The Battle Part I

I am just finishing up John Piper's Desiring God. It is something I think every Christian should read- and every non Christian, now that I think of it- because it is the most liberating Theology/Christian-living book I have read.

It addresses the terrible, traditional way of thinking that many Christians have that says that following Jesus is a bland endeavor void of pleasure; that it requires us to stop doing something as soon as we start enjoying it. If we are enjoying ourselves as we love someone then something must be wrong. This is very prevalent and subtle, many people wouldn't admit to it or even know what it looks like.

What it stems from is the subtle works based mentality that deadens our relationship with Jesus and limits the joy and power we can see in our lives. It is by grace that we have been saved, few Bible believing Christians would argue with that, but few of us really take that to heart. Most of us feel at least a little worthy to receive eternal life and this absolute poison to the peace that passes all understanding and a life more abundantly. Most of do a lot of things that probably wouldn't matter if we realized that all God really wants from us is to know us. More on this in the next post.

Today I was lying on my bed thinking about things and I started thinking about Jesus. I have been camping out in the Gospels, reading them over and over. I feel like up until this May I have not really known Jesus or felt comfortable talking to Him or reading what he said. Side rant: Read the gospels! I couldn't believe what radical, exciting, anti-religious, unemployed hippie who recklessly loved the lowest people in his society.

Anyways, back to me thinking about him in my bed: I was thinking about getting up and walking up to the roof of the hostel and finishing John and I was excited to do so. This is not meant to make me seem like a super spiritual person, the reason I am writing this is because it is not normally like that. I want to read the bible but not like I want to watch a movie. But now I wanted to read about Jesus like it was a movie. So I was excited about this, but then, out of nowhere something in my mind instinctively tried to restrain or end my excitement. Since I was enjoying it, it must not be right. As if I should read the other parts out of some duty or obligation.

This is exactly what I was referring to when I said we neglect the one thing Jesus wants from us, a relationship, for some works based lie that says we can't enjoy things or need to deny joy in order to follow him. Of course we should read other books of the Bible, but only as means to know Jesus more, not because we think it is our duty or to think more of ourselves as Christians. Needless to say I went up to the roof and read John and thoroughly enjoyed it.