I believe that Pastor Baart would agree with Colson when he says, “…serious Christians actually live happier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives by almost every measure.” I believe that Pastor Baart would agree with Colson because in all three chapters he provides evidence for why the life of a true Christian is the happiest, most fulfilled, and most productive. Pastor Baart does so by establishing our identity and purpose, the identity and purpose of each person in the trinity, and the relationship between the two.
In chapter 1, The Author, Pastor Baart contrasts his “old” life with the beginning of his “new” one. While Pastor Baart does not explicitly say that his life was happier, the reader can infer this conclusion from the way that he was prompted to reconcile with his parents, as one example. In addition, with the vigor and enthusiasm that Pastor Baart rights his book, the reader can tell how much purpose he finds in and how passionate he is about what it means to be involved in the Christians lifestyle. There is an important distinction that must be made, though. Before meeting Jesus at the road block, Pastor Baart was a “Christian,” but more in name than in nature. After meeting Jesus at the roadblock, Pastor Baart began his life as a true Christian in both name and nature. Furthermore, Pastor Baart mentioned God’s Story. He goes on to say that we are all involved in God’s metanarrative, as a subplot. While God is the author of the metanarrative, he is also the author of our subplot. As a result, the author of the whole story has a purpose for us to fulfill in it, therefore showing that a Christian is able to feel more fulfilled when they understand their place and purpose in the Story as compared to someone who does not. A Christian is also able to live a happier, more worry-free life knowing that God is writing our subplot, not us. This realization takes control out of our hands and allows us to trust in the Creator of the Universe. Worries about that next promotion or how the car is going to get fixed are irrelevant because God is going to take care of it. In chapter 2, The Protagonist, Pastor Baart talks about our personal abilities to earn our worth. His conclusion? We can’t, and that’s the beauty of it! We cannot do anything to earn salvation, our salvation comes only through that which Jesus has already accomplished. Everything we are blessed with comes only through that which Jesus has accomplished. This is so beautiful because it means that Jesus’ grace is sufficient and we do not have to be bogged down with being perfect, having the highest paying job, or anything of the nature. As a result, Christians live a happier live because they understand they are loved unconditionally by the Creator no matter their social status, past actions, etc. Others in this world are so often bogged down with trying to meet the standards of the world and in turn end up becoming depressed or disgruntled. Continuing, Pastor Baart mentions what it means to be “in” Jesus. The more we live a life resembling Christ the more we begin to “look” like him. The more we worship Jesus the more his wonderful attributes begin to show through us. Jesus shines through us and we become his light to the world. Consequentially, knowing that Jesus is in you and that God works through you, gives the Christian person the freedom to find their …show more content…
I have always been taught and have come to believe strongly that I am a terrible sinner in desperate need of God’s grace. I need God’s grace because apart from it I will spend an eternity in hell. Apart from grace I will feel the full wrath of God’s hatred of my sin on judgement day. Thankfully, I have accepted that grace, my sins have been forgiven, I have been set free. Nothing I can do can repay God for that gift, all I can do is live my life in humble servitude to the One who has pardoned me. Now, because of grace and the death of Jesus, God looks upon me as a new creation, pure and righteous before him. He still hates my sin, but he loves
In chapter 1, The Author, Pastor Baart contrasts his “old” life with the beginning of his “new” one. While Pastor Baart does not explicitly say that his life was happier, the reader can infer this conclusion from the way that he was prompted to reconcile with his parents, as one example. In addition, with the vigor and enthusiasm that Pastor Baart rights his book, the reader can tell how much purpose he finds in and how passionate he is about what it means to be involved in the Christians lifestyle. There is an important distinction that must be made, though. Before meeting Jesus at the road block, Pastor Baart was a “Christian,” but more in name than in nature. After meeting Jesus at the roadblock, Pastor Baart began his life as a true Christian in both name and nature. Furthermore, Pastor Baart mentioned God’s Story. He goes on to say that we are all involved in God’s metanarrative, as a subplot. While God is the author of the metanarrative, he is also the author of our subplot. As a result, the author of the whole story has a purpose for us to fulfill in it, therefore showing that a Christian is able to feel more fulfilled when they understand their place and purpose in the Story as compared to someone who does not. A Christian is also able to live a happier, more worry-free life knowing that God is writing our subplot, not us. This realization takes control out of our hands and allows us to trust in the Creator of the Universe. Worries about that next promotion or how the car is going to get fixed are irrelevant because God is going to take care of it. In chapter 2, The Protagonist, Pastor Baart talks about our personal abilities to earn our worth. His conclusion? We can’t, and that’s the beauty of it! We cannot do anything to earn salvation, our salvation comes only through that which Jesus has already accomplished. Everything we are blessed with comes only through that which Jesus has accomplished. This is so beautiful because it means that Jesus’ grace is sufficient and we do not have to be bogged down with being perfect, having the highest paying job, or anything of the nature. As a result, Christians live a happier live because they understand they are loved unconditionally by the Creator no matter their social status, past actions, etc. Others in this world are so often bogged down with trying to meet the standards of the world and in turn end up becoming depressed or disgruntled. Continuing, Pastor Baart mentions what it means to be “in” Jesus. The more we live a life resembling Christ the more we begin to “look” like him. The more we worship Jesus the more his wonderful attributes begin to show through us. Jesus shines through us and we become his light to the world. Consequentially, knowing that Jesus is in you and that God works through you, gives the Christian person the freedom to find their …show more content…
I have always been taught and have come to believe strongly that I am a terrible sinner in desperate need of God’s grace. I need God’s grace because apart from it I will spend an eternity in hell. Apart from grace I will feel the full wrath of God’s hatred of my sin on judgement day. Thankfully, I have accepted that grace, my sins have been forgiven, I have been set free. Nothing I can do can repay God for that gift, all I can do is live my life in humble servitude to the One who has pardoned me. Now, because of grace and the death of Jesus, God looks upon me as a new creation, pure and righteous before him. He still hates my sin, but he loves