Crazy Love

Book Review of Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love is another in a long line of books that begin with the premise that the church in America is not doing well. Where these books part company with each other is in either their diagnosis of the problem or in their recommended cure. For Chan, the problem is an inaccurate view of God (22) and the solution is, therefore, a correct theology that leads to complete devotion.

The book starts out sort of slow, a very basic discussion of what God is like. Chapter 4 onward had the feel, to me, of a couple of different sermon series tied together in book form. I mean none of this critically, as the book is pretty decent. Francis is frank and, I think, quite right in what he is saying. Most importantly, the book challenged me in a number of ways not by being innovative but by doing what all good Christian books do: reminding us how great God is and what we should do in response.

Quotes of Note

The core problem isn't the fact that we're lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God (22).

Do not assume you are good soil. I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God (67).

The American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity (68).

To put it plainly, churchgoers who are 'lukewarm' are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven (84).

Most of us use "I'm waiting for God to reveal His calling on my life" as a means of avoiding action. Did you hear God calling you to sit in front of the television yesterday? Or to go on your last vacation? Or exercise this morning? Probably not, but you still did it (169).

If I stop pursuing Christ, I am letting our relationship deteriorate (170).