Reflections on Forgotten Ways #1

After having provided a brief over view of the Alan Hirsch's book The Forgotten Ways, I will begin to cogitate on some of the things he explores in the book. In some cases these reflections will be directly wrestling with an idea in the book. Other times, something Hirsch has written might launch me onto something only tangentially related to his book. I should also warn you that my reflections may not be in the order of the book, my apologies in advance to those who prefer linear order.

"Edward de Bono, no theologian but definitely the leading specialist in creative learning processes, remarks that if there is a known and successful cure for an illness, patients generally prefer the doctor to use the known cure rather than seek to design a better one. Yet there may be much better cures to be found. He rightly asks how we are ever to find a better cure if at each critical moment we always opt for the traditional treatment." (Hirsch, The Forgotten Ways, 50)

It is this mindset that makes me fond of this book. We need to employ our God-given creativity in fostering the way of Jesus so that it becomes normative in more lives. Essentially, Hirsch is suggesting that we need more investment in R&D. This process will consume resources and may not show a lot of results initially, but it is necessary as culture and worldviews continue to morph. The rebellious nature that we have all been born with continues to develop immunity to the true goodness of God's kingdom.