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Rating:  -
This book is a great resource to have. Driscoll is able to apply apologetic truths about Jesus to our everyday life.
Rating:  -
I had high expectations for this book - I'll confess that I am fond of Driscoll. For no other reason that he is a refreshing stream of absolutism in an otherwise ambiguous overly-artistic flowery world of words and images. He defines the 'X' in my generation.
However, the first chapter was a little disappointing. If you're familiar with Driscoll, then you'll have heard his sermon at the 2006 Desiring God National Conference where he argued for a rigorous combining of biblical propositionalism and practical mission.
If you've heard that talk, then don't bother with the first chapter of Vintage Jesus - it's almost word for word.
But my consumer addictions aside, Vintage Jesus is more than just a doctrinal treatise on Reformed atonement theology; there are some very intimate insights into Driscoll as a pastor. He is a man who clearly cares for those he leads, often teetering somewhere between valiant confidence and overwhelming despair. Those moments in the book were quite touching - although I wouldn't tell Mark that!
The first page summarizes the book well: "This book is dedicated to anyone who takes Jesus seriously, but not themselves."
Rating: -
This edgy, but orthodox book presents traditional, historical Christology in today's vernacular. Driscoll hits home runs in every chapter as he discusses the divinity, humanity, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, resurrection, and second coming of Christ (and more). But he hits a few foul balls along the way too - not theologically, but in tasteful use of language and humor. That's my only hesitation with the book. If you can handle Driscoll's sarcasm and forgive some irreverent humor, this is a great book for learning about Jesus.
Rating:  -
Vintage Jesus is written by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. Driscoll is the reformed/emergent lightening-rod pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. Breshears is a Professor of Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, OR. Driscoll is the author of the majority of the content and Breshears comes alongside to write the conclusions of each chapter.
The book intends to answer a number of relevant questions about the person and work of Jesus Christ. To Driscoll's credit he tackles some of the most common questions asked by unbelievers and endeavors to answer them biblically and within the realm of historic protestant orthodoxy. There are some really good sections of the book where we are given clear, biblical answers to common questions.
Some of the chapter titles include:
Is Jesus the Only God?
How Human was Jesus?
Why did Jesus' Mom Need to be a Virgin?
Did Jesus Rise from Death?
Why Should We Worship Jesus?
One criticism that has accompanied Driscoll for years is his language. Ever since his days of being labeled "Mark the cussing pastor" by Donald Miller in his book Blue Like Jazz we have heard folks decry the language used by Driscoll. To his credit, we have heard what appears to be humility in the pulpit and in writing that seems to indicate that this is behind him.
For those who are interested Driscoll did not drop `F-bombs' in the book, neither did he employ any of the other socially relegated `cuss words' that he has been criticized in the past for. However, in Vintage Jesus Driscoll repeatedly dips his pen into the sewer for illustrations. For example, I do not know why he feels it necessary to draw vivid pictures in his readers' minds of groping women at frat parties (he went into some detail here). He also spoke of stumbling upon a naked woman in the frat house. (p.80-81) Is this the best illustration possible for whatever the point was that he was trying to make? As a pastor and a man I work hard at trying to keep men's minds fixed on what is pure and good. The human heart does a fine job itself birthing temptations and lust in the heart without pastor Mark priming the pump.
Driscoll states that it seems that "every generation is guilty of giving Jesus an extreme makeover." (p.42) And of course we (guys like me) tend to like much of what Driscoll says about the need for men to act like men and the fact that Jesus is not weak and effeminate but rather strong and masculine.
However, is Driscoll not guilty of doing the same thing but with a little more spiritual testosterone?
For example, Driscoll, in his run through The Gospel According to Mark, describes Jesus as a guy who,
"[tells] a leper to shut-up"
"does the equivalent of breaking into a church on a Sunday morning to make a sandwich with the communion bread.."
"needs Paxil"
"needs sensitivity training"
"has his guys take a donkey without asking like some kleptomaniac donkeylifter"
"[Is] an obvious workaholic who needed to start drinking decaf and listening to taped sounds of running water while doing aromatherapy so he could learn to relax."
We are talking about Jesus...right? The Son of God? He needed Paxil? This isn't even funny. Look, I am guilty of laughing when we hear Driscoll going after the environmentalists, the charismatics, the fundamentalists, and the pastorettes, but...come on...we are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. And I think this is what has me up in arms. Jesus did not need medication, a vacation, or sensitivity training, he is the perfect Son of God! The only thing he `needs' is to be bowed down before and worshipped. Driscoll would do well to put away his sarcastic comedy routine and his sketchpad, for he, himself seems to be giving Jesus an extreme makeover. And the more I look at this Jesus that he is drawing the more it looks like Mark Driscoll.
Along with many people, I have been praying for Driscoll that things would get better and that he would not crash and burn. This book, in my view, goes backward rather than forward. As I read the book I found myself thinking of the NFL running back who gets up and draws attention to himself after every first down. I find myself saying, "Just go back to the huddle and run another play." In this book I find myself saying, "Just go back to the Bible and give us some more Jesus. Enough with the `extra & unnecessary stuff' it just gets in the way."
Rating: -
First off, I hate giving 5 star reviews. Seems like 99% of the Amazon reviewers give five stars (likely because they bought a book, and as a human being, they need to justify the purchase by giving a glowing review).
That being said, I'm giving Vintage Jesus 5 big ones.
It's very difficult to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 2008. Yet, as a Christian, I am charged with sharing this gospel.
"Vintage Jesus" provides me with the tools to help do so.
Author Mark Driscoll provides frank answers to very difficult questions about the deity of Jesus, his humanness, his abilities.
Vintage Jesus is not a dry Sunday sermon - but rather a droll biblical account of who Jesus was and is.
His book provides a thoughtful, forceful and thoroughly referenced telling of Jesus.
It's written so well, I'm buying four copies and giving them as gifts next week for Easter.
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