Dale Cresap's blog

How do you view your status in the Kingdom of God? You know that you are saved by grace and not by works lest any man should boast. Does this trouble you? Would you prefer that it be something you earn? The Bible takes the concept further in saying you were bought with a price and you are not your own. This is reminiscent of the practice of slavery, common in Bible times, and those exchanged are not even party to the transaction, either as buyers or sellers. Do you find this offensive? Paul was not ashamed to refer to himself as my bondservant. He took it as a badge of honor. Do you?

Depending of the church you attend, you may think that there was only one act of redemption, performed by me long ago. But can you see the same theme of helping to change people’s lives in the world around you? Don’t you find that you are moved by stories of redemption? If you are called to follow me, doesn’t it follow that you should be involved in the work of redemption? Don’t excuse yourself by saying that was mine alone long ago. In what way can you have a positive impact in the lives of others?

Do you think of silence only as the absence of sound? If that is true then all silences are equal, but can a silence be profound? Have you ever been in a situation where the gravity of events prevented anyone from speaking? It is no trivial thing to break such a silence and it is a mistake to do so prematurely. Are you familiar with the passage about silence in heaven? Have you ever prayed with groaning too deep to be uttered? Everyone recognizes that there is meaning in words. Those who are spiritually mature can find meaning in silence. What does the silence speak to you?

I said that the poor in spirit were blessed. People have struggled to understand what this means ever since, and to accept what they do understand of it. In what other area of your life do you seek poverty? This goes against the values of your culture, and if spirituality is the most important thing to you is it an area in which you would want to be poor? How can you make this work in your favor? I told a story about 2 men praying. The one who was spiritually affluent was full of himself and went home without being justified, but the poor man who cried out of his poverty was.

Have you heard school kids say, sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me? This is a nice sentiment but it isn’t true. Words can be painful. Have you ever heard words of criticism or attack directed at you that were as painful as any injury? For they are an attack on your very identity and worth and value. Cruel words don’t leave visible marks or require bandages, but have you found that you need healing from attacks of this type as much as from a physical injury? Where do you go to get this?

Have you taken algebra class or any other math class? Did you have to solve problems to pass the course? What if the answers had been given to you with the problems and there were no tests? Would you have learned to solve the equations yourself? Do you see any parallel with your faith? When you go to church are you provided with answers to every question, or are you encouraged to engage with the questions yourself? Is there more to your faith than having right answers? Like the algebra class it is beneficial to you to work through the problems to learn the skill of relating to me.

Do you know that you will die? This awaits everyone, and people understand it in the abstract, but do they live with the awareness that it will affect them personally? How should you live your life with the awareness that it will not go on forever, at least here. A morbid fixation on death is a bad choice, but so is living unaware, as if life would go on forever. Should the certainty of death give your life a sense of urgency?

Do you care about being right? Do you care about people and maintaining strong relationships with them? Which is more important? Have you ever been in a dilemma between these things? Your culture teaches you to never back down when you are right. Have you ever been in a situation where proving yourself right was less important than maintaining a friendship? If you decided that being right mattered more was it concerning something transient or your opinion or taste, or was it standing up for transcendent and eternal truth?

Do you make a joyful noise unto me? You are commanded to do this and yet how many do? You have technology available to record and distribute the best performances of the most talented people. Do you see this as a great benefit? Does it discourage you from singing yourself? What about your church? Corporate worship is so central to church life that the meetings are called worship services. Do you see those in charge of this as performers or as leading others? The quality of leadership can be measured by the degree of participation of those attending.

You live in a culture that values learning. What is the purpose of education? One school of thought is to learn the skills you need for employment. This is valuable, but it is a utilitarian approach. You see your faith as transcendent. Can your education be as well? Do you draw a strong distinction between spiritual and secular education? Do you see any source of truth other than me? Do you see your curiosity as a gift from me, as an invitation to follow me in learning the means I have used to structure the world and to help you find your place in it?