Review: Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=danielmroseco-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=0849946018 Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, published by Thomas Nelson.  Jesus Manifesto brings Jesus to the front and center.  Sweet and Viola seek to highlight Jesus' sovereignty and supremacy. This is a great little text that is worth the read.  I found it to be very devotional and it met its goal of bringing Jesus front and center.  It is always good to be reminded of the centrality of Jesus to the life of the believer.

This not a book that wows you.  There is nothing controversial or new.  It is a book that you read and then you find yourself thinking about an illustration from it. It is a book you read and then find yourself mulling over some description of Jesus.  It is a book you read and then find yourself quoting it to someone else in conversation.

The only thing that twinged me as a downside was from the introduction. The comment made there is, "So what is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less. (xxii)"  I agree that Jesus is central to the Christian. However, to say that Jesus is the full sum of the Christian faith is not exactly accurate. I would suggest that this be edited to highlighting his centrality. This statement by Sweet and Viola I think pushes down toward the problematic view of "me and Jesus" that is predominant in our post-modern world.

Overall: grab the book.  It's always worth the time remind ourselves how incredibly great Jesus is.