Marti dared me to write about this — what she sees as a sort of non-evangelical list of axioms she hung on a plaque in the kitchen as her mantra on life — a celebration of normal human emotions that Christians have a tendency to shun. You would expect to see a Bible verse or a Max Lucado quote in a Christian home, but Marti decided to go for the secular
So I accepted the challenge, because the last thing I want to be is an evangelical who looks and acts like one. To be an evangelical for what I believe is one thing; to be an evangelical because I fit the stereotype — fill the bill — is another, and frankly, I’m not interested. So I’ll give it a go…
LIFE IS SHORT – Well we have no argument here. The biblical interpretation might lean toward getting yourself right with God, while the secular approach would say get the most out of it. Nevertheless, I would venture that Solomon would lift a glass for going for the gusto.
This one sets the stage for the rest; since life is short, this is how to get the most out of it:
BREAK THE RULES – Now this is definitely a non-evangelical sentiment. TOE THE LINE would be more along the lines of what you would expect. But put Jesus up against the Jewish law-enforcers of His day and you’ll find a law-breaker among you. Jesus would say that if you are using rules for anything other than love … you might as well break them. At least that’s what He did.
FORGIVE QUICKLY – Hopefully there’s no argument here. No place for holding grudges. If I can’t forgive it’s usually because I haven’t been forgiven — that is, I haven’t accepted my own forgiveness — and if that’s any part of evangelicalism, I’m out, now.
KISS SLOWLY – Sex is dirty. Get it over with. God doesn’t want anyone having fun, now, does He?
LOVE TRULY – It I could do this, we would be forever happy, and I think God would smile.
LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY – Ever notice how we can have a sort of tight laughter? It just doesn’t go all the way down; stays in the throat somewhere. Belly laughs are for unbelievers or the intoxicated. Why? If God incorporates all of life then you can laugh from the bottom when you’re sane.
AND NEVER REGRET ANYTHING THAT MADE YOU SMILE – This is Marti’s favorite and the one that may sound most suspicious because it seems like you are getting pleasure out of something wrong. But this doesn’t have to be that. This can mean pulling something good out of your life, even your past. In fact, that’s what God is going to do. He’s going to burn all the bad away and leave the good, so that what makes you smile is the fact that His hand is in everything that happens to you, past, present, future.
There, I accepted the challenge. How did I do?
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9)
John Fischer The Catch 
Great job- thanks! As a Marriage and Family Therapist I might be able to amplify the kiss slowly. Didn’t God create Eve so man would not be alone? Too often I meet couples who do not connect due to busy days and routines that pull them away from each other. A slow kiss could really do wonders for refreshing, comforting, and sharing a blessing. Does that help?
i too think you did a great job Pastor John… 🙂
You nailed it today, John. At least for me. I have been reading The Catch ever since it began and the one thing that drew me to it was how you always talked about being just a regular guy AND a believer is OK. Yes, I can be IN the world, but should not be OF the world but I can also ENJOY what the world has to offer. As a member of a large Evangelical Church Staff I often wounder what’s wrong with me because I’d much rather listen to secular music on my I-pod than praise choruses, read some good fiction instead of a bible commentary or go to a movie instead of a bible study. I have had a hard time explaining it, not only to others but to myself.
But you nailed it when you said “the last thing I want to be is an evangelical who looks and acts like one. To be an evangelical for what I believe is one thing; to be an evangelical because I fit the stereotype – fill the bill – is another, and frankly, I’m not interested.”
That’s it for me, crystal clear, 100%. Thanks John, you nailed it (again)
Ya done good, Pilgrim ! No, seriously !
LOL Thanks John/Marti. I needed it.
🙂
“….and never regret anything that made you smile.” This one stopped me in my tracks and made me think about what made me smile. You know Satan has been trying to derail me with all kind of sins, consequences and woundings my whole life….boy does that make me smile. In fact just now it made me laugh uncontrollably because no matter what the misery God one ups him every time.
God does it so creatively that it often makes me smile but from now on I will laugh uncontrollably. God does the impossible and I am comfortable in that.
Well said, Peter.
Reminds me of CS Lewis’ comment about our desires being too weak. In Lewis’s words; “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” So, I’m much more interested in going for the max in all I do. Thanks for starting the conversation
Hello Allan–Isn’t C.S.L. a great read? Every day I can part of my studies are from,
“My Utmost for His Highest”-One Minute Devotions,”The Screwtape Letters” and
“The Business of Heaven”-Daily readings from C.S.L. edited by Walter Hooper.
Going for it Too!
Bill R
You know, John and Marti, I keep wondering where you met all these Christians that are sour, unhappy, shallow, putting on a false face, etc… The Christians that I know and worship with are vibrant, happy people. They give of themselves to those less fortunate, not for some reward, but because of love. They are not haughty, mean or nasty tempered. They genuinely love the Lord. AND they don’t think sex is dirty, but a beautiful thing to bring a husband and wife closer, as one. I wonder if, perhaps, you were hanging out with a different type of crowd than I do.
Bev: My experience with traveling all over the country speaking in a variety of Christian venues over the last forty years, is that you are indeed in the minority. Maybe we’ll just have to move to your town!
John/Marti–New here and so grateful for your insightful and heart-warming words.
You are helping make me the kind of Christian I want to become.
Bill R.
Wanted to offer you a welcome, William Roe to the Catch family…
Every day brings new friends.Thank you.My original discovery about John’s writing was in
the purchase of;-“Confessions Of A Caffeinated Christian” at a used book store I haunt.
It was a great find.
Bill
How wonderful it was to hear this. I always wondered if this ever happened — someone just pick up one of my books because it looked interesting. Thanks for letting me know! Now my final wish is to run into someone in a public place reading one of my books.
You done good, once again!!!!
Pope Francis recently gave an interview, in which he said, “The point is to have a church that is a big, messy, welcoming family, “not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people. We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity.”
I found that encouraging.