Reconstructing Faith with Alan Hirsch
Liturgical Rebels Episode 25
I am delighted to say that today we published the 25th episode of Liturgical Rebels. This feels like quite a milestone, and I am excited to share that I am gathering momentum as I speak to people who are, I feel, Liturgical Rebels engaging faith in different and often out of the box ways that stretch our imaginations and our understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Activists, artists, poets, theologians, spiritual directors from different faith traditions have much to teach us about what Christian faith is meant to be about.
In this episode I discuss my long-standing friendship Alan Hirsch. Alan has a richly multicultural background, growing up Jewish in apartheid South Africa which had a profound impact on his worldview and faith. Alan also lived in the United States for several years and now resides near Melbourne Australia.
In this episode we explore Alan's spiritual transformation, his journey into writing, and the significance of his influential works, particularly in the context of the church's current challenges. In this conversation, Alan Hirsch and I explore the centrality of Jesus in the church, the importance of living out Jesus' teachings, and the challenges faced by modern Christianity. We discuss the need for a reconstructive pathway in faith, emphasizing the significance of community and leadership in fostering spiritual growth. Hirsch shares insights from his book 'The Forgotten Ways,' highlighting the factors that contributed to the early church's exponential growth and the importance of maintaining a Jesus-centered approach in contemporary faith practices.
Takeaways
Experiences of apartheid deeply influenced personal beliefs.
Authenticity in the church is crucial for relevance today.
The Beatitudes offer a more relevant guidance than the Ten Commandments.
Alan's diverse background enriches his perspective on faith.
The centrality of Jesus is crucial for the church.
Jesus should define the character and content of the church.
Gospel-centeredness can lead to a de-centering of Jesus.
Reductionism in theology can lead to heresy.
The early church grew without the structures we rely on today.
A bigger understanding of Jesus which includes centering justice, compassion, and equality is necessary for growth.
Deconstruction must lead to reconstruction in faith.
Community and leadership are vital for spiritual growth.
Alan Hirsch is widely considered to be a global thought-leader on missional
movements and leadership. Hirsch is the author of numerous award winning books including The Forgotten Ways, The Shaping of Things to Come, ReJesus , and Reframation. He has worked with churches and organizations across the world, but mainly in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Alan is a founder of the Movement Leaders Collective, Forge Mission Training Network, and the 5Q Collective. He is movement mentor for NewThing International and is a consultant for Redeemer City To City among others. His experience includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized, developing training systems for innovative missional leadership, training leaders in movement dynamics, and heading up the mission and revitalization work of his denomination.
Alan Hirsch can be found at:
Author & Activist | alanhirsch.org
Founder & Co-Leader | movementleaderscollective.com
Founder & Coach. | 5QCentral.com
Founder & Advisor | Forge International
Movement Mentor | NewThing
Resident Consultant | Redeemer City To City
Leadership Developer | NOVO
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