I left off yesterday with discussing the truth of chapter 2 within Recovering Redemption and hope it was helpful. Chapter 4 entitled "Struggling Well" was another helpful chapter to me personally. I think the overall concept itself to some sounds strange. How can we struggle well? But as the book points out its possible through the gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the overall thesis within that chapter was God's design for the believer's life is not to be without or get past struggle in life but with his power learn to get through it well. Selfishly we all would probably like to go around the block of struggle but in God's plan its normally to drive straight through it. And that's how He develops us. Another really helpful concept within this part of the book was the idea that both Christians and non-Christians will have struggle in life. Therefore no life struggle is not what defines us as believers. Instead its how we process through that struggle with the power of the gospel that sets us apart as Christians.
Skipping ahead to chapter 8 on Fear and Anxiety is what I'd like to do next. Not that there wasn't good stuff in the other chapters but just because this was a strong chapter. Matt opens with the struggle of his bout with cancer and thus has instant credibility with us as the readers. No one is going to argue with that story. Having never dealt with a struggle of this magnitude I wondered how applicable it was to me. But as I continued to read it hit me that in the depth of who we are we all struggle with fear and anxiety at some level. And how that manifests itself is different in all of us. The last part of the chapter was particularly strong in my opinion. Here is where Matt admits the struggle we all have and leaves us with one strong piece of wisdom as he writes "The worst thing you can do with fear and anxiety is to pretend you're too strong to have them. The best thing you can do is just let Him be in charge of them." I think in the culture I've grown up around this statement would rub some I know the wrong way. Because as a men especially we've been wired to just thicken our skin up and act like we got it. There is freedom and healing in learning that we actually don't. I would also throw out one caution here to consider. I think the pendulum might be starting to swing to far in the other direction too. Where now we are so open about our hang ups, fears and anxiety it almost works against us in a way to stop pursuing sanctification. I'm not voting for less transparency about our shortcomings. Never would I vote that way. But I believe it's vital that in the midst of our open confession about our shortcomings we work toward gospel living too and not just settle on confession. Confession is the beginning of the redemption process not an end.
Chapter 10 "Go in Peace" may have been for me the most convicting chapter overall. It talked a lot about relational reconciliation and how the gospel bears light on how to do that and the need to that. I know there is some of this needing to happen in my life and its hard to just honestly do it. Regardless though I pray for an opportunity to do it and to see God be given glory through the process. And as a result of reading this chapter I would challenge anyone else reading this post who knows there is someone in their life they need to reconcile with but haven't needs to figure out a way to just do it.
Finally wanted to share one block quote from chapter 11 that I will conclude this review with is as I believe its remarkably powerful. "Being baptized somewhere as a kid, but then showing no transformation of life, no willingness to walk in obedience to God, no acceptance of a greater authority than the autonomous tyrant of their own will, and yet still expecting to be hailed as a Christian - we would never apply that kind of logic to any other realm of life and consider it normal. " I am a big coffee drinker, except I hate the way it smells, and especially the way it tastes. I love my family, but I'd rather spend time with anybody else but them. I've always been a huge, huge Mets fan. That's baseball right?" Ludicrous." Chandler nails here it on the head. And there are those who apply this logic to themselves. May the grace and mercy of God wake you up inside to stop fooling yourself.
Do I recommend the book ? Highly. Its worth the read and consideration and probably worth a re-read to be perfectly honest. Through the gospel change is possible. And that is good news.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Recovering Redemption Review
Wow! 8 months later after a vow to become more committed to a regular blog posting it seems I have let the readers down. Good thing there are like 5 of you. Maybe.... Anyway I felt compelled to give a review of a book I actually just completed today and offer it up for those of you who maybe interested in reading it too.
It's entitled "Recovering Redemption: A Gospel-Saturated Perspective On How To Change." By Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer. Overall the book was challenging and thought and provoking. I will tell why it was in a few moments but first let me address one piece of information that may hang up some of my readers. For those of you reading you may or may not know that Matt Chandler is the President of Acts 29. Acts 29 in the world that I live in is one of the premier church planting agencies there is. It seems to be the agency most I know desire to go with when wanting to plant a church. Probably because its hard to refute the fact that God has blessed this ministry in some incredible ways. But in some of the circles that I have found myself in within recent years that entity itself has been plagued with a lot of unnecessary judgments and critical remarks. Have there been some pastors and planters who have come from Acts 29 who have messed up? Of course. I don't think anyone is arguing that. But can we also agree Jesus provides grace, reconciliation and hope for the darkest of sinners too? Hopefully we can or else I am hopeless and so is whoever else that is reading this post right now too.
Why do I bring all of that up? Simple. I don't want this review and the truth of this book to be tainted. Will it still happen? Probably. Because there are those who have a biased opinion over someone they have never met or talked with just because that someone leads an organization that they think has hurt them. Not trying to be mean here just shooting for truth and don't want to pull any hidden punches. Like how unfair would it be if I got done bringing out all the good points of this book and then say oh by the way Pastor Matt leads such and such organization that you may or may not like. You would automatically discredit all the good that you just heard. Maybe by me doing it this way more credibility can be established and hopefully those who may read this can glean great spiritual help.
Just to set the record straight. I am not a part of Acts 29. The church God has given me to lead and Pastor is not an Acts 29 church. I think this entity does great things for the Kingdom but I don't square up with them completely theologically and wonder a bit about the name itself. Still though despite all of those hangups they are still apart of THE family and I'm thankful Jesus is saving souls through their efforts.
Now to the book. Chapter 2 "Attempted Redemption" was particularly good. Here 4 common methods were addressed that all stumble in when trying to attempt their own redemption. And can't we all be honest for a moment. Don't all of us attempt redemption on our own in some way or another? Even those of us who have professed Christ for a several years I think can fall into the trap of doing this at times. Thankfully we have the Spirit to awaken us when we do it. The 4 ways Chandler and Snetzer list out that we attempt redemption is first through ourselves. I thought in this section one great insight pointed out was that who has lied to us and let us down more than us? Therefore isn't insidious to look to yourself for redemption when you keep failing yourself? Second way folks try to attempt redemption is through others. The authors share some examples here about those who they have seen try this and how miserably its worked out for them. I believe there are so many people in my neighborhood (using that term in an illustrative sense not purely physical sense) right now who are doing this. Seeking redemption, completion, fulfillment and joy in their spouses, kids, family, boy friend, girl friend, etc. But we have to remember those relationship are mere shadows to THE relationship which will bring redemption. Let me back up for a moment and admit I've been guilty of the same hangup. Here is how this generally works itself out in my life. When Cassie is disappointed, sad or upset guess what? So am I? Cause when momma aint happy aint nobody happy. Until this moment I haven't realized how messed up that statement is.... But why is that so? It's because my feelings, satisfaction is so wrapped up in Cassie's that she is almost like my god. And that was NEVER hear me NEVER the way it was supposed to be. And instead of loving her through those times when she is sad I just tend to get sad and mad right along with her too. I need to learn my joy and contentment doesn't come from Cassie it comes from Christ alone. This doesn't mean I am unsympathetic to her needs as if they don't matter. It does mean that when she is upset I can learn to stay strong and calm through it. By nature I've kind of always been a "people pleaser" guess that is what you get when you start throwing newspapers at 10 yrs old. But this section helped open that reality up to me so much more than ever before. And realize my position in Christ isn't achieved through what man says about me its through what He says about me. The third failed attempt at redemption that chapter mentions is with the world. Through substances, sex, money, you name it many attempt it this way too. Here in the deep bible belt south I've observed our worldly attempts are a bit more civilized. Athletics, our college, our hobbies. These are some of the common worldly attempts at the redemption dilemma. But as Matt points out again. Guess what all of these attempts end the same way. Failure. Failure to give us what we are truly after. The fourth failed attempt at redemption is in religion. So glad the authors mentioned this because this is the attempt that is going to damn more than any of the others combined. Empty church attendance, and coerced obedience don't add up to redemption. Those activities won't produce change in us the way we want them too. Neither will any of the other 3 attempts either.
I am out of time but will complete this review tomorrow. Have a great evening.
It's entitled "Recovering Redemption: A Gospel-Saturated Perspective On How To Change." By Matt Chandler and Michael Snetzer. Overall the book was challenging and thought and provoking. I will tell why it was in a few moments but first let me address one piece of information that may hang up some of my readers. For those of you reading you may or may not know that Matt Chandler is the President of Acts 29. Acts 29 in the world that I live in is one of the premier church planting agencies there is. It seems to be the agency most I know desire to go with when wanting to plant a church. Probably because its hard to refute the fact that God has blessed this ministry in some incredible ways. But in some of the circles that I have found myself in within recent years that entity itself has been plagued with a lot of unnecessary judgments and critical remarks. Have there been some pastors and planters who have come from Acts 29 who have messed up? Of course. I don't think anyone is arguing that. But can we also agree Jesus provides grace, reconciliation and hope for the darkest of sinners too? Hopefully we can or else I am hopeless and so is whoever else that is reading this post right now too.
Why do I bring all of that up? Simple. I don't want this review and the truth of this book to be tainted. Will it still happen? Probably. Because there are those who have a biased opinion over someone they have never met or talked with just because that someone leads an organization that they think has hurt them. Not trying to be mean here just shooting for truth and don't want to pull any hidden punches. Like how unfair would it be if I got done bringing out all the good points of this book and then say oh by the way Pastor Matt leads such and such organization that you may or may not like. You would automatically discredit all the good that you just heard. Maybe by me doing it this way more credibility can be established and hopefully those who may read this can glean great spiritual help.
Just to set the record straight. I am not a part of Acts 29. The church God has given me to lead and Pastor is not an Acts 29 church. I think this entity does great things for the Kingdom but I don't square up with them completely theologically and wonder a bit about the name itself. Still though despite all of those hangups they are still apart of THE family and I'm thankful Jesus is saving souls through their efforts.
Now to the book. Chapter 2 "Attempted Redemption" was particularly good. Here 4 common methods were addressed that all stumble in when trying to attempt their own redemption. And can't we all be honest for a moment. Don't all of us attempt redemption on our own in some way or another? Even those of us who have professed Christ for a several years I think can fall into the trap of doing this at times. Thankfully we have the Spirit to awaken us when we do it. The 4 ways Chandler and Snetzer list out that we attempt redemption is first through ourselves. I thought in this section one great insight pointed out was that who has lied to us and let us down more than us? Therefore isn't insidious to look to yourself for redemption when you keep failing yourself? Second way folks try to attempt redemption is through others. The authors share some examples here about those who they have seen try this and how miserably its worked out for them. I believe there are so many people in my neighborhood (using that term in an illustrative sense not purely physical sense) right now who are doing this. Seeking redemption, completion, fulfillment and joy in their spouses, kids, family, boy friend, girl friend, etc. But we have to remember those relationship are mere shadows to THE relationship which will bring redemption. Let me back up for a moment and admit I've been guilty of the same hangup. Here is how this generally works itself out in my life. When Cassie is disappointed, sad or upset guess what? So am I? Cause when momma aint happy aint nobody happy. Until this moment I haven't realized how messed up that statement is.... But why is that so? It's because my feelings, satisfaction is so wrapped up in Cassie's that she is almost like my god. And that was NEVER hear me NEVER the way it was supposed to be. And instead of loving her through those times when she is sad I just tend to get sad and mad right along with her too. I need to learn my joy and contentment doesn't come from Cassie it comes from Christ alone. This doesn't mean I am unsympathetic to her needs as if they don't matter. It does mean that when she is upset I can learn to stay strong and calm through it. By nature I've kind of always been a "people pleaser" guess that is what you get when you start throwing newspapers at 10 yrs old. But this section helped open that reality up to me so much more than ever before. And realize my position in Christ isn't achieved through what man says about me its through what He says about me. The third failed attempt at redemption that chapter mentions is with the world. Through substances, sex, money, you name it many attempt it this way too. Here in the deep bible belt south I've observed our worldly attempts are a bit more civilized. Athletics, our college, our hobbies. These are some of the common worldly attempts at the redemption dilemma. But as Matt points out again. Guess what all of these attempts end the same way. Failure. Failure to give us what we are truly after. The fourth failed attempt at redemption is in religion. So glad the authors mentioned this because this is the attempt that is going to damn more than any of the others combined. Empty church attendance, and coerced obedience don't add up to redemption. Those activities won't produce change in us the way we want them too. Neither will any of the other 3 attempts either.
I am out of time but will complete this review tomorrow. Have a great evening.
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