Where are the Radically Changed Lives?

I just finished reading an advance copy of Gary Thomas’ new book, The Beautiful Fight. Here’s what I like about it. He writes with the core conviction a Christian life should be a radically transformed life. That faith in Jesus can be drastically different from and better than what we are currently experiencing. In other words, we should expect to see change—see the effects of God’s empowering presence.

This resonates with me because it’s rare to see dramatic change. We tend to see lives that reflect a superficial change of mind, lives that have not been seriously altered, lives that do not evidence miraculous change. Marriages look little different than those of the world; pornography and its addictive behavior tends to be as problematic in the church as outside the church; gracelessness can be as pervasive in a Christian culture as outside. Something is wrong. In my darker moments, I wonder if coming to Christ truly makes a significant difference.

When George Barna wrote his Revolution, I was really turned off by it. It seemed as if he had totally given up on the church, something that, as a pastor, was deeply offensive to me. And yet, I could not completely blame him. For he came to a place in his research where he began to ask the really important question, “Is the church truly interested in becoming a transformed community?” “Is it serious about transforming the world?” His research led him to the painful conclusion that it was not. Churches are not intentional in either becoming or measuring spiritual transformation.

Which brings me back to Thomas’ book. I am hearing a growing passion to see transformed lives from authors, pastors, instructors. There is this growing conviction that our union with Christ should lead to a profoundly different life, to a cross and resurrection way of living. In Jesus’ death, we too have died—died to the world and its allures—died to our self-centeredness—died to sin. And if this is so, we should see the evidence of this in changed lives. Sin should not have the authoritative role we all too often have given it. It doesn’t mean we no longer have to deal with the temptations that come in life. As the Puritan John Owen put it—“Sin has been dealt its death blow at the Cross, and we will spend the rest of our lives draining its life blood.”  But it does mean that sin no longer has a defining say in the choices we make in life.

This same union declares we have risen with Christ, and this risen life opens the way for God’s new world, for the future and present to overlap, opening a whole new way of being human (NT Wright). It should be evident for all to see. Thomas sets out to show how this ascended life of Christ should look in all of our being. In Christ, we have the ability to see as God sees, hear as God hears, think as God thinks, have hearts that feel what God feels.

So what explains the gap?  Perhaps it is a theologically anemic age that does not comprehend what the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension mean to present existence. It may have a lot to do with the fact a transformed life requires vigilance, self discipline, rigorous thought, and repentance. Perhaps we see so little of changed lives because we refuse to pay the price. But here’s what we are missing. We have failed to realize that the grace that pardons is the same grace that is able to transform. This is grace we are not taking advantage of.

Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite all time authors, was asked—“If you came into a room of ten of the brightest, committed, determined to change the world kind of pastors, and had one word of advice, what would it be?”  Without any hesitation, he responded—“Discover how it is people change, and build your ministry accordingly.”  I hear him saying—find what it is that more than inspires—find what transforms people, what transforms all of their being, and give your best ministry to that. This seems to be what Thomas has devoted himself to doing in his latest book—and where the church needs to get its focus.

Comments

[Romanós]

"In my darker moments, I wonder if coming to Christ truly makes a significant difference."

Yes, coming to Christ truly does make a significant difference. Obviously, coming to church may not.

[pilgrim]

Asking "Where are all the radically changed lives?" actually reveals why I and many others have stopped spending their energies on an institutional church and their services.

Why bother going to church when all you ever hear is,"We don't have it right yet." or "How do we follow Christ--now."

What impedes people from following Christ is often the institutional church and Christian culture, of any sect or denomination. We are told that they have the answers, yet, when we get there, they seem just as confused as the world. All we see is a Christian bubble that mimics the trends of the world. The world does this, the church follows, trying to outrun and draw off clients. The world has YouTube, the "church" has GodTube. The world has DirectTV, the "church" has SkyAngel.

This is just a part of the problem. The problem is simple. People are just professing Christians, people have been "Christianized", they are in a state of "Christianosis". These are the lukewarm ones whom Christ will spit out of His mouth. Either you are born from above, or you are still a fetus, waiting to be born by the Spirit, which gives life. You cannot be in the womb and yet claim to be born.

Being a disciple of Mashiach has always been simple. Hold to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus and witness for His name sake in all areas of life. Love one another and in loving one another, abide in the light. Look for the Parousia of Christ and hope in the resurrection and αλλαγησομεθα (the change or transformation) of the saints when He comes. And forsake the world and its corruption and pollution, living as if you are looking for the heavenly city, the one made by God, prepared by Christ.

This is the will of God, revealed in the Sciptures, by the apostles and prophets. Again, Christ has words for the churches, if they would look to His apocalypse and have ears to hear, but I think for the majority, they are scared of doing this and will not choose to hear. As Messiah spoke to the church of Laodicea, so He speaks now to many churches: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me."

Seeing that Christ is outside the door, shows that He is not present inside. That He knocks, shows that He is a stranger, for only strangers knock for entrance; those who are known freely come in. His call is to anyone, which shows that it is always an individual call. Anyone who chooses to, can go to the door and let Mashiach in. Thus they will have fellowship and break bread together.

At the Parousia of Messiah, will the church inhabitants shrink away, or will the morning star rise in their hearts as they go to stand before the Son of Man? This a question we should each ask of ourselves.

The true transformation will come then, when the sons of God are revealed to all creation.

[KevinAndrewPDX]

Thanks for the early review of Thomas's new book. I have read 3 books by him, and loved all of them. I will keep my eyes out for this one.

In regards to Barna's book, I have not read that one. Do you know if it was published before or after his book, "Growing True Disciples?" I just read this book a couple weeks ago, and was blown away by Barna's pastoral heart (I didn't realize he was a pastor earlier in life until reading this book). There were plenty of statistics, to be exxpected... And in the middle of the book I started to get overwhelmed, and quite depressed. But by the end of the book he paints a very hopeful picture of the church. He found several churches across the country that were being very successful and growing disciples. If you haven't read it, I'd highly recommend it.

(I can't remember how I stumbled across your blog...I was in your leadership class at Western a year ago)

[Matt Mikalatos]

Thanks for the deep thoughts. I think this is a topic that we as followers of Christ should be passionate about. It gives me a lot of hope to interact with so many college students or recent grads that are so passionate and willing to make sacrifices for the sake of Christ and the gospel. They're certainly in a better place than I was when I was their age.

I ran into Gary a while back and he told me was working on this book... I can't wait to read it!

[Marcus W]

I wonder if you've read the book by Larry Osborne called "A Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God: Spirituality for the Rest of Us"? It points to the same problems as are mentioned in your blog, but takes a different viewpoint of the solution. I believe culture has a lot to do with it (that is, American culture dragging down the church----because the church is, essentially, allowing it). But, a narrow view of what a transformed life is also part of our problem; I think we have spiritual myopia. And I know, for myself, I don't have the ability to cure my own disease.

[Dante]

If I may offer my pedestrian view of our Lord: LOVE.

When we give ourselves to him we desire to move "toward the light". It seems to me that too many Christians focus on their move "away from darkness". Love=light. Sin=darkness.

Earlier this week I was among a group of people, of whom I had just met. Spontaneously a discussion broke out about our spiritual beliefs. Many appeared to be believers. I threw out the question: "What does He want from us?" The usual answers came back: obedience, overcoming sin, etc. Not one in the group mentioned the recognition of His love.

Yet, for all my humble study of history from the time of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, other pagans cultures, Jews and Christians, one theme seems to jump out at me: Man has consistently desired to know who is in control and to understand that being. And that being, the one who we know as God the Father, has been trying to reveal himself to us. He finally reveals himself through the Son. That's love.

Contemplating His love pulls us into behavioral change. When contemplating obedience or focusing on sin, we're looking over our shoulder trying to push ourselves from darkness. I liken this to black hole pulling someone back into it. One is never sure who will win: the sinner or the black hole. Yet focus on His love and we will inevitably be pulled toward him. That's grace.

[Randy Ehle]

Responding primarily to Dante.... In theory, I would have to agree that recognizing the love of God toward us would draw us closer toward him and toward a life transformed into a better reflection of his image. In reality - as we've seen - it just doesn't work out that way enough.

I have three kids, ages 5, 8, and 12. They know I love them and they love me. Applying your theory in my home would suggest that simply knowing this mutual love would be enough to cause my kids to want to be like me; unfortunately, far too often, they still disobey, do stupid (okay, "childish") things, and even actively resist doing what I want them to do. Reality is, they're kids - they're in the process. (Also, I am imperfect, and they tend to do a better job of imitating my imperfections than my wisdom!)

We, too, are children...of God. We, too, are in process. And we have an infinitely greater chasm to cross. Recognizing God's love for us is certainly essential to motivating us to become like him, but it is just as certainly not the only criteria. God is love, but he is not only love. Becoming like him necessarily involves learning ALL of who he is...and that is an eternal process, for he is both intimately close and infinitely greater than us.