I have heard of several bloggers who have suggested recommended reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns.  I started it about a month ago and then got side-tracked with other reading material pertinent to my work.  So I picked the book up Sunday afternoon as I was working on a message for the Advent Conspiracy challenge (specifically Dec.27th).   I hardly remember reading the following thoughts the first time but I highlighted it so it must have impressed me.  To say it did just that this time would be to sell it short.  Here is what Mr. Stearns says in his introduction:

“The idea behind The Hole in Our Gospel is quite simple.  It’s basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God.  It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world.

If your personal faith in Christ has no positive outward expression, then your faith-and mine-has a hole in it.

Embracing the gospel, or good news, proclaimed by Jesus is so much more than a private transaction between God and us.  The gospel itself was born of God’s vision of a changed people, challenging and transforming the prevailing values and practices of our world.”

WOW!  Did that hit me between the eyes!  I believe very strongly in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ-one devoid of a bunch of rules and regulations and legalism. But even that falls short of what God desires if I don’t translate that faith into action.  The opposite of donut holes (that many like but I don’t eat) to what Mr. Stearns is talking about is that while one is tasty, the other should leave a sour taste in our mouth.   Mr. Stearns is dead on with his assessment.  Time for me to “buck it up.”

How about you?  Any thoughts on what Mr. Stearns has said?  More specifically how would you get rid of the hole in your Gospel?   I would love to hear any of your thoughts.