'The Jesus Experience' Book Review: A Brutally Honest Christian's Testimony Highlights the Shortcomings of Works-Based Faith
In his latest book The Jesus Experience, Christian author and filmmaker Bill Myers attempts to reignite faith in older believers and help new ones avoid the traps of works-based Christianity through a narrative on how his walk with God was transformed when he finally realized he didn't need to impress God with deeds and good behavior.
Myer's begins the book by talking about his younger years and how he feared not receiving God's approval with his life. He also addresses the idea of being a "good Christian" in your own strength and shoots it down by attributing spiritual growth solely to God.
The book examines the question of what God asks of believers and Myers points out that many Christians will address their faith, or lack thereof with doing more in the church or in the community, but all of that is empty if it's done apart from abiding in Christ. To Myers, life is about saying yes to what God asks and not about setting out plans that sounds holy or Christian and trying to carry them out. He says a believer's purpose can only be found through deep relationship with the Father.
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Myers uses to the story of Martha and Mary found in the book of Luke to illustrate his point. He describes Martha as a "servaholic" who struggled to prepare her house for Jesus while Mary was busy just enjoying his company. In the same way, believers should view good works as an opportunity to spend time with the Lord, and not as a time to earn his acceptance. Myers points out that the cross accomplishes that.
The book also delves a bit deeper into the perspective of a believer who is focused on using works to impress God. For example, those who are always focused on religious tasks tend to view people as objects they can use to accomplish their goals and not as sons and daughters of God whom we are to have communion with. Christ's mandate for believers to love their neighbor as themselves is corrupted by this lifestyle of works, according to Myers, as they no longer have a sober vision of relationship.
Throughout The Jesus Experience, Myers is brutally honest about himself and his shortcomings labeling himself a coward, a crybaby and a person who is unqualified to accomplish some of the things that he is known for such as writing books and directing films.
He explains however that where he was lacking God was faithful. The tasks he was chosen for in life, he says, were a result of his faith and not his personal attributes or experience. He also changed his view on these projects when he understood that God as his Father and said his goal is to take advantage of these tasks and view them as opportunities to enjoy His company.
The Jesus Experience starts strong and ends with practical ways to change Christians' perspectives of their relationship with God. Believers stuck in a pattern of hollow church activity who don't even remember why they're Christians in the first place could benefit from reading about Myers' life.
