Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)At the author's suggestion:
Alissa is patient, Alissa is kind. Alissa does not envy, Alissa does not boast, Alissa is not proud. Alissa does no dishonor others, Alissa is not self-seeking, Alissa is not easily angered, Alissa keeps no record of wrongs. Alissa does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Alissa always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Not even close, unfortunately.
I think the author could have spared me chapters 2-3. 4 and 5 are the meat that I have been longing for, but am terrified of. He is not tiptoeing. He came right out and said it. And not that 5 was the hardest chapter for him to write, which it was and I believe him. It was the hardest chapter to read. He has trouble sleeping at night and now I will have trouble sleeping at night.
No, he said this, "To put it plainly, churchgoers who are "lukewarm" are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven."
Did I not say yesterday that I am lukewarm?
This is the kind of chapter that has me in a panic to seek my pastor for assurances. If I were less logical, I would have demanded an immediate appointment. This is a CRISIS. I might die in the next 5 minutes. As it is, there are not availabilities to meet with either one until next week and that might be too late.
I am grateful for the author's next words, "I do not want true believers to doubt their salvation as they read this book. In the midst of our failed attempts at loving Jesus, His grace covers us."
Now I must decide if I am a true believer, running uphill on the downward escalator against traffic longing to get closer to Christ. I'd like to think that I am. I am just tired at the moment and riding dejectedly backwards, catching my breath to begin again …
I almost wrote to you when you started this book, "Hold on when you get to Chapter 4", when I began to realize this was one of the most "convicting" books I had read in a while. Chen seems to start each of his books with an overview of "the basics" and sort of talking himself into why he needs to write that particular book.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of the most convicting books I've read. Too bad I'm doing it alone. I'd like of group of convicted people working together towards change ...
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