Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. By Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2009. 166 Pages. $14.99.
Francis Chan is Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. He is founder and chancellor of Eternity Bible College in Simi Valley, California and also sits on the board of Children’s Hunger Fund. Chan is actively pursuing truth with a Christ-centered, God-glorifying, and Spirit-led passion.
Forgotten God is a balanced approach to the über-controversial subject of The Holy Spirit. Chan, a conservative, albeit in moderation, seemingly loosens his conservative ties while also reigning in any open, charismatic ties as he seeks to explore the Holy Spirit from a truly, biblical position. It is this writer’s opinion that Chan presents a balanced look at the Holy Spirit, giving supremacy to Scripture and glory to Christ.
Strengths of this book include: (1) readable and clear writing style. Chan puts his information before the reader in such a way that the need for clarification on the reader’s end is minimal if needed at all. (2) Chan provides helpful testimonies at the conclusion of each chapter regarding various Spirit-filled believers and the work to which God has called them. This seems to put forth “proof,” for lack of a better term, for the Spirit’s work in the lives of those presented. (3) At a point in Christendom when there is great struggle between “old” and “new” approaches, Chan presents culturally relevant, biblically based, and accurate claims regarding Christianity’s varied approaches to and understandings of the Holy Spirit.
Several areas of this book that warrant highlighting are as follows: (1) Chan exposes the truth that the Holy Spirit resides in all follower’s of Christ, regardless of whether or not they accept Him, follow Him, trust Him, or even understand Him. The issue, as the author points out, is whether or not believers are actively and daily seeking the Spirit’s supernatural filling and dwelling in their lives. Chan writes, “Living by the Spirit implies a habitual, continual, and active interaction with the Holy Spirit. (pp. 130-131). (2) Chan concludes with what could be considered as the most important application of his book: Supernatural Church. It becomes clear that his desire is for the Bride of Christ to live up to her Christ-commanded expectation. Namely, that they accept, follow, and live by the Holy Spirit’s leading, and not rely solely on a charismatic, good-looking, intelligent, visioneering, exuberant, or even controversial lead pastor or pastoral team (pp. 141-157). (3) Chan offers a difficult realization for any pastor or believer to stomach. He poses the question, essentially, “Is my theological, associational, and social appearance and reputation in the way of wholly leaning on the Holy Spirit?” (pp. 51-54). Chan seeks to cut out any intellectual jargon or theological hubbub and get right down to it, he writes, “One question I’ve had to ask myself repeatedly is am I even open to the possibility that I could be wrong in my beliefs?” (p. 52).
Chan’s intention is not to call into question historically orthodox belief. Neither is it his desire to cause a ecclesial conundrum. Rather, it is apparent that his yearning is to present before all of Christianity, whether it be Charismatics, Fundamentalists, Moderates, Liberals, Lay-folk, those who care or those who don’t, etc., the realization that a vibrant walk with Jesus Christ must fully rely on the Holy Spirit. After all, is this not what Christ intended when he said the Holy Spirit would be with us, guiding us, teaching us, reminding us, in the Lord’s physical absence (John 14:15-30)?
