Primal
I recently just finished reading Mark Batterson’s third book, Primal – A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity. I loved Batterson’s style of writing. He is passionate, thought provoking, and yet simplistic. In this third book he takes on the Great Commandment, which he calls the Primal Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
In the first chapter he addresses the concern so many of us have who work with this next generation; the church drop out rate among twenty-somethings. In regards to this issue, Batterson believes the church often asks the incorrect question: “What is wrong with this generation?” He suggests the right question is: “What’s wrong with the church?” Batterson concludes the answer is simple. “We are not great at the Great Commandment.” He goes on to say, “In too many instances, we’re not even good at it.”
Batterson’s main argument in Primal is this: “Our generation needs a reformation. A reformation born out of rediscovering something ancient, something primal. A reformation born out of primal truths rediscovered, reimagined, and radically reapplied to our lives.”
Paul tells us in Philippians 1:11, to “make Jesus Christ attractive to all…” (Msg). What will make Christ more attractive then being great at the Great Commandment? Let’s rediscover this Primal truth and start a reformation.
