I thoroughly enjoy Mark Batterson. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day not only is the best-titled book of all time, it is a great read. Wild Goose Chase, his second book, is incredibly challenging.
Now comes his latest, Primal, carrying the subtitle “A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity.”
Why “Lost”? As Mark writes in the first chapter, “…we have accepted a form of Christianity that is more educated but less powerful, more civilized but less compassionate, more acceptable but less authentic…”
Sensitive? No. Truthful? Yes.
The solution? One sentence in the book summarizes, “We can’t afford to be merely good at the Great Commandment. We’ve got to be great at the Great Commandment.” (emphasis mine)
How? The remainder of the book offers insights and practical ways to develop a heart of primal compassion, a soul of primal wonder, and mind of primal curiosity, and a strength of primal energy.
It is obvious Mark reads widely and thinks deeply. Illustrations not only “fit,” but are memorable and applicable.
I read the book at one sitting. I will reread it a tad slower. Prayerfully I will apply it as well.
Just a caveat, there is nothing “new” here. It reminds me of Peter telling us in Scripture, loosely paraphrased, “I’m gonna tell you this stuff again, even though you already know it.”
It is one thing to “know,” another to “do.”
Make Primal the first book you read in 2010, and you will “do” more in the new year.
2 comments:
Post a Comment