Forgotten God & West Dallas
So, as I’ve stated in a previous post that I wanted this summer to be different, more spiritually stimulating. I continued my quest as I decided to read Forgotten God. It’s not a theology of the Holy Spirit, but a challenge to embrace the Spirit. And a challenge it was, at least for me. I was super excited when I finished this book today. I have felt for a long time that I don’t “walk” by the Spirit. I don’t even really know what that means. Chan didn’t answer it, but he did slap me across the face with his rhetoric.
He makes an interesting observation that I never realized before. John 16:7 startled me when Jesus said, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” It is for our advantage that he go away. Why? Because if he doesn’t the Helper won’t come. It is for our advantage. It is for our advantage? So if I had to choose between having a full day with the physical Jesus or the Spirit, it would be to my advantage to choose the Spirit? Chan explains it much better, but I just never realized that it is for my advantage that Jesus went away, and is still away. Go pick it up. Read it. Be changed.
What does that have to do with West Dallas? Well, I finished the book today. Immediately after putting the book down I drove to help my wife at her school. I walked into her room while she was in the middle of a conversation with one of the facility workers. I only needed to hear a few words to get the gist. He was giving his story about growing up in West Dallas, and all the chaos that ensues, and then his conversion. It was amazing. I sat there listening to him for 90 minutes. Throughout his story I noticed his continual references to the Spirit leading him. I was refreshed by his clarification that it was the Spirit who broke his heart. Our conversation ended and we went back to work.
Well, Katie and I moved to another part of the building to do more work in their teacher’s work room. It was only a few minutes into our work and the door opened. Another facility worker came strolling in. It was Mr. Jackson, and you’ve never met anyone like Mr. Jackson. I promise you. Long story short, I sat for another 60 minutes listening to Mr. Jackson give his story about growing up in West Dallas, the streets, the drugs, all the chaos that ensues, AND, his conversion. It was remarkable. As before, he also made constant mention of the Spirit leading him, and as before, I was refreshed.
As I sit here now, I’ve had time to think about this day. My spiritual life received a sobering reality check via Francis Chan (really, via the Spirit), but ended with a confirmation that the Spirit is powerfully working and moving in people.
There it was. Did you catch it? What was the advantage that Jesus was talking about? Isn’t is now clear. We have, at this very moment, the Spirit of God living within us. Say that one more time, but slowly. One more time.
Today, I saw and heard the advantage.
