Westheights Church Library review of “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. You can’t read this book without feeling challenged. For such a thin book, there’s a great depth of content that forces you to read more contemplatively and really question how you live your faith. “Overwhelmed By A Relentless God” is the sub-title and aptly describes the outcome Francis Chan hopes to achieve in the reader – a huge view of God. If you’ve read this book, or are currently reading this book, we want to hear what you thought of CRAZY LOVE. Chapter 4 on”lukewarm Christianity” is a particularly challenging chapter; how did you feel about Francis Chan’s strong words on this?
At the Crazy Love book website, you can also view brief chapter videos which tie into the book, although the videos are optional. The following is excerpted from the book.
God is love – crazy, relentless all- powerful love. Have you ever wondered if we are missing it? It’s crazy if you think about it. The God of the universe loves with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. What is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs and try not to cuss. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith? That addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working at a list of do’s and do not’s; it’s falling in love with God. Once you encounter His love, it will never be the same. Because when you‘re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.
Chan’s grandma Clara acted toward God the way we act towards people we’re madly in love with. Grandma Clara used to say, “I love love.” Don’t we all? Don’t we all crave love? Isn’t that what God wants of us – to crave this relationship with Him because when you’re wildly in love with someone it changes everything?
When you are truly in love, you go to great lengths to be with the one you love. When you are apart from each other, it’s painful, even miserable. He or she is all you think about; this is the kind of love God wants from us. God wants to change us; He died so that we could change. True love requires sacrifice. This is how we know what love is – read 1 John 3: 16-20.
In an age of spiritual apathy, Crazy Love shines like a glorious beacon of hope and light. This book is eye-opening and soul thrilling. Chan effuses love for Jesus Christ and demonstrates practical ways to throw off lukewarm Christianity and have full-on, passionate love for God. When you read Crazy Love it may just be the most challenging book outside of God’s word you will ever read.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself .’” (Matt. 22: 37-39)
Francis Chan is pastor of Cornerstone church in Simi Valley, California. He spends much of his time teaching directly from the Bible. His passion is to see the church display a much deeper love for Jesus.