I have recently reread the book largely responsible for my escape from legalism: Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur. This probably makes read #15 or more (but who’s counting?). 🙂 It is fiction, although the “doctrinal struggles” of the book’s main character, Pastor Jason Faircloth, are very real. I would simply encourage you to pick up a copy. You will be hooked!
Two quotes stand out in my mind. They are observations Jason makes:
“Christian growth is the lifetime process of personally discovering what is inherently valuable, and what is not.”
“The essence of the Christian walk is to live contrary to human nature.” (Both quotes from page 249)
It is the latter one that struck me this time as I read. If there was ever someone who lived a counterculture life, it was Jesus. He rejected the supposed piety of the religious leaders. He rejected living up to the letter of the Law without sincerity and the heart engaged. An example is in the Sermon on the Mount where He says multiple times, “You have heard…but I say to you.”
Then there is the teaching in Mark 8:34-37: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (NLT) That teaching goes against the grain of commonly-heard teaching. Save your life by giving it away? Seriously?
Walking with Jesus is a walk against the grain. It is a walk contrary to human nature. Be different. Act different. Live different. This is the call of Jesus.
When you first mentioned that book here years ago, I ordered it and read it. What an amazing read! May we live our lives in such a way that people don’t see us, they see Jesus. Blessings, Bill, and I’m guessing your knee situation is resolved?
Blessings!
Knee surgery is next Monday. The stress test went well. I should have said something but failed to. Will tomorrow. Thanks for caring.
🙂
Glad to hear your stress test went well! Both quotes you provide from the book are spot on… And from the same page no less. I’m not a fiction reader, but those two nuggets may just sway me.
As I sit here this morning, I am contemplating the first… “A lifetime process” to discover “what is and is not valuable”.
It is a process for sure. Not a once and done decision, but a cycle. As I sit here I consider all the time in my life I have wasted. Not to dwell or to carry the shame of those decisions, but simply to evaluate and reconsider. I can’t change the past. I can’t predict the future. I can only work in the present.
So at this present moment, in this moment in time, how can I make the most of it.
At least for the next 8.5 hours, I need to focus on work, but I can choose to do so with joy vs frustration and purposelessness.
I like you way of thinking Ryan. I would be glad to loan you a copy of my book. I have two. The church library has one. If interested I can bring it Friday night at Texas Roadhouse. (I’m drooling over the salmon already). 🙂 Sadly, there are too many who aren’t willing to wait and watch people grow. They want it instantly. It is a long process. Appreciate your thoughts. Now…get back to work with visions of salmon dancing in your head.
I try to remember daily Galatians 2:20, I no longer live but Christ lives in me. Therefore I am not trying to accomplish things on my own, Christ is with me, guiding me and helping me. So why then would I have any other thought than putting God first. Still I fail at that way to often. Jason’s quote about a lifetime of learning what is valuable and what is not, hits home. Father create in me a clean heart, one that lives to serve You. Teach me Your values and help me to lay the values of this world down, and to live a life contrary to human nature.
You probably remember that quote from me using it during communion. 🙂 I, too, fail Gail. Far too much but I like what you ask for: a clean heart.