I was privileged to speak to a group of university students on Monday night and in the Q&A I was asked, “What are the books that have had the greatest impact on your life?” The truth of the matter is that I read so widely that nothing came to mind immediately, jumping out as the one or two life changing books. However, the truth is that there have been hundreds, so I thought it would be fun to add a “quotables” section to this blog, highlighting various authors and books.
I don’t present them in order of importance. Rather, I read this book last fall, saw it on my shelf, and thought, “Why not start with this one?” You need to know that when I recommend books, I’m not ever endorsing everything I read in the book. Rather, I’m saying that, on the whole, a person with discernment can be well fed and shaped by the material this author shares. The quotes, on the other hand, are truths I buy into!
Enjoy these as a starter, from Richard Rohr’s “Immortal Diamond”, one of many books I’ve read about the importance of being firmly established in our true identity “in Christ”. Here are a few of my favorite thoughts from this book.
Church in any form should be a laboratory for resurrection.
All posturing and pretending are largely unnecessary….all accessorizing of any small fragile self henceforth shows itself to be a massive waste of time and energy.
Inside your true self you know that you are not alone, and you foundationally belong to God (I Cor. 3:23). You no longer have to work to feel important. You are intrinsically important, and it has all been ‘done unto you’ (Luke 1:38)
…if you do not learn the art of dying and letting go early, you will hold onto your false self for far too long, until it kills you anyway.
Satan tempts you to do proper, defensible, and often admired things, but for cold, malicious, or self-centered reasons.
…only the false self can and will sin
The anger and disrespect I find among both conservative and progressive Christians is disturbing. It feels aligned much more with political ideologies of right and left than any immersion in the beautiful love of God.
The spiritual question is this: Does one’s life give any evidence of an encounter with God? Does this encounter bring about any of the things that Paul describes as the ‘fruits of the spirit’, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, truthfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
What most of Christian history did was largely dress up and disguise the false self (in Christian clothing).
Remember that resurrection is not woundedness denied, forgotten, or even totally healed. It is woundedness transformed.
The big and hidden secret is this: an infinite God seeks and desires intimacy with the human soul.