really really really need Jesus. For myself, for others, and for him.

such radical christocentrism speaks depths to my soul.

By: Mark Sequeira

Mark Sequeira — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:33:55 +0000

The quote I was referring to was, “But the truth is, Jesus spoke about Rome very little. He did speak to a certain extent about the leaders in Israel, but He hardly touched on the empire at all.

On the other hand, Jesus is political in this sense…”

By: Mark Sequeira

Mark Sequeira — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:31:31 +0000

I love both frank and Len and am encouraged by their Manisfesto, nor would I critique it per se. I would like to challenge Frank’s statement above <>

I would rather agree with N.T. Wright (Jesus and the Victory of God) among others, (such as Horsley,…) that ‘everything’ Jesus did was ‘political’ but that it didn’t fit into their (or our) catagories. Maybe this is what Frank was getting at. In this sense, Jesus was very revolutionary, but not for overthrow or using coercion (whether violent or non-violent) as his method of operation.

In N.T. culture, much like Salafi or Wahabi Islamism today, you cannot separate religion and politics, the acts of God and the responsibilities of men. Whether Jewish culture or Roman culture, they are forever entwined and believers died because they were perceived as anti-social and a direct challenge to the state. I don’t think Jesus can be pulled into our 20th Cen. Western division of church and state and a case made that what we have created was somehow what he envisioned when he was alive. That doesn’t mean it is bad either, but it may cause us to cede ground that God never intended. To remain silent where God has a definite opinion.

The word ‘gospel’ was a political and Greek term used by Caesar before Jesus. In fact, I think we see the N.T. writers using Greek terms and concepts of ‘empire’ to define for the Greeks and Romans who Jesus was and the terms, extent and polis of his kingdom in a context they could understand, much like Jesus defined the term ‘Messiah’ for the Jews and how it related to God’s reign in the face of Roman occupation.

Overall, I think it is a masterful work (The Manifesto) where the church has gotten involved in many things and lost track of their first love, possibly making idols out of lots of other ‘godly’ ambitions. I think Jacque Ellul, (another controversial writer), has this part right when he suggests that Jesus did not intend to swoop in and solve all our problems or give us answers but rather to enter into our struggle fully and embody God and His thoughts, concerns, attitudes in them. To struggle with us and let us know in the midst of sin and brokenness that God was there and knew and was at work. …Your thoughts?

By: Wretched and Beautiful : links for 2009-09-02

Wretched and Beautiful : links for 2009-09-02 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:02:31 +0000

[...] ‘A Jesus Manifesto’ Revisited: An Interview with Frank Viola "I do not believe that Jesus was political in the sense that we use that term today. Jesus was not trying to put together a revolutionary movement to overthrow the government. I personally think that overthrowing the government is a distraction. Christians need to act as much as possible as though the government were irrelevant. Jesus basically ignored it." (tags: religion christianity anarchism politics) [...]