The "Christian Good Life"

by Will Walker

My previous post was a bit vague, which was gently brought to my attention yesterday by Brett. Sometimes ambiguity is an invitation to the reader to dig for meaning. Sometimes it is a way to hide from the reader. My intentions will come clear momentarily.

First I should make a few clarifications. After reading the article today I thought it seemed like I was saying that living the earth-life was akin to laziness and the kingdom life was all about working your butt off.  This, however, is an unintentional consequence of the analogy. Hard work is better than laziness in both worlds.

The practice/couch contrast was simply to say that a small group of people was not doing what most of the people in their world were doing. Their pursuit of the Final Four propelled them into another realm of living, a different set of priorities and sacrifices, a new way of seeing.

We are confronted with the same choice, not once, but moment by moment. Will we settle for a good life – enough money, good kids, PTA, sports, hobbies, etc. – or will we strive for something along the lines of Trinitarian community, missional life, and bearing with one another in love? Of course these pursuits do not exclude success or pleasure or acclaim; rather, they just don’t aim for them. Another way of asking this question is this: Is our mere “being here” the reason we live? People who have a sense of being sent here do not think this way.

“All of these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are not looking for a country of their own” (Hebrews 11:13-14).

I made reference to the “Christian good life” as a pursuit that is more or less the same as the earth-life, but within Christianity. To be more clear, I think that to settle down in this world— to take up residence here— means that one has come to want basically the same things that everyone wants … money, approval from peers, control, security, health, comfort and ease, physical pleasure, and so on.  What I find in my life is that these things still have a hold on my motives even as I say that my citizenship is in heaven. Some examples:

•    I want to write books, partly because I want to help people, but also because I want to make money (to buy stuff and secure comfort for my family) and acclaim.

•    I desperately want community (something the kingdom citizens are deeply concerend with) but even here my motives are littered with seeking approval from people’s opinions, controlling others to get my way, only wanting community with people I like.

•    I am in full-time ministry because I think helping people know Jesus is worth all my time and energy. I’m also in full-time ministry because I happen to be wired such that I am good at it. Perhaps I am better at it than anything else, which is a nice way of saying that I do not have marketable skills. But what if I did? If I were a brilliant engineer or savvy businessman, would I still think that helping people know Jesus is worth all my time? I cannot know the answer to that question, but I am nevertheless keenly aware that while Christianity is my calling it is also my field of expertise.

I hope this is sufficient to see what I mean by the “Christian good life”. I am not particularly enjoying the process of articulating it, and these are just the things that I am willing to admit. Again, Jesus hates all this more than I do … “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world [or any subculture therein] will keep it for eternal life.”

Comments

[Ryan]

Hi, Will

I read one of your articles on Relevantmagazine.com today and really enjoyed it. I'm a new writer myself and I was interested in your advice on a couple things. In fact, any of the writers on this site are welcome to respond as I've enjoyed all your writings!

Most of the time I feel overwhelmed when I stand in the midst of thousands upon thousands of books at Barnes and Noble and wonder what in the world I have to offer. Have you ever felt this way? How do you get past it?

Also, when I head to the "writing section" and am bombarded with thousands of books about how to write, including around a thousand on writing queries and the like, I feel handcuffed and apprehensive about how to do things right. How do you get past the technical aspects of "the business" or do you? How concerned should I be about sending out my writing the right way?

I really appreciate any advice you could give me. I hope to have something published on Relevant in the near future.

Thanks so much,
Ryan Haack

[Bob]

Hey Ryan,

You should know that Will's true secret is that he lives in Austin, which qualifies as a "relevant" town and therefore creates market interest. I have tried to get him to move to Omaha, but I suspect that deep down he feels that it is a less Relevant place to live and would therefore hurt his publication options.

It also helps to have a job like Will's, which allows you to spend inordinate amounts of time at coffee shops surfing the wireless internet and writing stuff.

Before you write anything, you MUST read the first chapter of Don Miller's 'Searching for God Knows What' - it will at least tell you what NOT to do! Best of God's grace to you in your ambitions.

[d white]

Will-
I'm convinced that you wouldn't need to clarify anything if you would have posted "The Kingdom of Couches" in a different font.

Most of the time I post comments about the content and challenges that this site triggers in my spiritual life, but I'm hung up on logistics right now. I'll try and get over my Americanization.

(This will be my last attempt at trying to let you know that Times New Roman is killing your refreshed site.)

[Walker]

Ryan, I was in Barnes & Noble Monday night and had that same feeling ... the "where do all these books come from, and why do I want to contribute to this madness?" feeling. All I can say is that God gives you desires and it is not honest to ignore them.

As far as all the stuff on how to write, that too overwhelms me. I personally do not know what I am doing, but as new as I am to the whole writing thing I figure that just getting something on paper is a good start. Getting feedback from honest friends is a pretty decent education, but you have to have some people (like Bob) who will tell you if something sucks.

Okay, last two thoughts on this:
1. Don't write to get published. Write what you feel, what perhaps only you can say in the way that you will say it.
2. Read a book by Annie Dillard called "The Writing Life." Anyone who fancies themself a writer should read this book.

[Walker]

Dusty,

Your rage against Times New Roman is comical to me because it makes obvious that you were discipled, I mean brainwashed, by Bob. To quote an e-mail that I received from Bob .... "The Christian has four enemies: the world, the flesh, the devil, and Times New Roman font."

I do not know exactly what a "tool" is, but I sense that you may qualify in this instant.

[Ryan]

Thanks for the comments, guys. I just bought Miller's book and am putting Dillard's on hold at the library. :-)

I know this might be out of place, but I'm sure you guys have some thoughts on this. I'm leading a study in Ephesians and we're really thinking about the whole dual nature deal (flesh/spirit). Are we really a new creation and the old is gone? Or does the flesh still exist and battle against our spirit? Are we saints only? Saints who sin? Sinners AND saints? Big piles of crap?

It just seems like there has to be a balance. We are holy and righteous in God's sight because of Christ, but we also continue to sin.

Any scriptural thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Ryan

[Patrick]

Will,
Post it all in wingdings. See who complains about Times New Roman then.