Francis Chan is Messing With Me
Yesterday we started a new series at Cross Point Nashville (Dickson it’s headed your way THIS Sunday) entitled “Crazy Love”.
I just finished up a book by Francis Chan called ‘Crazy Love’. What a great book, especially the first four chapters! While the series is not based on the book (we just stole the title) there is a quote that I used in yesterday’s message that I wanted to reflect on a little further.
Chan said this,
The goal of American Christianity is often a nice marriage, children that don’t swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involved suffering.
This quote hit me like a truck. See, here’s my problem.
I want to give. I just don’t want to give in a way that impacts my family’s lifestyle.
I’m fine sacrificing my time as long as it doesn’t get in the way of my agenda.
I want to trust God with all aspects of my life, but I still desire to control all the outcomes.
What do you think of the quote? How does it apply to you?
Well Pete you know a little bit of my story. I read that and thought of being broken. We don’t want to be broken. We want to be comfortable. Yet can I tell you that being broken has revolutionized my life in Christ? It has revolutionized my life as a leader in ministry? I think brokenness prepares us to lead and to eventually MOVE WITH GOD. I think it also leads us to be brokenhearted for the things God is brokenhearted about. I used to cry when things hurt me, now I feel as if I cry “with God”. But it is highly uncomfortable and it was truly depressing and heartbreaking to reach this point. My guess is we’d all rather be “successful” – I know I would. It’s easier.
I have been wrestling with that paragraph from his book for two months now. My wife and I have had those same thoughts. What are we doing to get out of the safety of our faith and into the dangerous center of the will of God. As we get ready to launch our fourth campus this weekend I have never had to rely on God more…especially not knowing what is going to happen. Maybe that is the problem. Is that we have created these great “christian” environments, where we really don’t have to rely on God at all yet we make him the scapegoat when things get out of balance. Just a thought. Thanks for posting.
I just read a verse this morning in 1 Peter. I think it really applies to what you are talking about. Check it out (I read it in the NLT) 1 Peter 1:1-9.
Dang. That is powerful.
Lisa and I are going to pick that book up.
a friend of mine and i are in similar situations….huge dreams and visions of what God has for us but seem so :distant: at times….
(we are girls are called to ministry…specifically feeling called to marry a pastor and love him through the call on his life)
with that being sad, we are struggling with the expectations of that….of having the happy Christan bubble where we are perfect…
but that is not where God has us…..
last week she wrote this to me in an email
{holding on is an expression of my fear. fear that losing :his face: diminishes the validity of God’s plan, way, purpose….
the truth is…it has nothing to do with me)
when i refuse to lose control and the Spirit lead me then i am living in fear…fear of whatever (the unknown)
but when we can get to the place where nothing matters then we can find there is a beauty in life that is undeniable and that all the other things (time off….being refueled….whatever) come in a far better way then if we had planned and schemed.
just some thoughts on some things i am learning right now….
I think that this quote tells the story of 90% of all Christians, if not more. We want a comfortable life, a safe life, and we only want God to control only those things that we ask Him to, the way we ask Him to. Very challenging and convicting.
Good stuff Pete, very good.
We create beautiful churches and wonderful “opportunities” for service as if they are something to be worked in our schedules as long as something else doesn’t conflict.
Christ never asked for us to consider opportunities for service. He asked for our lives, given freely to Him. I seem to have to constantly remind myself of this. It is His life now to do with what and when He pleases. He died for me so I can live for Him or more accurately He can live through me.
It is sad to say that the typical American Christian does not know how much some of their Christian brothers and sisters sacrifice for their faith. We tend to believe that if we “live right” then God will bless us. Explain that to a devout and godly family in Haiti. It doesn’t add up. This is a real personal hot button issue for me so I should probably step away from the keyboard.
Love you all!
This book kicked me in the face over and over again, this quote being one that really struck me. I want that kind of relationship with Him where I don’t have a need to feel comfortable. I have grown up in a family where this quote perfectly describes the way we live. It made me sad to think that not only does this describe so many people I know, but those people are comfortable there. It’s a dangerous place to be. I think this quote ties in with the one about why we worry…I don’t remember it completely but it’s about how we worry because we think our problems are more important than His will.I think I’m going to reread this book.
ohhh wow. good stuff. reminds me of the devotional my hubby and I read last night from The Sacred Romance by Eldredge:
“When the young prophet Samuel heard the voice of God calling to him in the night, he had the counsel from his priestly mentor, Elie, to tell him how to respond. Even so, it took them three times to realize it was God calling. Rather than ignoring the voice, or rebuking it, Samuel finally listened.
In our modern, pragmatic world we often have no such mentor, so we do not understand it is God speaking to us in our heart. Having so long been out of touch with our deepest longing, we fail to recognize the voice and the One who is calling to us through it. Frustrated by our heart’s continuing sabotage of a dutiful Christian life, some of us silence the voice (of God) by locking our heart away in the attic, feeding it only bread and water out of duty and obligation until it is almost dead, the voice now small and weak. But sometimes in the night, when our defenses are down, we still hear it call to us, oh so faintly – a distant whisper. Come morning, the new day’s activities scream for our attention, the sound of the cry is gone, and we congratulate ourselves on finally overcoming the flesh.
Others of us agree to give our heart a life on the side if it will only leave us alone and not rock the boat. We try to lose ourselves in our work or get a hobby (either which soon begins to feel lke an addiction). We have an affair or develop a colorful fantasy life fed by dime store romances or pornography. We learn to enjoy the juicy intrigues and secrets of gossip.
We make sure to maintain enough distance between ourselves and others, and even between ourselves and our own heart, to keep hidden the practical agnosticism we are living now that our inner life has been divorced from our outer life. Having thus appeased our heart, we nonetheless are forced to give up our spiritual journey because our heart will no longer come with us. It is bound up in th little indulgences we feed it to keep it at bay.”
This is where I find myself — settling for the world constantly rather than having heaven on earth like the Word tells us. Doesn’t it tell us that the kingdom of heaven is right here right now if we would allow it. Eternity has already started yet I live like it’s going to start someday (when I die)…. yet it’s here.
Pete, you continue to hit me right where I am lately. I have to admit that I want that safety net. I want to serve God and follow his call on my life – but I don’t want to sacrifice my family’s lifestyle.
I am actually interviewing tonight for a position that I feel God calling me to. The struggle is, it would uproot my family and move them a number of states away and would mean a drastic change in our lifestyle. While I know that God will provide, I struggle with whether I believe it enough to step out and let him prove it to me. I want to give him control of my life, I just can’t seem to let go of the wheel long enough to actually do it.
Thanks for continuing to challenge me where I am.
The thought of living a sacrificial life for Christ seems hard, painful and humiliating at times. But imagine the feeling of being COMPLETELY lifted of the chains we drag around given to us by our society. We can’t give so much that society would look at us as an outcast so we serve God to the point that its comfortable. I hope God can show me some ways that I can go beyond my comfort zone to fulfill his calling for my life! Thanks Pete! I always am inspired and challenged by your blog.
i just started that book this morning, and it had me in tears on the bus. just when i feel like i’m doing “enough” or giving “enough” God asks me to do/give more. it’s a reminder that He wants ALL of me, not just the parts that i choose to give Him. right now i’m struggling with reconciling my life in new york city where my part of the rent (in my apartment that i share with 4 people) is more than most peoples’ mortgages with giving all than i can and more. yikes.
@ Megan, that’s a great point. Would we rather drag around the chains of society or experiences the freedom that comes with living fully devoted to Christ?
Wow. Amazing quote and very true.
I think what is interesting is that if we truly sacrificed it would in turn probably open up more freedoms but we are not willing to usually do so.
I have to think about this one a bit further. It does hit you like a truck.
I want to live every day scared to death of what God could do
It’s very true and very sad.
me too @Anne. me too.
@ anne jackson, why do you always have to word stuff better than me??? It’s hard to work with a writer.
Well said, Anne. That’s going to be my prayer this week.
Wow, great stuff Pete. Unique circumstance here, I WANT to live being totally available to where and what Christ would be calling me into, both for myself and my family! Then my wife, who is not a believer, sees absolutely no point (of course) in living any kind of life besides the comfortable life. I guess I am actually living totally abandoned to God just maintaining my personal relationship with Him in the midst of my circumstances…
Kinda gives you a pit of your stomach “oh my gosh I’m missing it” panicked feeling!
It’s a really good feeling to have though.
“the call of the master is to come and die”
deitrick bonhoffer
Now I have to go read another book because you are the second one to mention that Title.
The pastor at the church I attend is doing a series right now on the book of James. I LOVE that book. It is such an encouragement for Christians to LIVE like they are ALIVE!!
When my wife finally accepted Christ about a year and half ago, I started dreaming big… how can I get my WHOLE FAMILY involved with serving. That way, living for Christ was a family thing. Its amazing what Christ can do if you surrender your will and desires to Him. He will open doors that you just need to step through and be obedient.
We got involved as a family with an inner city mission that feeds children on Friday nights. They also do a children’s worship service before the kids are fed – that way they get fed spiritually and physically. What a great blessing those kids and that mission have been to us. We wanted to bless them but, wow, they are neat kids.
My wife and kids all served in VBS this year and they loved it.
We are planning on a family mission trip within the US and that is building excitement.
I don’t see that serving Christ and having time for the family has to be an either/or type of decision every time. Sure, we will still do things together that don’t involve directly serving those around us – like a night at the library or open mic night at a local coffee shop. But the people around us will see a family that is enjoying time together whether it is serving or playing.
I do understand your struggle too, because I have a hard time saying no. My wife has been a good spouse in helping me understand my limitations and reminding me of my responsibilities to her and the kids (boy, does that hurt when she is right
). I am still working on building a balance between all those things that pull us in different directions – work, church, family, activities, school and the list goes on. And its going to take us as a family having the same agenda.
At the end of the day, I want to be able to look back and ask the question – “Did I teach my family to love Christ, each other, and the world around them?” because that’s my role as the Daddy in the house. I need lots of prayer.
Great Topic!
Francis is pastor at the church I attend, Cornerstone Simi. I love that his words cut straight to the point… he doesn’t speak for popularity or to sugar coat the Gospel. I think that if more Christians approached their walks like this we might actually get somewhere outside of those white picket fences and make a difference. Do you know that at Cornerstone they give away 50% of the church budget to charity? Its unheard of… and I am proud to be apart of it.
You said, “I want to trust God with all aspects of my life, but I still desire to control all the outcomes. ” I laughed at myself when I read that, because just this morning I prayed and told God, “I give you my life today, completely” Two hours later my wife stopped me from making a phone call which would have been an attempt to control a certain outcome. I’m a silly boy. . . a silly silly boy.
Ouch! God keeps hitting me with these kinds of words and I can no longer ignore His calling. I am reading the Culturally Savvy Christian by Dick Staub, and he has challenged me in a similar way as Francis Chan’s quote. I need to stop playing it safe and let go of “my stuff”!!
@shannon, that is so me. I love to convince myself that I’m actually in control. Probably the biggest illusion in my life.
When my life changed due to illness, I had to rethink all of my life and how it would now work. In that process I had to come up with new goals for myself. When I stripped away the idea of having a career, having a family, having financial security or some sort of status in society, these are what I was left with:
Life Goals:
To not be ashamed to stand before God.
To fulfill God’s plan by living the best life I can with what I am given.
To be aware and present in every moment.
To love what I have and not yearn for what I lack.
To spread the Joy, not the fear.
To be intentional in all things.
I think sometimes in order to really see how God wants us to live we have to strip away everything that we believe is in our control and start from there. It’s something I had to look at and not by choice, but it’s something I should have been looking at all along… sacrifice doesn’t scare me as much as it used to because as long as something fits into one of those life goals (and I have yet to find a situation that doesn’t for me) then it just becomes part of what God needs from me. My life isn’t as “pretty” as it used to be with the simple vision of Christianity or family or success that quote talked about … but it feels more real.
Don’t know if that’s what you meant… but there you go.
sara
http://www.gitzengirl.blogspot.com
Seriously let’s just all leave and go on a 5 year mission trip somewhere.
‘Cept what would our families/friends think?
I know. I hate that.
Heidi Reed
Maybe that’s why I pray prayers like, “Lord use my life to further your mission, whatever the cost…but I want to be the one who raises my kids!” – I guess its a little subliminal messaging to God. Whatever it takes as long as you do it my way!
My friend just finished reading this book and I have it ready to read as soon as I finish a couple of others ahead of it. Like I told her, every time I hear Francis Chan, I may go into his talk feeling like I am doing something great for the cause of Christ, but after the talk when he puts Christianity into its true perspective, I walk away feeling less than an inch tall because I realize I have a long way to go, but that’s why I love Chan…he challenges me to a new level and it makes me strive to please Christ more with my life, even though I sometimes take 1 step forward and 2 steps backward
yesterday our pastor spoke on suffering. his main point was that America didn’t need a christianity that is comfortable and secure and materialistic. America needs a Christianity where Christians are giving up all they own for the sake of the gospel. where we are able to face suffering and say that Jesus is still enough.
that we aren’t spoiled brats, but living hard lives with a faith that shines through the darkness.
good i like this blog
Great blog Pete…its just the plain ole truth.
Can I be honest? Since my husband and I have gone from quite comfortable to barely making it in the last 2 years, I’ve found it easier to trust God without stipulations. Its literally like HE is our lifeline. People, money, talent, they’ve all failed us. But God has remained the same. STABLE, FIRM, and UNFAILING. I can say with no regard….I trust Him to do whatever
This is the very thing I constantly struggle with. I have come to the conclusion that right now, God wants me to be busy at home taking care of our kids, and the only suffering I am probably going to go through involves them. I think it is God’s will for me to reach out to people right here in our neighborhood and the immediate area. I don’t need to conjure up some situation which is sure to involve major suffering. I am learning that sometimes God just expects the basics from us, just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him and people, and he usually wants us to stay right where he put us. What was that quote from the movie Lion King? {The movie was very unChristian, but this is a good quote…} “Being brave doesn’t mean you go out LOOKING for trouble, Simba.” That’s what I think! But if God is sending you somewhere dangerous, then, by all means, go!
Love in Christ,
Andrea
@ sara, I love your life goals! I need to write something like that out. Very cool.
Here’s the “busy at home” verse:
~ Titus 2:3-5 ~
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and purt, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
So, don’t feel guilty is God has you right at home where you are comfortable… as long as you are willing to go wherever he asks you to go.
@Pete… Thanks. I have them written directly on the wall over my desk with Sharpie marker. It’s my way of seeing them every day and having them “unmoveable.” I find surrounding myself with quotes and reminders on my wall keeps me in the right frame of mind. You can see a photo of the wall here: http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/2008/06/wall-doodles.html
Oops. The above statement should read: Don’t feel guilty IF God has you right at home where you feel comfortable… as long as you are willing ot go wherever he asks you to go.
@Amanda, I’m totally jealous. He’s amazing.
@pete- finding that church was a total God thing… I had no idea what I was in for.
Thanks for posting this Pete. If we are serious about following Christ we need statements like this in front of us everyday reminding us that it costs something to follow Jesus. If it isn’t costing then we should look up to see who or what it is we are actually following.
This passage reminded me of a song of repentance we often sing at our church. Hopefully you’ll be able to listen to it if you follow this link if you want:
http://www.sojournmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/cdlead-us-back.mp3
And if not, at least, here are the words:
Lead Us Back
Words and Music Bobby Gilles and Brooks Ritter
Falling down upon our knees
Sharing now in common shame
We have sought security
Not the cross that bears your name
Fences guard our hearts and homes
Comfort sings a siren tune
We’re a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in you.
Lord we fall upon our knees
We have shunned the weak poor
Worshipped beauty courted kings
And the things their gold affords
Prayed for those we’d like to know
Favor sings a siren tune
We’ve become a talent show
Lead us back to life in you
Lord you’ve caused the blind to see
We have blinded them again
With our manmade laws and creeds
Eager ready to condemn
Now we plead before your throne
Power sings a siren tune
We’ve been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in you.
We’re a valley of dry bones
Lead us back to life in you.
We’ve become a talent show
Lead us back to life in you
We’ve been throwing heavy stones
Lead us back to life in you.
Grace and Peace,
Jeff
I’m at a strange place right now. I feel the Lord is leading me in a certain direction, but I know that I have to wait for the timing to work out, and have no idea when or how long it will be. So it’s like I’m trying to guard my heart but at the same time I feel myself becoming passionate about this new stirring inside me. So it’s weird to be ready for a new change/challenge yet knowing you have to wait for it. Does that make sense?
I LOVE FRANCIS CHAN!!! (ALMOST as much as I love you, PSquared)
I just finished reading his book AND blogged about it last night, so I’m NOT copying you…. I LOVE his radical ways… the way his church takes care of EACH OTHER… no savings accounts, no IRA’s no 401′s… just people taking care of people, the way they did back in Jesus’ day… could I do that????? I don’t know, but I’d sure love to find out…just keep giving and giving and let myself test God, as he says in his book… (not in a sinful way of “testing”)…
I’d love to go to his church sometime!!
What timing. I just this morning bought the book in Souderton, Pa…I am preaching at a KoreanAmerican teen camp in Quakertown (my 19th consecutive year!)…I got back to camp and spent a half hour discussing life with a counselor who, at 32, has it all together by all outward appearances (to include “Christian”) but is extremely dissatisfied with his walk with Christ…and in the course of the discussion we both said almost word for word not only what Chan wrote, but what you, Pete, responded. Lord, help us learn what sacrifice is as opposed to seeking “our best life now” or other idolic heresies
I read this book a few weeks ago and have several of my team reading it now… you’re right, it’ll mess you up (in a really good way)!!
Love that dies at the hands of enemies is pretty crazy.
That kind of love not only is divorce-proofing of marriages, mischief-averting for kids, but uncontrollably transformational that it wrecks everything that is “natural” in ones life.
It’s so crazy I think folks are scared to truly taste it, abide in it, live it and share it. It’s like a combination of nitroglycerin (explosive/volitile) and kryptonite – weakens the flesh, explosively releases spirit energy. Not your garden variety PG love in a bottle!
That is so crazy, I just read that book like a week ago. But I have to say that I think this is a common pit fall for all believers. We are a fallen “me first” created being. I think the danger is when this pit fall combines with apathy, then we are in the trap that Francis describes. I think many christians do live this way, and by that are missing out on all that God has for them.
Right on! It’s so true! Again, love your honesty, you say what we all think and really feel! You have a gift for truly being authentic and I’m learning from that. You’re doing wonderful works here Pastor Pete! Emily, Sayre, PA
@Emily Rowe, thanks for the encouragement. It’s quite the journey for all of us.
I think we are often there. I heard a Pastor once say that American’s do less with their freedom than Christians in China do with their persecution. It was like a punch in the stomach. I read a fantastic book that inspired me a few years ago, DC Talk and the Jesus Freaks. It told of stories of people that were martyred and were radical for the cause of Christ. If I still had it I would send it on to you, but alas, I passed it along and never got it back. I think you are headed in the right direction and the fact that you are having the desire to be radical is the biggest step.
OK.. so I went out and bought the book. It comes with some high recommendations when there are people like Louie Giglio, Joni Eareckson Tada, and Chris Tomlin endorsing it. I started reading it and right away he quotes A.W. Tozer… no library is complete without books by Tozer … Tozer tears me up because he calls it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to the churches of his day (40s-60s). The church is us… and that’s where Chan starts.
When I finish the book, I will post a review and thoughts. I may have to cocoon for a while before I can internalize it.
While I have many modern books like these in my library from such writers as Swindoll, Tozer, Blackaby, Graham, McManus, Zacharias and some more ancient writers like Augustine and Brother Lawrence, its the bible that still surprises, condemns, encourages, teaches, rebukes, invigorates me more than any other book.
Right now I am still trying to come to grips with this verse:
Hebrews 5:7 – In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.
I believe that verse refers to other prayers beyond the great high priestly prayer recorded in John 17. I try to imagine what it was that Christ cried so loudly about and the answer that comes to mind is you and me – all of humanity. Imagine… the God of Creation crying !! I have to wonder each day He passed by such pain, despair, and lostness that His heart poured out in His prayer times with this kind of emotion. He didn’t just cry – He cried LOUDLY.
Ah man, I am so guilty of offering up vain and empty words in my prayers… its too easy to ignore the total spiritual devastation that is prevalent around me. Thank God, He is still working on me.
As soon as you read this quote yesterday, I thought ‘oh man, I’m going to have to get that quote from him and live with it for awhile’. Culturally I think we are programmed to equate peace and harmony with good, and so we have made this our goal rather than our goal being to seek and follow Christ no matter the cost. It’s counter to everything we’ve grown up believing.
I’m not what you’d call a gloom and doom fan, but I fear given the recent cases of Christians being persecuted for praying at various sin-fests (even quietly outside of the main event), that American Christians will soon be put to the test. I know in Canada, I recently read about legislation that actually criminalizes the Bible as hate speach.
In such cases, those churches that have tied themselves to government via grants or loans to be more comfortable will truley find themselves slaves to the lender.
Here’s a quote from one of my favorite old, dead guys about buying out the church.
“A more certain way to attack religion is by favor, by the comforts of life, by the hope of wealth; not by what reminds one of it, but by what makes one forget it; not by what makes one indignant, but by what makes men lukewarm, when other passions act on our souls, and those which religion inspires are silent. In the matter of changing religion, State favors are stronger than penalties.”
The Spirit of the Laws, Baron de Montesquieu (1748)
That last line should be 1748 A.D , not a smiley.
This echoes something I have been thinking a lot about lately. Here is something I wrote just a few weeks ago as a true expression of my heart:
A Prayer
“Not my will, but Thine,” she prays,
“Unless it is something I really want,” her heart chimes in,
“Then I still want my way.”
“I submit to You,” she continues,
“As long as submission means I don’t have to change my desires
or let go of the things I cling to.”
“I trust Your sovereign hand,” she states,
“And will make my best effort to help You out
in the situations where Your sovereignty isn’t enough.”
“Reveal Yourself to me!” she pleads,
“Just don’t do it through trials.
They aren’t any fun.”
“Teach me to love people,” she begs,
“Just make sure I don’t get hurt
and please make it convenient.”
“Break me, Lord!” she cries,
“And please make it easy and painless.
The quicker the better. I need to get on with life.”
Her prayer is complete. Her heart has been heard.
She stands and walks off into her day
and, returning unchanged, will pray the same thing tomorrow.
This is something that I recently have delt with. I honestly thought I was being a good Christian by being a good person, a good wife, a good mom and a good church-goer. Then through some discussions with a dear friend I realized that there is so much more that He wants for us. So, I handed my life over to Him and am amazed at what more He has planned for me. Though I do still struggle with fully living up to the expectations I’m doing my best day by day.
Keep up the good work with this blog. It’s helping!
I’ve often told people that I hate Francis Chan because he messes me up – in a very good way.
It’s easy to read the Christian leaders who might challenge your leadership or your visioneering or your relational priorities, but Chan …that guy challenges me at the very core of who I am.
So I hate him because through him, the Spirit makes me examine myself and see myself as I really am.
And I love that.
Hi, really enjoy your blog… this comment struck my heart and created such sadness, conviction and certainly a call to see how I can live differently. Francis Chan spoke often at the college my daughter attended and he always, as my pastor calls it “threw some elbows” Thanks for sharing.
Julia
BEST BOOK EVER! I read Barbarian Way, and then Chasing Daylight and then Crazy Love…I realized this…how can I be the same once I have experienced God for who He really is and not who this world says He is! I have realized so much about myself! I have allowed others to dictate who I was, and “edited” my life so to speak to meet the expectations of others! Jesus was un-edited, raw and His Crazy Love for me put Him on the cross and now I have FREEDOM:) good blog! love it! and love the book! I am excited I am going to hear Francis in two weeks! LIVE LOVE:)
Holly Myers’s last blog post..Spring is here time to move ahead!
I love Francis Chan’s book.It teaches the new generation things that the church is not capable to teach anymore.Trough his book the teachings and love of Christ are reaching all of us.