If this is a book aimed at non-Christian twenty-somethings in Seattle, then I think the “earthy” descriptions of Jesus can work (although I would concur they probably play better spoken than read). This gives them a Jesus they can relate to.

But you and I don’t necessarily need that - rather, we do need to be reminded of his humanity, but I would hope that we have grown sufficiently in our faith that we don’t need those kinds of descriptions of Jesus.

Crassness aside, I still like the chapter, because I think his key takeaway is solid. But I still think the larger problem with the book goes back to the beginning, wherein Driscoll needs to setup some basic apologetics before his argument in subsequent chapters can withstand the harder questions non-believers may ask.

One, I DON’T fully understand the need for or the purpose of Christ’s complete humanity. I think there are so MANY reasons and different explanations, and they may all have some truth to them.

Two, I think Driscoll takes pains to almost “gutterize” Jesus Christ, and the highly conservative part of me resents that. To accuse Jesus of “being funny” with a particular line - camel through the eye of a needle, for example - takes away some of the theological “punch” of the statement that is delivered. It’s the old “Aw, shucks, I was just joking about that” mentality being applied to the Son of God, and I hesitate to start using that thought pattern when I read the Word of God. Sure, I believe Jesus was genuinely friendly, happy, and probably smiled a lot, but those are MY impressions, not a Scriptural teaching. Did Jesus fart? Did He burp? Did His feet stink? Did He pee? Sure. I believe He was that human. I also believe that it’s worth discussing, but it’s very easy to cross the line where part of His deity is removed by excessive emphasis on the “earthy” part of Jesus Christ. I think that Driscoll is AWARE of this, but I think - in transposing the sarcasm that works so well in his sermons but sometimes seems crass in writing - he has made Jesus almost into a homeless bum with a short haircut. I DO think we often miss the truth of Jesus’ human side, but I DON’T think that making Jesus sweat, stink, and sit on the pot necessarily makes us understand why He became human.

But I do think it’s a good discussion to have.

“Why does it matter that Jesus was both God and man?”

As God, he saves us…
As man, he understands us (became us)…

I read this chapter relatively quickly and I haven’t gotten any further. It didn’t impact me like a meteor, but more like a small rock in a still pool. I keep coming back to this chapter again and again. I’m not sure I agree with everything Driscoll writes, but his painting of Jesus’s dual nature is very compelling. I guess Jesus is the one who brings balance to the force.