The Jesus Way

I'm really trying to better myself as a person, both spiritually and mentally. The things I learn, research, etc., I thought I'd share on this blog. That way maybe I can help others at the same time as helping myself. So here we go.

I've recently started reading The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson. Originally I was going to do an overall summary of each entire chapter. I did that on the Introduction and found it to be very time consuming which discouraged me in continuing on. So this blog will have both the Introduction and chapter one.

I wasn't quite sure about this book before I started reading other then the curiosity factor as a result of a talk given using The Jesus Way as the main source and an article in Christianity Today in which the author was interviewed. I decided to write my thoughts about each chapter as I finished it. I want to make this a habit with everything I read. The author, Eugen Peterson states that he has observed those who understand themselves to be followers of Jesus...embrace the culture in which they live while still living daily in Jesus' name. In thinking about my own life I can see how over the last several years I have done just that. Almost a Sunday Christian. Using the world's terms to share Christ. While witnessing by example is good it's more public then personal. We have a personal gospel that is nothing but. If we are using a culture driven philosophy in sharing the gospel we have taken Jesus out of the equation. John 14:6 is cited in the text. Jesus said, " I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father but through me." If we use the world's means to show people the way and the world is going to hell how are we making any ground? Jesus is the way. Without him there is no other. "Once we start paying attention to Jesus' ways, it doesn't take us long to realize that following Jesus is radically different from following anyone else." (Eugene Peterson. The Jesus Way, pg. 9) "The way of Jesus cannot be imposed or mapped. It requires an active participation in following Jesus as he leads us through sometimes strange and unfamiliar territory." (Eugene Peterson "The Jesus Way", pg 18) My interpretation of that is this. At some point in our lives we all talk big. Screw the talking! We need to act. Better yet we need to live. Anyone can act like a Christian (and sadly, many do). But to live as a Christian is different. I hope that when people see me they not only see Jesus but they see that I am a Christ Follower.

In the first chapter there are so many awesome insights but I think the following sentence sums up everything" "Jesus is the way of salvation. We follow his way. The way Jesus does it is the way we do it. Jesus is the way we come to God. Period. End of discussion." (The Jesus Way, p 37)

It can't be stated enough. There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus. What is awesome is that we have the example of Christ to show us not only the direction we should walk but also the way to walk in that direction. How to live. This point keeps getting hammered home to me. Our lives should be verbs and not subjects. We need to live and walk as Jesus did. Awesome stuff! More to come!