I don’t know Francis Chan, but I think I like him.  I know I like what I see so far.

A friend, who is also an Elder in our church, introduced me to Chan a few months ago. He had just finished reading Chan’s book, Crazy Love, and said that Chan was teaching the same things I had been introducing to Walnut Hill Church – namely a Gospel-driven, missional approach to living.  He wanted to know if I was familiar with Chan, and what my thoughts were.  At the time I had none.  But obviously I was curious. I was curious to see what this guy was saying, if indeed we were teaching similarly.  I was curious to see what my friend and colleague percieved I was teaching, since he thought we were teaching the same things.

I did some investigation on the Internet.  The only negatives I found, or rather the only criticisms of Chan I found, were a couple of Asian-American bloggers who thought Chan acted too “White” or Anglo; and someone who seemed put off by Chan’s frequent application of the Gospel to the use of money.  I didn’t find either of these charges to be anything to discredit Chan, so I conintued with my investigation.

Now, a few months after first hearing Chan’s name, I find myself impressed.  I don’t know all he has said or written, so the day may come when I find myself disagreeing with Chan about something. But that day is not today.  And even if, or when, it does come I suspect it won’t be too big a deal.  It’ll only be a matter of degree.  Francis Chan is a man who loves God, who loves people, and who knows how God has loved His people.  He is passionate about telling people about God’s Crazy Love. He is faithful to call people to love God and each other in tangible ways, in seemingly crazy ways.

So not only has my friend stumbled upon a faithful teacher, I have become a student as well.    

To get acqauinted with Francis Chan, check out the above video, and the related website, Just Stop and Think.