Chan challenges American Christianity and its response to the love of Christ and the call to be his disciple. He comes down hard on lukewarm Christians in chapter 5, which was a very convicting chapter. He then lists the opposite of lukewarm in his chapter labeled "obsessed" and that those who love Jesus are obsessed with him and his kingdom.
It reminded me a lot of "Don't waste your life" by John Piper, in its similar style of writing which is more like a conversation, and also in its simple yet "get up off your ass motivation to go do something in response to God's love."
To be quite honest, when reading the book, it was more discouraging to me. I realized how little I demonstrate my love for Christ. Sure, I know the verses, do ministry events, but the question of "Do I love Jesus, and if I do, what I am doing about it?" continued to come up in my mind.
So much of my life is lived in Christian freedom, yet I feel that it quenches the spirit so often. I serve myself more than Christ, take more from others than give, and use my talents to glorify my name and not my Savior's.
Overall its a great read. It'll make you squirm, yet its still a tough book to put down.
I can't wait to delve into this book a little more after I finish up radical reformission (which I'm on right now). (I also went a little christian book story crazy with one of my graduation gift cards to borders).
ReplyDeleteI'm sure though that I'll get convicted just as you were - bc I already am. I've been reading the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, and he talks to his disciples about how his food is "to do the will of him who sent me and ot finish his work." It may seem kinda loosely related, but it just one more thing from today and yesterday that have all pointed to the same message for me - "James, what are you doing to advance my kingdom today? What is your excuse for not being a reaper in the harvest field, here, where you're at right now?"
I can't say that I've read yet what you're talking about in Crazy Love, but I do know that I don't fully love God enough to serve him where I'm at as much as I should. And that's something I hope to grow in over this next year.
Thanks for the thoughts, and I'm excited about this book.