Archive for the ‘Michael Jensen’ Category

Posted on August 27, 2009 - by Stephen Murray

Michael Jensen’s ‘you’: a review

‘Who are you?’ – it’s almost become a little bit of conversational humour to talk about people ‘finding themselves’ or getting to grips with who ‘you’ really are – as if most of us are fairly secure people comfortable with our identity and purpose in this giant universe. The short amount of time I’ve spent as a pastor suggests to me that it’s not really the case for so many people. For so many the answer to the question ‘who are you?’ is a fairly difficult and perturbing question to answer. Anxiety seems to be the lot of many as they try to figure out what it means to be a functional and purposeful human being in this world.

Into this rather large and daunting question comes Michael Jensen’s book ‘You: an introduction’. Musing over an upcoming season of Big Brother Michael writes,

‘It got me thinking about human beings. Who are we really? What are we supposed to be like? What – or whose – purpose do we serve?’ (p.7)

He takes this question and he runs with it investigating all that anxiety and baggage along the way. Michael writes very simply and shows a good understanding of the thought life of many younger folk in the west as he tackles often unspoken questions about our bodies (ch.5), our freedom (ch.6), sexuality and gender (ch.10) and a whole lot of other appendages that make up the current human disposition and dilemma.

As he approaches each subject he has a very helpful way of opening the subject, identifying its connection to the human condition and then, more often than not, tracing out the story of Jesus as he purposefully entered history to tell us just exactly who ‘you’ are. His simple thesis seems to me to be that God is God and you are not, but…you can figure out something of who you are by looking at Jesus. A book that is engaging sending out that message must surely be helpful and useful – Michael’s book is.

I particularly enjoyed the way he would navigate an issue, deal with objections and point to Christ. Consider this section from his chapter entitled ‘Body’

‘To you, Paul’s teaching that “You are not your own” (1 Cor 6:19) might be repulsive, sounding very much like a justification for the use of one body by another. Victims of child sexual abuse may feel as if their bodies have been stolen from them by another. (That the abusers of the bodies of children and young people have been allowed to carry on in churches with the merest slap on the wrist is appalling – not just because of the evil itself, but because we church people have failed in our responsibility to keep the body of Christ pure.) To the feminist movement, the use and abuse of the individual female body by society is blamed, at least in part, on church attitudes. The argument in favour of abortion rights is, in fact, an argument about rights over bodies. And Christian opposition to abortion is seen as an attempt to subdue and control the bodies of women further.

But there is a difference: Jesus Christ has not stolen our bodies, or bullied his way into power over them. He has bought them – bought them at the cost of his own body. He does not make us his victims in order to subdue and control our bodies. Instead, he becomes the victim: he voluntarily submits his body to be victimized – to be pierced, nails driven through his hands and feet, and a spear into his side – in order to purchase freedom for our bodies, releasing us from the control of evil.’ (p.48)

The book has an openness and simplicity that endears me towards it in a way that other Christian books on similar subjects just don’t. It tackles a hard question without making you feel like an idiot just because you haven’t figured out who ‘you’ are yet like the clever author has. I think it could be an exceptionally helpful tool particularly in student and young adult ministry although I’m sure there are a number of older adults who are just as unclear about that big question as young people are.

I know I’m supposed to say something negative at some point about the book, but I actually really enjoyed it. So for the sake of posterity I thought the cover was a bit of an eyesore – but that’s probably not Michael’s fault. Great book, I recommend you read it and use it.

Posted on January 4, 2009 - by Stephen Murray

If Every Preacher Would Read This…

If only we could rid our preaching of these habits - spot on Michael.

Posted on December 24, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Top 8 for 2008: Everything

Who was I kidding? There’s no way I’m going to find the time to write a series of ‘top 8 for 2008′ posts between now and the end of the year so instead I’ll simply cram them all into one post. So here you have it, my top 8 for 2008 of everything!

Top 8 things I did or experienced in 2008:

1. Got married! (October)
2. Got engaged! (March)
3. Started planning and implementing a church plant (All year – but especially last three months)
4. Heard Piper, Driscoll, Chandler and Mahaney at the Resurgence Conference at Mars Hill in Seattle, spent time at the Journey Church in St Louis and met a whole lot of great peeps from Acts 29, and others, in the States (February)
5. Was taught Deuteronomy by Gary Millar – the best Old Testament teacher I’ve been taught by to date (September)
6. Road up Sani Pass – my first real 4×4 experience behind the wheel (October)
7. Decided to stay in Cape Town long term – gotta love this city (March)
8. Had my thinking about the gospel deepened and enriched ten times over by Tim Keller through numerous mp3s, articles and the odd blog comment (throughout the year)

Top 8 Blogs I followed in 2008 (See my 2007 list here):

1. Church Planting Novice – Jonathan Dodson. A newcomer to the list, this blog has been perfect for where I’m at in my thinking at the moment. So much wisdom and insight from a guy on the ground.
2. Between Two Worlds – Justin Taylor. Last year’s number 1 drops down one place – but still a great blog.
3. Tim Chester. Up from last year’s number 7 spot. Tim’s writing never stops enlightening, challenging and encouraging all at the same time.
4. John Scheepers. Give it up for the Saffa bloggers! John is a friend of mine who writes a great blog and brings a welcome voice to the South African Christian blogsphere.
5. Drew Goodmanson. Down from #2 – sorry Drew. Drew doesn’t post very often, but when he does its almost always worthwhile.
6. Justin Moffat. Another newcomer to the list. Justin writes an informative and challenging blog with an Anglican slant – I’ve enjoyed it a lot this year.
7. Michael Jensen. Michael drops down from last years 3rd but still turns out great post after great post. Plus he sent me a copy of his new book which I’ll be reviewing here shortly.
8. Jason Allen. Jason was one of the first people I became ‘blog friends’ with when I started blogging. I’ve always enjoyed his blog and the sanity he brings to some current trends that rage through the church blogging world.

Top 8 Books for 2008 (books I read this year – most of them are older than 2008 – please note that the books are a little one-sided topically because most of my reading this year revolved around my dissertation):

1. Total Church – Steve Timmis and Tim Chester. Ok so I first read it in 2007 but I’ve read it several times this year because of my dissertation and I still think its the most important book I’ve ever read on ecclesiology.
2. The Reason for God – Tim Keller. The first apologetics book that I feel comfortable giving to my friends.
3. Planting Missional Churches – Ed Stetzer. Great book with practical insight. Really helpful for where I’m at.
4. The Forgotten Ways – Alan Hirsch. Really good yet at times frustrating. I’m on the same page as Hirsch with a number of things – I guess I’m just a bit more conservative on one or two others.
5. Breaking the Missional Code – Ed Stetzer and David Putman. Another great help on all things missional.
6. On the Incarnation – Athanasius. I delved into a bit of church history this year and thoroughly enjoyed this one.
7. The King of God’s Kingdom – David Seccombe. Dr Seccombe (Doc) was my New Testament lecturer this year and so I got a chance to have a crack at his book. It’s a great overview of Christ in the gospels.
8. Jesus and the Victory of God – NT Wright. Vintage Wright – I don’t agree with him at every point but this is an important book.

Top 8 places I visited in 2008

1. Seattle, Washington, USA
2. St Louis, Missouri, USA
3. Castleburn, Drakensburg, KZN
4. Sani Pass, Lesotho
5. Lost City, Sun City, North West Province
6. Franschoek, Western Cape
7. Betty’s Bay, Western Cape
8. Durban, KZN (my old stomping ground)

That’s my year in a nutshell. It’s been the year with the biggest changes in my life to date. Not only did I get married but we decided to stay in Cape Town and plant churches here rather than in Durban. Things have come a long way in the last 12 months – here’s to an equally exciting 2009.

Merry Christmas all – have a great one!

Posted on November 17, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

What do we actually do with the poor?

In a time where mercy ministry has gone glam and churches are increasingly talking more and more about the need to engage the socially marginalized, Michael Jensen asks a question that potentially points out that there’s a rather large white elephant in the room. As a young prospective planter and pastor I’d certainly like an answer to his question.

Posted on May 1, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

39 Articles Blogged

If you find yourself connected to or in the Anglican tradition in any way (like myself), or if you have any interest in this particular stream of Protestantism then you might want to follow Michael Jensen’s new blog project. Michael has set out to blog through the 39 Articles which have historically been the doctrinal base and frame for Anglican thought and practice. He believes that this 16th century document still has much to say to us today and so I, for one, am going to keep a keen eye on this blog project.

Posted on March 30, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Michael Jensen on ‘Total Church’

Michael has written a really good and positive review of ‘Total Church‘.  I particularly enjoyed this line:

“But I think in my own teaching that the church is primarily a heavenly reality, I have allowed the significance of the church on earth to be downgraded. I felt particularly convicted by Timmis & Chester’s insistence that this should never be the case: churches must be living expressions of the heart of God for the world if they are to be true to their heavenly identity.”

Methinks many in my own denomination are suffering from this same error.

Posted on December 20, 2007 - by Stephen Murray

My Top 10 Christian Blogs for 2007

As the year begins to draw to a close and the first year of ‘…daylight’ comes to a close I want to run through a number of my own ‘Top 10′ lists for 2007. The first list is in the category of Top 10 Christian Blogs for 2007. Basically the criteria I used to choose these top 10 is simply how much I enjoyed reading them over the last year. So without further delay here they are:

#1 Between Two Worlds – Justin Taylor

I just find that as a reformed evangelical Justin keeps me up to date by posting numerous times each day with all the goings on around the reformed world in an easy and accessible way. I also find Justin to very fair and thoughtful when he does post critiques of those outside of the movement for various reasons.

#2 Drew Goodmanson

He doesn’t post as often as I’d like but in terms of a blog dealing with the concept ‘missional’ there are few better thinkers than Drew. His insights into missional living and church planting are top notch.

#3 The Blogging Parson – Michael Jensen

Michael comes from a branch of the Anglican tradition that has much in common with my own and so I often find him writing articles about Anglicanism or related subjects that have a lot of relevance for my context here in the Church of England in South Africa. He writes very eloquently and with a broad base of knowledge from which to draw. He also interacts with a very wide base of theologians and thinkers in his writing.

#4 Jesus Creed – Scot McKnight

Whilst I wouldn’t be in the same theological camp as Scot on one or two issues I do find his blog extremely stimulating and fresh. Scot is the absolute model of a gracious and humble blogger – he can write a post that takes your particular theological view to task and yet for some reason your not angry with him for writing it.

#5 Reformissionary – Steve McCoy

Steve’s blog is one cool blog. His blog is a great blend of conservative reformed evangelical meets emerging church pastor.

#6 The Internet Monk – Michael Spencer

Michael is the king of post-evangelical ranting. That means on any given day you can love what he writes are be highly irritated by it. He keeps blogging evangelicals on their toes. His podcast is also worth a listen.

#7 Tim Chester

Few people have influenced me as much as Tim through the books that he’s authored or co-authored. My first real introduction to missional living came through his little booklet ‘The Gospel-Centered Church’. I just sometimes find his posts a little long.

#8 The Bluefish Project – Dave Bish

Dave writes really edifying posts that remind me of the deeply devotional aspects of the Reformed tradition. He also provides a lot of links to bible study material which is really helpful.

#9 Sets ‘n Service – Tony Stiff

I resonate a lot with many of Tony’s posts since he seems to come from a similar angle to the one I’m exploring: the reformed missional angle.

#10 TallSkinnyKiwi - Andrew Jones

Andrew is by far the best and most balanced emerging voice out there. I don’t agree with him on a number of things but his tone, humour and insight keep me coming back and enjoying his posts. As a fan of missiology I also enjoy his insight.

Posted on November 27, 2007 - by Stephen Murray

Commentaries – Too Big – Brain – Too Small

I completely agree with Michael’s assessment of current trends in the world of commentaries on the Biblical text. My small brain hurts even thinking about it.

Posted on October 5, 2007 - by Stephen Murray

The Evangelical Identity

Michael Jensen has some must-read thoughts on the divisions in contemporary evangelicalism. I think the following quote concerning evangelical identity is most telling about possible reasons behind the division:

“…saying what you are means at some point saying what you are not, too.”

Posted on September 14, 2007 - by Stephen Murray

Charismatics and Conservatives Together

Michael Jensen mentions a wise guy from back in the day who hit the nail on the head when it came to spirituality. He thinks that a good reading of Jonathan Edward’s ‘Religious Affections’ would be a good rebuke to both conservatives and charismatics. Have a look.