Primal

"Is that what it is really all about?" Just Sunday, a new couple worshipping at Trinity for the last few weeks, with a strong religious background, asked something akin to this primal question, "What is life really all about?" They were uncovering layers of stratification. Years of veneer covering over what seemed a primal message. They were engaged in the difficult task of sorting out what was of the essence of the Christian story, and what was added over time. And of the stuff added over time, what was helpful, and what was obfascating.

Mark Batterson, best-selling author, has written a new book asking these primary questions. He makes a fantastic statement as he descends the stairs of history to the church's basement to see what we have forgotten, what we have devalued, what we have covered over. He says, "I've discovered that when I've lost my way spiritually, the way forward is often backward" (Primal 8). Batterson is a gifted question asker, and helps lead to at least a part of the primal Christian identity. Batterson is light on the primal creed of the Christian movement, emphasizing the primal deed (great commandment). His purpose is not to emphasize who God is, and who I am in Him, but to present primal Christianity as a way of life. He invites you to be motivated by grace, not paralyzed by it. You can test the first chapter at the link below.

http://reader.waterbrookmultnomah.com/2009/12/07/sneak-peek-primal-by-mark-batterson/