Smurfs, High Heels, and Heavy Metal
I love to discuss and debate! I love it to the point that I will choose sides on topics of discussion which don’t even pertain to me. From deep conversations about the hit Saturday morning cartoon, “Smurfs”, to heated debates about women’s high heels I love them all. For me it is not so much the topic of discussion that intrigues me as it is the learning, stretching, and growing process which transpires in a discussion/debate. I love challenging my way of thinking and in turn challenging someone else’s. Perhaps this is why I am enjoying the “Crazy Love” series we are doing together here at Huntertown.
I hear lots of people talking about the last few chapters of the book and it is creating quite the “buzz” in our church! I love to pass by people in the hallways during the week debating/discussing the concepts that “Crazy love” is bringing up in our lives. It is so awesome to hear people say, “This book is really making me think differently about life” or “Francis Chan really makes me mad!”. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want people to be upset and mad. I just think there is something beautiful about people wrestling with the things of God together. Proverbs 27:17 says, ”As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Two iron bars rubbing against each other sounds like a unpleasant process, but tools which are crafted from the process make it worth it. This series is starting a beautiful sharpening process among us that will make us all more effective tools in the hands of God.
What do you think? Are you feeling sharpened and challenged by the series? What beauty is coming from your discussions? What are you struggling to understand? What discussions are you having? Do you like being rubbed the wrong way? Join in this discussion as we sharpen each other even more.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
It feels like such a long time since I have been sharpened by iron or any other surface, that reading Chan has been a gift.
I am guessing that if argument has arisen it is because Chan goes to work on us in Chapters 4 and 5. I suppose we’ve been challenged to look at ourselves in great measure by Chan in ways that are real and significant: thus the “rub”.
I am a sinner, saved by grace…and not one to be followed after. I have no gift, talent, thought or experience that are not His first. I am a living example of lukewarm…and that is probably why the points Chan delivers make us squirm. I know for a fact that I am both “Living Laodecia” (Steve Camp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr3pIqiryzc )and living in Ephesus at the same time. I am both lukewarm and have idols in my life that must be dealt with.
Argument I am not all that interested in, but I long for reasoned debate that will force me to think and challenge who I am. I want to know what the writer in scripture was saying to his audience at the time so I can see WHY it means something to me today.
This week I will be reading 1 John. John writes from Ephesus but it is as if he were writing from 21st century America. We have so much to learn. What will you bring to the table in your study this week?