4-MAT Review - Ortberg

ABSTRACT

Ortberg, John. The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People. Grand Rapids, MN: Zondervan, 1997.

John Ortberg’s The Life You’ve Always Wanted is a brilliant compilation of principles to achieve a life that is pleasing to God and to the follower of Christ.

Ortberg breaks his book down to thirteen chapters that seems to be thirteen steps on a stairway to transformation. Chapter 1 starts off by talking about transformation. The primary goal of the spiritual life is to achieve human transformation. This chapter leads that way to utilizing every moment, every activity of life, for transformational purposes. Chapter 2 and 3 speaks of the goal of spiritual life and the truth about spiritual disciplines. The spiritual life is marked by transformation, but if that transformation is not achieved or at least attempted, then the Christian has missed out on the true goal of Christianity – transformation. A Christian must not only seek transformation, but spiritual discipline is detrimental to his transformation. A disciplined follower of Jesus uses all the world has to offer – be it good or bad – to the glory of God. In spite of any circumstance, the Christian is one who does the right thing at the right time in the right way with the right spirit (Ortberg, 50).

Chapter 4 and 5 presents the reader with principles to celebrate the presence of God and the practice of slowing down. The practice of celebrating is important in seeking to be transformed by the power of God. Ortberg teaches that one ought to rejoice every moment of life because every moment is a gift from God. He further goes on to show - one absent of that joy - what to do to achieve joy. One of the reasons he talks about that hinders joy is the uncontrollable busyness of one’s life – which he talks about in Chapter 5. He suggests that what most people – especially Christians – suffer from is “hurry sickness.” He recommends that it takes solitude to control the busyness and hustle and bustle of life.

Chapter six and seven is focusing on two important actions in a Christian’s life – prayer and servant hood.  Ortberg suggests that there’s power in prayer. Prayer is the transformative agent in the life of the believer. He stresses that prayer is learned and no one is an expert at it, but prayer for self and interceding for others is what achieving and living a transformed life is all about.

Chapter’s eight through ten focuses on the practices of confession and secrecy with Holy Spirit guidance nestled in between. Confession, Ortberg suggests, is most effective when one understands that it is a continual process. Confession keeps one focused and dependent upon God. What’s of importance is to recognize that one is depended upon the Holy Spirit for any transformation in his life – which is discussed in Chapter nine. The practice of secrecy focuses on living a life that is not dependent upon the acceptance and rejection of others. Ortberg reminds his readers that God and God alone is the major object to your very best.

To end the book, chapters eleven through thirteen closes out with major tenets of transformation – scripture, spirit renewal, and enduring suffering. Ortberg stresses the fact that one’s goal is not to get through the scriptures, but let the scripture go through to them. As a result, scriptural retention is what renews the spirit and transforms the mind and - according to chapter thirteen – aids in the Christian’s scriptural application to suffering in his or her life.

Concrete responses: Get vulnerable!

In reading this book, it brought up many situations that I have encountered in my life, but I shall focus on one in particular. Being the second to the oldest son – of four sons by my father – because of the lifestyle he lived, I had to encounter many obstacles in my life ranging from drugs, alcohol, and women. A fatherly presence – in the home – was never at my disposal as a young man, so whatever I did was done on instinct and not paternal training. What I did – as a son who wanted approval from his father – was to emulate the life he lived to receive acceptance from others and especially him. Ortberg in his book shined a light on one of the biggest mistakes that I’ve made in life and that was seeking acceptance from others to prove my worth. It was the “generalized other” that he spoke about. My worth, in my opinion, was decided and defined by those I sought to impress. I had to come to the realization that I was not a passive victim of other’s opinion; their opinions were powerless until I validated them. I sought credibility as a son by seeking approval from someone who – at the time – could have cared less. This book has taught me what the Holy Spirit revealed to me long ago and that is to not be intoxicated by approval from people. God is the ultimate one that I must seek approval. I had to realize and recognize that God is more accepting than the people of this world – family at the top of the list.

Reflection

There weren’t many questions that came to mind concerning Ortberg’s work. He covers many bases helpful in achieving a transformed life. However, as good as the book was, I have some questions pertaining to the family life of one who seeks to live a transformed life. It is said that the hardest place to have peace is in the home or your hometown. Solitude in the home is sometimes difficult to achieve. How does one present these principles to a difficult wife or husband who objects to being patronized and feel that they have the perfect life? My solitude and my sense of self-acceptance are sure, but there does come a time when some will not accept so great a gift granted by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Not only that, children are also difficult to reach. Children are harder because of the many voices that dominate the day. How does this approach help a child – who needs solitude - , but the world has nearly transformed into its likeness? What does one do when a child comes home and tells him that she feels left out, unattractive, and has no true friends? Acceptance is an important thing for children and teenagers in this age. A child will do anything to be accepted from drugs, alcohol, and even sex. How can this book aid in that situation?

How does solitude and living the life I’ve always wanted translate into the solidarity of a collective family life? That’s what’s important to me – living the collective family life I’ve always wanted.

Action

This book is an excellent resource for counseling those in need of Christian maturity and self-acceptance. The only way this will be instrumental in counseling is to obey its teaching and allow the Holy Spirit to quicken the counselor’s spirit enough to make it conducive and acceptable in the counseling session. I would suggest to the counselee that “reading this book – in addition to the Word of God – will make a great difference in your life – emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically”.

Many Christians can use this material to reach a level of maturity that will translate into true witnessing and discipleship. In addition, the Christian Counselor would be hard pressed not to add this book to his library. It provides the blueprint and guidelines for spiritual growth and transformation. It also adequately addresses the three- fold nature of man – mind, spirit, and body as well as the three –fold arenas of the Christian life – church, home, and job.

The biggest change in my life – as pertaining to this book – is to keep acceptance and approval seeking in its proper perspective. This work by Ortberg truly shined a light of truth on my life and my ministry.

Andre L. Powell Sr. 201120 Spring 2011 PACO 506-B01 LUO