Jesus Plus Nothing
This post is much less an academic review as it is a reflection of what I found most inspiring about Jackie’s story, and in particular, her character. This approach seems to best honor the author’s work.
I’ve heard it said that the greatest threat to Christianity in the West is not Atheism, but superficiality. When I was a teenager and a new Christian, I remember my youth leaders constantly reminding us, over and over again, of Revelation 3:16, “Because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
As a teenager, the simple application of that passage for my life was to not go to youth group on Wednesday nights and Friday night Bible study and pray and sing and all that, and then get wasted on Saturday night and cheat on my homework on Monday. It’s easy to grow into adulthood and forget the verse entirely because the application during adolescence is no longer needed (not to mention the motivation of fear is much less compelling). But what does this verse say to adult Christians enjoying suburban life, or in the words of Ron Sider, what does this verse say to rich Christians in an age of hunger?
When I look at Jackie Pullinger, I become aware of my guilt of lukewarmness, at least in the sense of sacrifice and comfort and basically ignoring many of Jesus’ commands to serve the poor. Yet I find, then, that the average congregant is hardly a Christian at all, if being a Christian means living the way of Jesus in the world. And I’m not much better.
For too long, Christianity in the West was mostly about ascribing to doctrines (without need for application), and perhaps the Protestant tradition is most guilty of leading an entire world away from “Christianity as a way of life” to “Christianity as a way of belief.”
The result, I wonder, is lukewarm, superficial Christianity. Why is it that the Spirit seems most palpably on fire and the church growing at an exceptional rate in the places of greatest suffering and opposition in the world? Does it not come back to this verse in Revelation? There’s no room to be casually Christian in the face of communism or radical Islam, or abject poverty, or a bottle of Vodka after three months’ sobriety, or your classmates at Brown University. One shall quickly be spit out!
But here in the comfy West, how easy it is for most to blend our Christianity with our lifestyle, especially, if after all, Christianity primarily means ascribing to right doctrine. But if Christianity means living the way of Jesus, we are in trouble. It’s no wonder the church in the United States has kept Jackie out of our story. She is a threat to our way of being Christian.
The times in my life when I am most embarrassed is when my pastor friends from Colombia and Kenya come to visit me, in my home, community, and church. I see the strange look in their eyes, as though something doesn’t seem to make sense about this picture, though they would never say such a thing. I do wonder what they say to their friends about the Church in America when they return home.
There is a simple, “Do what Jesus said to do” that is sorely lacking in the Church in the West today, and I am no exception. Yet is so plainly expressed in Jackie’s story. She plainly admits her wrongs along the way, and her lack of faith, and her purest desires, and the plain miraculous work of the Spirit that any Christian who is plainly obeying Jesus would not be surprised to witness.
Jackie’s simple willingness to do what Jesus said revealed the depth of her faith. She understands faith to be “trust” in the real present-moment provision of God. For her, faith is not reciting the Apostle’s Creed, it’s putting it into action. Without embodiment, they are empty words. This faith gave her courage to enter into some of the most dangerous and horrendous conditions in the Name of Jesus. This faith gave her an acute sense of hearing, where she had clarity and the ability to silence every voice in her head but the voice of the Spirit. Perhaps most of all, this faith gave her the compassion of Jesus, especially as she considered God’s compassion in her life.
Jackie said, “God cannot do through you what you won’t let him do in you.”
“We know, Jackie, but the idols are so compelling.”
About the Author
Chris Pritchett
5 responses to “Jesus Plus Nothing”
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Hey Chris,
In a word, “yes”! Reading accounts like this one are meant to push us to ask these kinds of questions and wonder about our own life-situations. And, just like you said, when we encounter global Christian leaders, it affects our thinking about our own callings and work. Your passion comes through in your writing on this, and I think that’s a first step outcome from this book…
Hey Chris,
You had me with your title! Then you backed it up my Brother. Thank you for your openness and honesty. I also appreciated your exposing the lukewarmness in America. When I started to read your Blog about superficiality, my mind immediately went to lukewarmness. Before I could think it through, you went exactly where I was thinking! Thanks again for your depth.
How do we read Jackie and not feel guilty? She is an amazing witness to the power of God and her willingness to see beyond her own comfort. I do think books of this sort should make us not feel guilty but inspire us to see those around us that God is bringing into our circles because He wants to use us in the transformation process. I appreciated you sharing your own journey toward lukewarmness in some aspects of life. We all have our own confession to make in this realm as well. thanks for your thoughts.
Chris,
I had the same feelings you did as I read Jackie’s story. I felt the rejection of the American church in how Jackie “does” her walk with Christ. How many of my congregation would even walk near the Walled City much less go in and get exposed to its seedy underbelly. For that matter would I? It starts with us brother taking that step showing those who God has given us there is a better way.
Jason
Chris,
Thank you, and in a word, “Amen”.
I wonder what Jackie’s spirituality would look like enrobed within our Western contexts?
I am humbled by Jackie’s willingness to live out the gospel as she reads it. There is something honest and inspiring when people live simply and live out truth the best they can, despite the risks and the countercultural challenge it is to those of us in the comfortable West.