Metamorpha: Jesus as a Way of Life

In the introduction to this book, Kyle Strobel describes himself as both a "child of evangelicalism" and a "child of the emerging church." Unlike authors who find it impossible to move forward without killing their parents, however, Strobel describes a vision for spiritual formation and church life that is faithful to the best features of both of these perspectives. Like many emergent thinkers, Strobel is convinced (and rightly so!) that the mere transmission of information cannot bring about the sort of inner change that should characterize the followers of Jesus. He invites us to understand the Christian life as a journey, to receive Jesus as our Lord and Master, indeed, to receive him "as a way of life." As he says on page 50, discipleship is not first and foremost "a call to right understanding" but "a call to right 'becoming.'" Strobel does not, however, reduce the Christian faith to a mere subjective experience or to a program for moral change. Rather, he argues that being formed in the image of Christ is a lengthy process of "worldview re-formation," a process that requires time and commitment. Most importantly, he argues, those who would follow Jesus must remain ever open to divine deconstruction of our assumptions and attitudes. "Jesus will take us on a journey through what we really believe about him, how we really think, and how much we depend on ourselves over him" (219). This book really challenged me to re-evaluate my own life; I plan to read it again, more slowly, over the next few months. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is thinking seriously about what it means to follow Christ in the 21st century. Its style makes it accessible to laypersons and pastors alike.

Kyle Strobel has offered a look at the Christian life which takes seriously who we are as people - broken, struggling, and hopefully looking up to a God who will accept us and deliver us. Metamorpha breaks through the clichés and all of the overly-simplistic Christian-culture to a journey with God that is developmental and deeply meaningful. Strobel is someone who - with evident humility - has clearly grappled with the depths of his own heart before the face of God, and has thought deeply about the realities of the Christian life. In the emerging generation there are few voices whose critique, humility, and insight into living with Christ are so intricately woven together. After reading through Metamorpha there are two major groups that I think would be particularly encouraged, challenged, and delighted at the depth of thought found here: 1) Anyone who is involved in leadership or ministry of any kind desires to be open to the vision of a formational understanding of the Christian life that takes a serious look at our presuppositions and the spiritual baggage we bring to God. 2) Simply anyone who desires to live as a genuine disciple of Christ and wants to think deeply about their spiritual lives. We cannot ignore that the church has tended to inculturate people rather than help them become true Christ followers, and this book offers a vision of life, ministry and mission towards that end. The issues of our true beliefs, and the presuppositions we all bring to God, are issues that are rarely addressed well. But Metamorpha offers a way to engage God and his people that will prove to guide you along a deeper journey with God.

Kyle takes an introspective approach to the journey of faith. He walks us through his experiences of struggles and doubt to show that there are answers out there. I have had the privilege to lead a small group discussion through this book. All of us came to it with the perspective of "I have heard it all before". We were wrong! Kyle challenges us to question our beliefs in order to find out what the root of our beliefs are. This book would be beneficial to readers at varying places in their spiritual journey from someone who is in doubt and struggling to anyone that wants to take the next step in their spiritual journey. This book should be required reading by small group leaders, seminary students, pastors, or anyone else that is serious about their own faith and responsible for leading others on their own journey of faith.

This book struck a real cord with me as someone who has grown up in the church and feels like the church tried to "church" them more than turn them to Jesus. Through an honest appraisal of his own walk and journey, Strobel offers a thoughtful, well-articulated, and insightful look into the very core of what the Christian life is all about. I thought that John Ortberg and Dan Kimball said it best in their endorsements: "Read...and Morph!", and "I can only pray that many many people read this book" - my sentiments exactly! Take Strobel up on his offer to go on a journey of belief formation, I believe it will be a fruitful one.

Okay, so, yes, he's my brother, but that doesn't mean I'll lie for him--if it weren't a 5 star book I wouldn't have rated it so! Kyle and I obviously had very similar experiences with the church as we grew up, and when I read the book I realized how similar the outcome had been with both of us: lots of churchy knowledge, very little relationship with Jesus, and no idea how to make it any better. Spiritual formation was never a topic in church; I hardly knew what it meant. But after reading the book (and the curriculum that he has on his website to accompany it) I found myself feeling relieved, even excited--"Oh, so THAT'S what spiritual formation is! And that's what I'm missing! And here's what to do!" I can't wait to get my copy and read it again!