Rescripting? Yes. :: Frank Viola's Revise Us Again

There are a number of books that describe how we should live the Christian life as opposed to how we are actually living it.  Some are helpful, some are not.  Frank Viola has hit on that theme once again in his recent release, Revise Us Again: Living from a Renewed Christian Script.  The notes he sounds are common; his intended audience is the church.  This book is a love letter to Christians, written from an insider, calling us to reform.

Viola's basic premise is simple: "Revising is a process.  And it begins with opening ourselves up to the possibility that the script we have been given in life is not perfect.  It's in need of regular evaluation and reevaluation."  Not only does this apply to our cultural and familial heritage, but also to our Christian past.  Viola turns his attention toward just that--the dynamics that have played themselves out in the church, and examines how we think about God, how we speak, how we preach the gospel message, how we understand Christian identity and spiritual formation, how we relate to our brothers and sisters across traditions, and how we cast vision for the scope of our life and ministry.  This book touches on a number of concerns, and Viola admits that many of his statements will seem plain and intuitive.  They are, however, good reminders; the Bible consistently reminds us that the people of God have poor memories and must be reminded of many things.

If you're interested in the book and would like to read it yourself, comment below and provide one example where you have seen God "rescript" your own way of living as a Christian.  Viola identifies numerous ways that his own understanding of the Christian life has been reshaped, from how he describes his discernment of God's voice, dropping Christianeze, clarifying his exposition of the gospel, his attitudes, his spiritual expectations, and his overall ministerial vision.  How has God changed your lived expression of the Christian faith?

GIVE AWAY ADDENDUM: I'll choose a random winner on Friday.  Comment away!

DISCLAIMER: In accordance with FTC guidelines, I'd like to alert the reader that I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.  However, I am committed to speaking truthfully concerning any book that I review, as I am obligated to my readership to provide a biblically and theologically informed perspective that can help my readers either take up or avoid resources that may prove useful for ongoing Christian reflection and maturity.

Comments

[Linda]

Just as Matthew offered multiple, sometimes confusing and seemingly contradictory descriptions of a transcendent "kingdom," so Viola describes practices and asks questions that encourage us to think again to get closer to what God would have us be and do.
After twenty years of serving in the institutional church, present most all day 48/52 Sundays every year, I now care for an invalid mother on Sundays. For now, my life is being revised, re-scripted, around the "service" side of worship. I am frequently awed at the messages God sends during this time.

[Jon D]

It is not easy naming only one example of how God has "re-scripted" my life. I did not notice the differences as much until we got involved with our small group at church. Discussing the different chapters and books in the bible with people who are much smarter than I am made me see many things from a much different perspective. I started to become more patient with people. For example, I noticed that I stopped yelling at the screen when I am watching opposing points of view on political news programs.