I have touted this book a few times because I think it is so good. I like Mike, though we argue some, and I think he is well worth reading.
Here are some comments about The Jesus Driven Life.
Acclaim for THE JESUS DRIVEN LIFE
“I scarcely know how to find words to do justice to this brilliant study. The Jesus Driven Life is nothing less than a magisterial synthesis of much that can be known about Jesus and the early centuries of Christianity and their continuing relevance for today.”
Walter Wink, United States Institute of Peace, Recipient: Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize, author of the award winning Engaging the Powers and The Human Being
“There are so many books about finding meaning and fulfillment, secret formulas for success and prosperity. The Jesus Driven Life reminds us that we must be careful amidst all the narcissistic, self-centered prosperity preaching lest we lose the simple secret at the heart of Jesus -- if you want to find your life... you have to give it away. This is an invitation to take a closer look at the Pearl that is so precious it is worth leaving everything in the world to pursue.”
Shane Claiborne, Activist, recovering sinner and co-author of Jesus for President
“The Jesus Driven Life emerges out of Hardin’s life struggles on his journey toward and into Jesus, reshaping his view of God and transforming the wayward self. His journey encompasses a wide range of biblical scholarship to help us understand God, Jesus, and believers united in redemptive solidarity (John 17:20-24). Our journeys may differ within this broad landscape of generous orthodoxy, but we profit from hearing Hardin’s, whose synthesis of biblical, historical, and practical Christian wisdom is engaging.”
Willard Swartley, Author of Covenant of Peace and Send Forth Your Light: A Vision for Peace, Mission, and Worship, Emeritus Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
“There is extraordinary value in The Jesus Driven Life for any reader who is hungry for a realistic, intelligent, and peaceful version of the Christian faith. Michael Hardin faces directly those Christians who imagine the Bible as "a divine telegram from a retributive God," and offers a more compelling alternative. Hardin is a public theologian who writes with clarity and panache. By putting Jesus, rather than some ideologically driven "purposes" at the center, Hardin points us toward a nonviolent way of trusting in grace and forging more just civil societies.”
Jon Pahl, The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, author of Empire of Sacrifice
“Michael Hardin asks a simple question in this passionate, pastoral, and peaceable book — what would it mean for our life in the world were we truly to place the Jesus of the Gospels at the center? And Hardin's answer is pretty simple, too — it would mean a revolution of reconciliation and healing. Hardin challenges the reader head on. Here's Jesus. Here's his message. And here's what Jesus wants from us — trust, love responding to love, life that reflects the mercy of God seen in Jesus.”
Ted Grimsrud, Eastern Mennonite University, author of God’s Healing Strategy and Embodying the Way of Jesus
“The Jesus Driven Life is a great and much needed book. Hardin takes an earth-shattering idea that has always been vaguely at the back of our collective consciousness and puts it out front and center: we need to read the bible in principle and practice, beginning from the gospel narrative of Jesus and the radically new thing he brings to the human situation. Jesus does not fit any current schemes of biblical interpretation, biblical literalist, literary critical, or dispensationalist, which make the text more important than Jesus himself and thus neutralizes the revolution of his teaching. Rather, we should see that Jesus has brought a transforming possibility of nonviolence and forgiveness to our way of being human and all biblical interpretation, including the pathways of revelation in the Old Testament, flows from that. Hardin has given essential Christian reading for our time, a book that will overturn conventional hermeneutics to date.”
Tony Bartlett, Author of Cross Purposes and Virtually Christian, founder of Wood Hath Hope
“Michael Hardin’s The Jesus Driven Life is a great new resource in the Christian Adventure. It bears a wonderful witness to the impact of René Girard’s thought in enabling us to recover a fecund, fresh, basic Christian orthodoxy that is thoroughly ecumenical in its scope, richly biblical in its sourcing and gloriously Christ-centered in its excitement about God. Here is another push forward in the great paradigm shift that is reshaping Christianity from within.”
James Alison, Catholic priest, theologian and author of Faith Beyond Resentment and The Joy of Being Wrong
“Unlike most popular and scholarly books which contain few ideas and insights and many illustrations and evidences, this text flashes with insight and coruscates like a Roman candle. We’re given a detailed restatement of Synoptic, Pauline, Johannine, and Patristic theology and interpretation. A convincing demonstration of the power of Girard's "mimetic realism" that shows how deftly the Christian story reveals the human world (anthropology) and how elegantly it deploys its therapeutic resource (forgiveness) at the precise point of infection (vengeance). Hardin deploys Girard's realism masterfully against the contagion of violence we also call 'sin.'”
Robert Hamerton-Kelly, Co-founder of Imitatio Inc, Emeritus, Stanford University, author of The Gospel and the Sacred and Sacred Violence.
“In this wonderful book Michael Hardin argues that the church and its official theology domesticated Jesus and eviscerated the Bible. Taken alone both were too dangerous, too powerful, to be tolerated. Loaded with qualifications and philosophical encrustations Jesus and the Bible ceased to unveil the world’s violence. They were, in fact, called upon to sustain the violence of the powerful—the very violence they intended to reveal, critique, and destroy. The Jesus Driven Life presents a Jesus who refuses to be silenced, even by the theologians, and a Bible that pulls back every shroud to reveal the marks of death upon the victims of injustice and scapegoating.”
John E. Phelan, Jr. President and Dean, North Park Theological Seminary
“More and more followers of Jesus are waking up to the extent to which western Christianity is steeped in the idolatrous values of western (especially American) culture. In this comprehensive, insightful, scholarly, yet very readable work, Michael Hardin presents a clear and compelling vision of the original Christ-driven (not “purpose-driven”) Gospel and demonstrates how it contrasts with the dominant Christianity of our day. This religion too often amounts to little more than a “Christianized” version of the nationalism, consumerism, individualism, militarism and triumphalism of the pagan empire we find ourselves in. Because of this, the Christianity most of us are familiar with is radically different from the humble, servant-like, non-violent, self-sacrificial movement Jesus came to establish, a movement he called “the reign of God.” For all who sense that there’s something profoundly off with the westernized Gospel they’ve been given, The Jesus Driven Life is a ‘must read’! And for all who don’t yet sense what’s wrong with the Gospel they’ve been given, it’s even more of a ‘must read’!”
Gregory Boyd, Pastor Woodland Hills Church, Founder, Christus Victor Ministries, author of The Myth of a Christian Nation and The Jesus Legend
"For those of us feeling dissatisfied with the Christianity we grew up with, or whose only knowledge of the Bible and the story of Jesus is that they are a collection of silly superstitions that must either be accepted as solid fact or rejected as irrelevant, this is the book to read. In his engaging, conversational style, Michael Hardin offers a different way of looking at Jesus that shows he was far more concerned with compassion than with vengeance. The Jesus Driven Life is highly intellectual yet very accessible, and presents a new way of looking at our humanity through the Bible in a way that is relevant in the modern world."
Tyler Horst High School Senior, Lancaster PA
“We have been told that we should imitate Jesus. I thought I did as a Christian until I read The Jesus Driven Life. Read this refreshing book with friends and I guarantee that Jesus' teachings in Scripture will inspire you to serve and love others like never before."
Jim Wiegner Director of Development American Baptist International
Here are some comments about The Jesus Driven Life.
Acclaim for THE JESUS DRIVEN LIFE
“I scarcely know how to find words to do justice to this brilliant study. The Jesus Driven Life is nothing less than a magisterial synthesis of much that can be known about Jesus and the early centuries of Christianity and their continuing relevance for today.”
Walter Wink, United States Institute of Peace, Recipient: Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize, author of the award winning Engaging the Powers and The Human Being
“There are so many books about finding meaning and fulfillment, secret formulas for success and prosperity. The Jesus Driven Life reminds us that we must be careful amidst all the narcissistic, self-centered prosperity preaching lest we lose the simple secret at the heart of Jesus -- if you want to find your life... you have to give it away. This is an invitation to take a closer look at the Pearl that is so precious it is worth leaving everything in the world to pursue.”
Shane Claiborne, Activist, recovering sinner and co-author of Jesus for President
“The Jesus Driven Life emerges out of Hardin’s life struggles on his journey toward and into Jesus, reshaping his view of God and transforming the wayward self. His journey encompasses a wide range of biblical scholarship to help us understand God, Jesus, and believers united in redemptive solidarity (John 17:20-24). Our journeys may differ within this broad landscape of generous orthodoxy, but we profit from hearing Hardin’s, whose synthesis of biblical, historical, and practical Christian wisdom is engaging.”
Willard Swartley, Author of Covenant of Peace and Send Forth Your Light: A Vision for Peace, Mission, and Worship, Emeritus Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary
“There is extraordinary value in The Jesus Driven Life for any reader who is hungry for a realistic, intelligent, and peaceful version of the Christian faith. Michael Hardin faces directly those Christians who imagine the Bible as "a divine telegram from a retributive God," and offers a more compelling alternative. Hardin is a public theologian who writes with clarity and panache. By putting Jesus, rather than some ideologically driven "purposes" at the center, Hardin points us toward a nonviolent way of trusting in grace and forging more just civil societies.”
Jon Pahl, The Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, author of Empire of Sacrifice
“Michael Hardin asks a simple question in this passionate, pastoral, and peaceable book — what would it mean for our life in the world were we truly to place the Jesus of the Gospels at the center? And Hardin's answer is pretty simple, too — it would mean a revolution of reconciliation and healing. Hardin challenges the reader head on. Here's Jesus. Here's his message. And here's what Jesus wants from us — trust, love responding to love, life that reflects the mercy of God seen in Jesus.”
Ted Grimsrud, Eastern Mennonite University, author of God’s Healing Strategy and Embodying the Way of Jesus
“The Jesus Driven Life is a great and much needed book. Hardin takes an earth-shattering idea that has always been vaguely at the back of our collective consciousness and puts it out front and center: we need to read the bible in principle and practice, beginning from the gospel narrative of Jesus and the radically new thing he brings to the human situation. Jesus does not fit any current schemes of biblical interpretation, biblical literalist, literary critical, or dispensationalist, which make the text more important than Jesus himself and thus neutralizes the revolution of his teaching. Rather, we should see that Jesus has brought a transforming possibility of nonviolence and forgiveness to our way of being human and all biblical interpretation, including the pathways of revelation in the Old Testament, flows from that. Hardin has given essential Christian reading for our time, a book that will overturn conventional hermeneutics to date.”
Tony Bartlett, Author of Cross Purposes and Virtually Christian, founder of Wood Hath Hope
“Michael Hardin’s The Jesus Driven Life is a great new resource in the Christian Adventure. It bears a wonderful witness to the impact of René Girard’s thought in enabling us to recover a fecund, fresh, basic Christian orthodoxy that is thoroughly ecumenical in its scope, richly biblical in its sourcing and gloriously Christ-centered in its excitement about God. Here is another push forward in the great paradigm shift that is reshaping Christianity from within.”
James Alison, Catholic priest, theologian and author of Faith Beyond Resentment and The Joy of Being Wrong
“Unlike most popular and scholarly books which contain few ideas and insights and many illustrations and evidences, this text flashes with insight and coruscates like a Roman candle. We’re given a detailed restatement of Synoptic, Pauline, Johannine, and Patristic theology and interpretation. A convincing demonstration of the power of Girard's "mimetic realism" that shows how deftly the Christian story reveals the human world (anthropology) and how elegantly it deploys its therapeutic resource (forgiveness) at the precise point of infection (vengeance). Hardin deploys Girard's realism masterfully against the contagion of violence we also call 'sin.'”
Robert Hamerton-Kelly, Co-founder of Imitatio Inc, Emeritus, Stanford University, author of The Gospel and the Sacred and Sacred Violence.
“In this wonderful book Michael Hardin argues that the church and its official theology domesticated Jesus and eviscerated the Bible. Taken alone both were too dangerous, too powerful, to be tolerated. Loaded with qualifications and philosophical encrustations Jesus and the Bible ceased to unveil the world’s violence. They were, in fact, called upon to sustain the violence of the powerful—the very violence they intended to reveal, critique, and destroy. The Jesus Driven Life presents a Jesus who refuses to be silenced, even by the theologians, and a Bible that pulls back every shroud to reveal the marks of death upon the victims of injustice and scapegoating.”
John E. Phelan, Jr. President and Dean, North Park Theological Seminary
“More and more followers of Jesus are waking up to the extent to which western Christianity is steeped in the idolatrous values of western (especially American) culture. In this comprehensive, insightful, scholarly, yet very readable work, Michael Hardin presents a clear and compelling vision of the original Christ-driven (not “purpose-driven”) Gospel and demonstrates how it contrasts with the dominant Christianity of our day. This religion too often amounts to little more than a “Christianized” version of the nationalism, consumerism, individualism, militarism and triumphalism of the pagan empire we find ourselves in. Because of this, the Christianity most of us are familiar with is radically different from the humble, servant-like, non-violent, self-sacrificial movement Jesus came to establish, a movement he called “the reign of God.” For all who sense that there’s something profoundly off with the westernized Gospel they’ve been given, The Jesus Driven Life is a ‘must read’! And for all who don’t yet sense what’s wrong with the Gospel they’ve been given, it’s even more of a ‘must read’!”
Gregory Boyd, Pastor Woodland Hills Church, Founder, Christus Victor Ministries, author of The Myth of a Christian Nation and The Jesus Legend
"For those of us feeling dissatisfied with the Christianity we grew up with, or whose only knowledge of the Bible and the story of Jesus is that they are a collection of silly superstitions that must either be accepted as solid fact or rejected as irrelevant, this is the book to read. In his engaging, conversational style, Michael Hardin offers a different way of looking at Jesus that shows he was far more concerned with compassion than with vengeance. The Jesus Driven Life is highly intellectual yet very accessible, and presents a new way of looking at our humanity through the Bible in a way that is relevant in the modern world."
Tyler Horst High School Senior, Lancaster PA
“We have been told that we should imitate Jesus. I thought I did as a Christian until I read The Jesus Driven Life. Read this refreshing book with friends and I guarantee that Jesus' teachings in Scripture will inspire you to serve and love others like never before."
Jim Wiegner Director of Development American Baptist International