“Maybe you think you’re following the Spirit but have actually settled for something less — something I call inverted Christianity. Instead of following the Spirit, we invite the Spirit to follow us. Instead of serving God’s purposes, we want Him to serve our purposes. And while this may seem like a subtle distinction, it makes an ocean of difference.”- Mark Batterson
As Mark Batterson continues Chapter 1 of Wild Goose Chase, he describes a trip he once took to the Galapagos Islands. Mark’s adventures included snorkeling, jumping off a forty-foot cliff into a narrow river gorge, and swimming with some playful sea lions.
Above all, a saying in Spanish Pastor Batterson saw on a Sprite can provided a perfect recap of his experiences: Otra dia, otra adventura. Translation: Another day, another adventure.”
Furthermore, Mark believes, the words on the can of Sprite resonate with a deep longing of the human heart. The longing for adventure. In addition, the author sees those words as a great description of what it’s like to pursue God.
Therefore, Mark exhorts, anything can happen when you add the Holy Spirit into the equation of your life. Because you never know who you’ll meet, where you’ll go, or what you might do. However, when you settle for inverted Christianity, Mark explains, this happens:
“The result of this inverted relationship with God is not just a self-absorbed spirituality that leaves us feeling empty, it’s also the difference between spiritual boredom and spiritual adventure.”
Finally, the author compares seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat to a Wild Goose chase. In contrast, the author likens seeing a caged animal in the zoo to boredom and predictability. And too often, Mark contends, the church attempts to remove the risk, danger, and struggle from following Christ. Although good intentions may drive this effort, what you end up with is a caged Christian.
Today’s question: Do you find yourself settling for something less as you follow the Holy Spirit? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of Get Your Life Back
