When Tomlin adds, “Sure it’s fine and politically correct to believe (italics his) in God, but to really love Him is a whole different story,” he begs an obvious question: Is believing enough to save you, or not? (See Acts 16.31) Tomlin is right in saying that the life to which Jesus calls us is “absolute craziness to the world.” But let’s be clear: The “us” in that statement is Christians – believers in Jesus! God does not call unbelievers to a life that is ‘absolute craziness to the world.’ He calls them to believe in His Son! Seeds of ‘eternal insecurity’ are sown if the difference between becoming a Christian (having eternal life) and living out the Christian life is not clear. Calling Crazy Love “the most challenging book outside of God’s Word you will read this year,” he says the “status quo and norms of the so-called ‘Christian’ life that so many of us are used to experiencing are in for a shock!” By putting quotation marks around “Christian,” Tomlin subtly implies that people should question whether or not they are “Christian” based on their works. What should concern us more, however, is Tomlin’s implicit ‘put-down’ of those who don’t agree with Chan. Francis Chan is not unique in believing ‘that God is really who he says He is’ – nor does he have any special insight on what it means to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. Chris Tomlin heartily endorses Francis Chan as one who “leaves you wanting more of Jesus” and “a man with great vision and resolve for the mission of Jesus.” Tomlin calls him a person “who believes that God is really who He says He is and that the true reality of this life is to follow Him wholeheartedly.” We should be wary when a person is built up too much.

Francis chan book of james