Pastor Francis Chan founded Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA. One day he told his congregation that he was leaving to pursue whatever God would want for his life.
Also an author of bestselling books and a sought-after conference speaker, Chan challenges American Christians in particular to discard superficial Christianity and to look and act like real followers of Jesus Christ.
In his 2009 book, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, Chan makes several points about the identity and the work of the Holy Spirit. In between the teaching chapters, he places biographies of several Christians notable for their lives which, through the Holy Spirit, are “stripped of selfishness, pride and fear.” They look and act like real Christians.
Exegesis vs. Eisegesis
A true understanding of the Holy Spirit must come from an objective discovery of what the Bible says about Him.This is what theologians call Exegesis. Chan says what is woefully incorrect is taking a personal idea and looking for scriptural supports. This incorrect approach to the Bible is called Eisegesis. The Holy Spirit shines a spiritual light on the Word of God and helps Christians to measure their lives and what others say and do against a perfect standard. The apostle Paul says, “Test everything.” Chan talks about several Bible passages about the Holy Spirit.
The Person of the Holy Spirit
Chan goes on to teach about the Holy Spirit is and what He does. He is:
-God
-a person
-eternal
-the one Who lives in believers
-an intercessor before God the Father
-one Who convicts Christians of sin and leads them into holy lives
-everywhere, all-knowing and all-powerful
-always pointing to Jesus Christ
The U.S. Church and the Holy Spirit
Chan chastises the American church for being entertainment driven and filled with worldly consumers. Even a desire to be tuned into the Holy Spirit can be grasping and selfish. He challenges readers to ask themselves:
-Why do I want more of the Holy Spirit?
-Do I just want something for myself (e.g. a showy manifestation of God)?
-Do I want more of the Holy Spirit to point to God and to help others in their lives?
-Is my life too comfortable? Is my life too loud?
While Chan clearly says that Christians should not act like “stressed-out slaves” but as “beloved children of God,” he is emphatic that a life influenced by this “Forgotten God” will not be a life of ease or a life that drowns out His guiding voice.
Sources:
www.joniandfriends.org
Book: Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
Publisher: David C. Cook
