A couple of years ago, there was this girl… and she was
starting on a bit of a spiritual… tiff shall we say. She loved Jesus. She loved
God. She’d committed to follow Jesus at a very young age, more or less to success,
depending on whom you were speaking to.
But there was something happening.
Something inside her that was changing. Something that was disquiet and
unsettled. Something was growing more and more unsure that the comfortable
American Dream filled Christian life was really what her life should be about.
If you were wondering, that girl was me.
And I wrestled with those thoughts and feelings for a while. A long while.
About that time, I was introduced to a book, called 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess . And I fell in love with the message of that book. The challenge of it. Reading through it, the author spoke of another book & I knew I had to get my hands on it.
I want to talk about Jen Hatmaker's prequel to 7....
Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity.
I devoured the book in one sitting. So much of what I was thinking and feeling was right there in black and white. And it was a relief that someone else had been wrestling with those that too.
The point that church is more than a building. That church isn't something we do on Sunday morning to feel good about ourselves. Church isn't a line on our to-do list that we check off every week.
Church is the people of God... the followers of Jesus, totally committed to BEING the Church. Church is who we are in the days between Sunday night and Sunday morning. It's loving people. Showing them the love of Christ through us. Caring for their physical, immediate needs as well as their spiritual ones. And, as Jen writes, it's not my job to judge how wisely another person will use that care. It is my job to provide it. Period.
After all, how can someone hear about this amazing Christ who loves them and cares for them if the people who claim to follow him aren't showing that care?
Christianity isn't about us... it's about Christ. And that sounds like a very silly and obvious thing to say. But, I believe it's so easy to forget that. To put ourselves first above all. If I'm honest, it's a daily struggle for me.
I want my comfortable American Dream Life.
But, I just can't ignore the struggle inside me that, maybe... just maybe, my life isn't about my "wants." Perhaps I'm on this planet for something else. Something more.
For SomeONE more.
I'm still sifting through my thoughts and feelings on this. I don't know how this looks for me and my family. I don't think it involves moving to another city and starting a brand new church like the Hatmakers did. But I do know that Christ has wrecked my Comfortable Christianity. And I do know that I cannot go back to thinking and doing the business of life the way I did before.
If you're struggling through any of these thoughts, I highly encourage you to pick up Jen Hatmaker's book- Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity. And, you know what? If you are not struggling with any of this, I highly encourage you to pick up this book and read.
I am so happy to be a part of Jen's launch team for the relaunch of Interrupted! The new edition has been revised and expanded. I'm also super thrilled to be able to offer one of my readers their own copy. It's my very first giveaway and I cannot think of a better one! If you'd like to be entered to win a copy of Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity, then please leave a comment! I'll draw a name on Wednesday, August 20th.
For more information about Jen Hatmaker, head on over to her website- www.jenhatmaker.com
