I first heard of Mike Yaconelli the first time I attended a Youth Specialties conference. Later, I found out he was the co-founder of Youth Specialties, a ministry for youth pastors and youth workers. Shortly after I moved to California in 2003, I heard he died in an auto accident here in Northern California, where he lived.
Messy Spirituality is the last book he wrote. In it, he focuses on God’s Love for Imperfect People (that’s all of us), and on how to be a disciple of Jesus in today’s world. As the title suggests, Yaconelli says real discipleship is “messy, erratic, lopsided and gloriously liberating.” In fact, a question he asks over and over is, “What if genuine faith begins with admitting we will never completely have our act together?” (Similar to Steps to Christ, chapter 2, Sinner's Need for Christ)
Yaconelli spends a good portion of the book describing what messy spirituality feels and looks like. In the end, it is about God’s unconditional and transforming love for us. It is about loving and being loved. Yaconelli stresses the fact that Jesus redeems us; our inconsistencies, doubts, addictions and failures by his unceasing grace, transforming us (if we allow him to) into new creation. He says we need not be paralyzed by our past; we can receive healing, peace and freedom in Christ Jesus.
Throughout the book he states that he believes that spirituality is not a formula; not a test or program. It is a relationship. It is not about competence; it is about intimacy. It is not about being fixed; it is about God’s redeeming presence in the midst of our inadequacies. He describes a God who meets you and transforms you in the midst of the challenges, messiness, and imperfections of this life.
Messy Spirituality is a short and easy read (170 pages). I found it to be very thought provoking and refreshing look at the challenges of living a spiritual life. It also comes with discussion questions for each of the eight chapters.
Ron Aguilera
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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