Most Christians I know fall into two broad categories. The younger type of Christian (along with the older young-in-the-faith type) tend to be more idealistic and less jaded. The more . . . let’s call them “mature,” trade a bit of that idealistic fire for a “reasonable” Christian life. I don’t feel like speculating about which camp I fall into.

Claiborne’s a third type of person. He’s as idealistic and visionary as they come, but without rancor. He’s managed to mature in his Kingdom-vision without losing his passion. I hesitated to read this book for a while because I assumed it would lay out some grand call to discipleship that would thoroughly discourage most of the Christians I know. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Irresistible Revolution tells of Claiborne’s own experiments in living faithful to the gospel, along with some of the lessons he’s learned. Instead of prescribing solutions to lukewarm Christendom, he presents a story that’s so attractive you can’t help but want to join in.

One of the best aspects of this book was Claiborne’s humour. Here’s an example. One of the times he was in court for civil disobedience, he called the prosecutor the persecutor by accident. Priceless. In a world that takes itself far too seriously, divine foolishness is one way to get noticed!

Reading Claiborne is like moving from the sin-heavy atmosphere of this world to the rarefied air of the Kingdom of God.

Note: A free review copy of this book was provided by Zondervan.

Claiborne, Shane. The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical. Zondervan, 2006.