I hope the title caught your attention. I also hope that it didn’t frighten or intimidate you.
Often, when we talk about the Christian life, we need to break it down and simplify it. Dr. Barry Corey does a great job of this in his book, Love Kindness. Allow me to share an enlightening section.
Living a life of radical kindness, a life that others are watching, means owning up to the fact that our lives are messy and uncertain, our roads are crooked. We don’t have it all together. The kind life acknowledges that we have little true certainty, a claim that seems so countercultural. The wonder in which we live as people of the Spirit is that the wind of the Spirit – as the Gospel of John says – “blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (3:8). It blows without our logic and where it pleases. As my home church pastor said, “God is totally reliable but hardly predictable.” (p. 30)
What I take from the wisdom of John, Barry, and Barry’s pastor, is that I am in a relational journey with Jesus and guided by the Spirit. My idea of getting from point A to point B is not typically the map the Spirit has in mind. A recent example was when I was on a three-day golf vacation with a group of professional people ranging from doctors to lawyers, and business owners to politicians. A neighborhood friend invited me to participate. Three of us were on the balcony one night, observing the stars and anticipating the solar eclipse that was to happen in a few days.
I was expecting the conversation to ebb toward science and evolution, and the Spirit took it in another direction — a creation that demands a Creator. Then a follow-up question was, “What is this Creator up to?” I suggested that what we were experiencing at our retreat is exactly what the Creator wants for all his children — friends who are for each other, sharing fun (like golf), good food, and healthy relationships. One guy exclaimed, “That would be Nirvana.” I said Jesus called it the kingdom of God, and my friend let out a resounding, “Hallelujah.” The Spirit blows where he wills.
There is a popular and provocative quotation from C.S. Lewis when Mr. Beaver answers Lucy’s question about Aslan, the Lion. Lucy asks if Aslan is safe, and Mr. Beaver replies, “Safe? … Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe)
This quote helps us to think more deeply about the triune God, especially Jesus. In Lewis’ allegory, Aslan represents Jesus. We’ve already discussed the fascinating and mysterious way the Spirit moves through our lives and through us to reach others. My good friend, Dr. Gary Deddo, a theologian who teaches a graduate course on the writings of Lewis, provided this overview of Aslan.
Given all that Aslan says and does through all the Chronicles and what he says about God in his other discursive works, I believe, represents the fact that God’s will and actions are not exactly predictable. He cannot be threatened or bribed, manipulated or compromised. He is implacably opposed to evil and will one day obliterate it. He can and will oppose us if needed. He can lead us or put us into dangerous and challenging situations—but what he does do and how he does lead is for our truest and best good—even when we can’t see or understand it now. Aslan teaches us that, in retrospect, one day, we will see that it was all coming from his wise, loving and life-giving purpose for us and all. Just as we see in the incarnate life of Jesus, Lord of lords and King of kings.
Being in awe of God and embracing his majestic and mysterious ways is hugely important to living a gospel lifestyle. Then giving over to the spiritual fruit of kindness towards others will allow us to have those incredible opportunities to speak of the kingdom of God. That evening on the balcony with my two golf buddies was all about listening to them, praying silently for Jesus to tangibly meet us in our conversation, and then to simply state that the kingdom of God is about right, peaceful relationships among all people under the sovereignty of Jesus. Can I get a hallelujah?
Blow freely Spirit, blow!
Greg Williams
7 thoughts on “Living a Gospel Lifestyle”
Thanks Greg. Hallelujah!
Amen! Hallelujah indeed! Thanks for the inspiration! Glory to our Awesome God!
“It’s hard to remember that Jesus did not come to make us safe, but rather to make us disciples, citizens of God’s new age, a kingdom of surprise”-STANLEY HAUERWAS
For it is written , I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NO OR FORSAKE YOU AND IN Psalm 37:4 it says there , DELIGHT YOUR SELF UNTO THE LORD AND HE GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART. AMEN
Hallelujah! Love the idea that sharing the gospel can happen in a moment least expected and with a natural ease that comes from God’s invitation to the indicated person. Thank you for sharing God’s invitation to you and your response. Beautiful… Praying I will notice and attend to his promptings to me.
Thanks Greg. Hallelujah!
Amen! Hallelujah indeed! Thanks for the inspiration! Glory to our Awesome God!
“It’s hard to remember that Jesus did not come to make us safe, but rather to make us disciples, citizens of God’s new age, a kingdom of surprise”-STANLEY HAUERWAS
For it is written , I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NO OR FORSAKE YOU AND IN Psalm 37:4 it says there , DELIGHT YOUR SELF UNTO THE LORD AND HE GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART. AMEN
Hallelujah! Love the idea that sharing the gospel can happen in a moment least expected and with a natural ease that comes from God’s invitation to the indicated person. Thank you for sharing God’s invitation to you and your response. Beautiful… Praying I will notice and attend to his promptings to me.
Amen Greg! Thank you!
Amen, yes God is a awesome God! Thank ypu!