Book Review Blurb: Do What Jesus Did

Book ranking – 2 out of 10

Book Title and Author

The book was written by Robby Dawkins, who has been the Pastor of Vineyard Church in Aurora, IL since 1996. He claims he “has been called by God to help equip and release the church in the power ministry of the Holy Spirit” (http://robbydawkins.com/?page_id=4).

The details surrounding his birth are quite entertaining. He claims that Satan appeared to his mother and warned her if he was allowed to be born, both of them would be killed. He was born on Easter Morning anyway and his mother didn’t die as a result (pgs. 7-8). So when I read those details, you certainly would expect a borderline “inspired” manual or at least the book of the millennium. If Satan was that angered at his coming into the world, the book must be life-changing right? Huh …

Author’s Main Purpose

His main point comes – or seems to come – on pg. 36 when he says “This book is not meant to reproduce the Bobby Dawkins way of doing things, but to declare that God is on the move and that we can what Jesus die. Neither is this book a theological exposition, an apologetic or even a comprehensive overview of the topic. It’s a training tool to restore the vision, passion and boldness for the Church to rise up and be the church that Jesus builds.”

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 (Gangsters in the Doorway) tells the story of the author’s encounters with dangerous gang members in his hometown and their conversion experiences. The details of their conversion experiences are quite provocative and the “in your face” personality of the author towards those who need Christ really comes out in his re-telling of Gospel encounters.

Chapter 2 (First Glimpses) is an explanation of his main purpose in writing the book. To read what this purpose is, please see the section above.

Chapter 3 (Dry Bones) is the author’s defense of why the presence of God in one’s life is critical to engaging in the kind of ministry work God calls all believers to.

Chapter 4 (The Upside-Down Kingdom) is the author’s expression of love as a motivator for doing good deeds towards others. In other words, just as Jesus loved prostitutes and demon-possessed people and was able to gain their respect by his love and kindness, we too ought to do all things in love.

Chapter 5 (Nickels in God’s Pocket) discusses different types of evangelists and the need for creativity to reach people in so many spheres of influence.

Chapter 6 (God Speaks) gives us some explanation for how to hear the audible or perceptive voice of God.

Chapter 7 (Destroying Satan’s Works) is the author’s discussion of why Christians have the power to heal the sick and what to do if their attempted healings are unsuccessful.

Chapter 8 (Freedom for the Captives) speaks to the issue of delivering people from the bondage of demonic possession and how that is part of the calling in the Great Commission. It is salvation from sin and demonic possession.

Chapter 9 (Walking in Authority) is about the kingdom of God living within each believer and how we are God’s representatives in this world and, thus, carry His authority over things like sickness or healing or death.

Chapter 10 (Wounded Healers?) is a reminder that we also in need of renewal and healing – both physical and spiritual.

Chapter 11 (Doubt is No Disqualifier) uses the example of the doubting disciples during the days leading up to Jesus’ death and then after His resurrection as an example that God used doubters to accomplish the miraculous.

Chapter 12 (Raising the Dead) is his account of experiences where the author attempted to raise the dead and the deep faith required for such an event.

Chapter 13 (Perseverance) is the author’s “don’t give up” chapter for those professing Christians who aren’t seeing the supernatural in their life as often as they should.

Why You Should Read This Book

The author’s chapter on God speaking (Ch. 6) is average. He spends some time highlighting that God speaks through Scripture and other ways that we see in the Scripture (e.g., dreams and visions). He also gives a little explanation on pgs. 120-122 on discerning the will of God in Scripture that is helpful.

Also, I would say the author’s tone is certainly humble. I have seen this a number of times with pastors in the Vineyard movement. While they claim to be able to do the miraculous, they are still wisely critical of those health and wealth preachers who are out for self gain or glory. This author seems to continue to point to Christ and the Sprirt doing these miraculous works and not us.

Why You Shouldn’t Read This Book

First, the author claims to have been used of God a plethora of times to bring about healings of all kinds – organic and non-organic healings. Non-organic healings (e.g., bad backs, headaches, etc) are easy to claim because there is nothing medically that can verify they were done. However, an organic healing (e.g., giving a blind man his sight or giving a limbless person an arm or leg) are much more difficult to prove and authenticate. In fact, if such organic healings have taken place under this author’s ministry, than not only would there be evidence everywhere but the media would have certainly caught up with this modern-day Jesus and at least done a few newsworthy stories on him. So I asked the author for verifiable proof or evidence of these organic healings. And let’s just say, I am still waiting. (However, if the author gives me anything substantial I will follow up this book review with that response.)

Second, the author’s poor hermeneutics call into question many of his conclusions based upon Scripture. For example, on pg. 24 he refers to Psalm 81:10 as a verse that is meant to encourage believers to be willing to take a risk audibly by speaking in situations when we know not what to say. In other words, the author claims if we just start talking, God will guide our speech. However, if the author just spent a little time considering the context of this passage, he would learn the opening of one’s mouth to be filled is not for him to speak out of, but is for God to be fill up with the abundance of His on all those who love Him.

So if this author continually takes verses out of context, it would really call into question his hermeneutics for bigger principles as he establishes in the book (e.g., the Christian’s ability to raise from the dead and heal people like Jesus did).

Third, the lack of “theological exposition” or “apologetic” on the topics addresses in this book puts it’s reader in a dangerous position of misapplying the truths that are claimed. In other words, to avoid the indicatives before you talk about the imperatives is to misapply the text. And this is done all throughout the book. More dealing with thoroughness of the topics of the supernatural gifts – or at least a referencing of other works that do such a thing – is necessary to make the author’s claims worthy of consideration.

Fourth, the emphasis on experience is concerning. When someone says that you can sense the stirring of the Spirit by “heat or tingling (almost like electricity)” (pg. 51), one has to remember the same thing could be caused by sticking your finger in a light socket.  Or the prompting of the Spirit, the author claims, are like the lightness of a feather literally landing on your arm (pg. 78). In other words, that emphasis on sensing the Spirit’s presence in your life by experience is way too subjective and no help is really given on measuring the spirit in you whether it be false or true (I John 4:1). The best evidence of God’s presence in their life is their fruit of obedience and not tingly feelings in their chest.

Is It a Book I Would Recommend to Someone Else?

I cannot think of any reason I would recommend this book. The claims of the author that words don’t matter and only a demonstration of God’s power will win people (pg. 83) really questions the sufficiency of Scripture in my opinion and that phrases like “thus saith the Lord” are merely trite or pithy statement without any spiritual punch.