So, I'm reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan.
WOW!
His subtitle is Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
After having poked around on his webpage, I knew it would be good.
But really.
You gotta get it!
He has a chapter entitled "Profile of the Lukewarm"
Here's some to whet your appetite.
After talking about the parable of the sower, he says
"Do not assume you are good soil.
I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it.
The American church is in a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don't swear and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously, is rarely considered. That's for the "radicals" who are "unbalanced" and who go "overboard." Most of us want a balanced life that we can control.
Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm and partially committed fit better?
LUKEWARM PEOPLE attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE give money to charity and to the church ... as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE rarely share their faith. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul and strength.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money and energy they are willing to give.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today's to-do list, this week's schedule and next month's vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come. Regarding this, C.S. Lewis wrote, "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."
LUKEWARM PEOPLE are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.
WOW!
His subtitle is Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
After having poked around on his webpage, I knew it would be good.
But really.
You gotta get it!
He has a chapter entitled "Profile of the Lukewarm"
Here's some to whet your appetite.
After talking about the parable of the sower, he says
"Do not assume you are good soil.
I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or commitments are piled on top of it.
The American church is in a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don't swear and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously, is rarely considered. That's for the "radicals" who are "unbalanced" and who go "overboard." Most of us want a balanced life that we can control.
Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm and partially committed fit better?
LUKEWARM PEOPLE attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE give money to charity and to the church ... as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE rarely share their faith. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul and strength.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money and energy they are willing to give.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today's to-do list, this week's schedule and next month's vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come. Regarding this, C.S. Lewis wrote, "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."
LUKEWARM PEOPLE are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too gulity. They want to do the bare minimum, to be "good enough" without it requiring too much of them.
LUKEWARM PEOPLE are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves of the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God.
**LUKEWARM PEOPLE do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens - they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them - they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live - they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend on God on a daily basis - their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stripped believing in God.**
Jesus asks for EVERYTHING. But we try to give Him less.
No comments:
Post a Comment