Primal...

If you have heard about Mark Batterson, I am guessing it is either because you attend his church or because you have read In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I happen to fall into the later category with aspirations of visiting NCC and Ebenezer's one day.

Currently, I'm reading through his newest epic--Primal. I'm only about 3/4ths of the way in, yet I feel the need to stop and process the many thoughts that have been underlined.

However, there is one thought that continues to be at the forefront of my mind. "The truth is that most of us are already educated way beyond the level of our obedience."

Educated beyond my obedience? Am I? Does my obedience need to catch up with my knowledge? What's the point of knowledge without obedience? Is there one?

In Acts 4, John and Peter stood before the Jewish leadership to give an account for telling everyone about Jesus. Verse 13 says "When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus"

I'll be considered "uneducated" if that means people know I've been with Jesus.

Mark also says this, "As I tried to absorb the significance of where I was (ancient catacomb), I couldn't help but wonder if our generation has conveniently forgotten how inconvenient it can be to follow in the footsteps of Christ. I couldn't help but wonder if we have diluted the truths of Christianity and settled for superficialities. I couldn't help but wonder if we have accepted a form of Christianity that is more educated but less powerful, more civilized but less compassionate, more acceptable but less authentic..."

Primal--makes you question your motives. Do you want truth or to be superficial? Do you want education or the power of Jesus? Civilized or compassionate? acceptable or authentic?