This book, although not on my original summer reading list, is officially the best book I've read all summer. I might even go as far as to say that it was the best book I've ever read... but, then again, I really enjoyed Peretti's "The Oath" as well as C.S. Lewis' "Till We Have Faces". I would say all three rank as #1 in my book.
"Jesus Freaks", the book, is filled with over 300 pages telling different stories of Christians who have been persecuted or martyred for their faith in Christ ever since Jesus Christ entered the earth. For me, I found that each and every single story made me want to become a Jesus Freak just like them. See, although I am already a Christian, it was amazing and inspiring to read how strong people were in the faith and how ready they were to undertake any pain for the sake of their King. The book almost made me feel guilty for not having been persecuted... Many times I almost felt as if I needed to go to some far off country, begin proclaiming my faith, and let them persecute me. And so many times as I was reading, I asked myself if I would be willing to do the same in such a situation or if I would have given in as many in the world today unfortunately do.
The book has put immeasurable passion within me to serve Jesus in any and every way and to become a FREAK for Him. I guess I really started to understand what it means to be a Jesus Freak through this book... It means that you're just crazy about your love for Jesus so much that you are completely willing to drop everything your own, the people you know, the things you love, and the very core of your being in a split-second to proclaim His name. Oh boy! That's what I want... that's the kind of person I want to be! I want to live my faith out loud like these freaks did; I want to never be ashamed of what I believe in or what I stand for; Oddly enough, I am even finding a strange passion within myself to become a Jesus Freak in chains, prisons, terrifying arenas and the like. Is this weird? I'm finding myself nearly wanting persecution! But I've been thinking a great deal about it. Why do I desire that? Is it really that I want persecution, or is it more that I want to be able to stand up just as strong for my Savior? Is it because I think it would make me famous among the nations and people and would even get my story in such a book? Well, I realize that that can't be the reason, for I would be dead and wouldn't know about what was going on. I think the reason is the admiration I have for those martyrs. Like I said, they were willing to drop everything, including their very life for the sake of Christ; They stood strong for Jesus in the very face of evil and would not back down. What could be more admirable than that? Aside from Jesus, what better role models could there be than Jesus Freaks who actually do what He asks us to do?? I want to be like them... I want to serve Jesus wholeheartedly, but as Peter Kreeft taught me in his book "How to Win the Culture War", I'm going to need a whole lot more than desire to be/do something. I have to do it. It's no good to talk about how much I would like to become a Jesus Freak if I don't change anything. Like Kreeft recognized, I have to wholly want to wholly want to give my life for Him (repetition of words is necessary here). Isn't this what we were created to become - friends/lovers/adorers/worshippers/servants... of the Most High God who immediately obey Him, yes, even to the point of death? Why be anything else?
4 comments:
Geez Lizzy, all these blogs. Almost making me feel guilty for the lack of blogs on my part...lol...But I guessed I was astonished when I saw that this was one of the best books that you've read out of all the great books that you've already read. I guess I should read it sometime. This is just a side note, I am almost done with Captivating and have already started on the Lost Virtue of Happiness.
Another side note, today, I bought the Great Omission by Dallas Willard, so I am excited.
Yet another side note, I got my housing assignment and I am living in Sigma. Where are you and Lisa living??
Hey! You're my Sigma mate! We are in Sigma too! That's totally cool!! Also, cool about the Dallas Willard book. Right now, I have The Divine Conspiracy but I haven't started it yet... I have to read Torrey books too! I'm running out of time... I was wondering, though, who the author is of Captivating and the Lost Virtue of Happiness; I'll be looking forward to reading your blogs on those. Thanks for checking up on my blogs... I sometimes feel like no one reads them.
I'm sorry about that. But just know that even though I may not leave a comment,that doesn't mean that I haven't read it yet. Remember? I check up on most everyone's blogs....still...haha...anyways, I know that jake, john, and mindy are for sure in Sigma. So hey, Avc reunion I guess...THe authors of Captivating are John and Stasi Elderidge. And the author of the other one is J.P. Moreland and another Biola professor.
sorry to break the chain between your guy's line of comments but thanks lyhzzee, this did answer my question that I put on Puerto Rico's blog. It does make me think about if I would drop everything, while I can't say that I have experianced what most of those "Jesus Freaks" have.
Post a Comment