Dale Cresap's blog

Do you practice hospitality? This is commended in the Bible. Do you think this is limited to people with gracious homes for entertaining and lodging guests? It would include that but even without that you can do what you can with the resources you have. Take a larger view of hospitality. Consider giving a ride to someone who needs one, giving directions to a stranger, or sitting and listening to someone who needs to tell their story. The Bible also makes it clear that this is not an opportunity for reciprocity.

Do you feel that you need to have an answer for every question regarding your faith? The Great Commission was given to all, but not all are theologians, historians, and scholars. Have you seen people get tangled up and made things worse instead of better by reaching too hard for an answer that was beyond their grasp? Have you ever done this? It is better to leave some questions unanswered than to put forth wrong answers. You are indeed directed to be able to give every man an answer, but this is for the hope that lies in you. You can do that without having to answer every question.

You are familiar with the process of projection which has been around since the first movies. Images can be projected over a distance to appear larger on a surface, typically a screen. This requires a powerful lamp. Can shadows be projected? This doesn’t work in the world of optics, but people have been doing it for a long time. Have you seen people ‘project’ their unresolved issues onto the world around them? In this way problems that are not dealt with are passed along to others and kept alive.

Do you regard politics by human reasoning alone? Most people do this, even believers who should know better. Have you observed that those who do this become argumentative, fearful, and agitated? But I have come to give you peace, even in this. Do you recall that I lived in an occupied country? Some of my own followers were zealots. Yet when did I ever advocate the overthrow of the Romans? You are fortunate if you live in a self-governing country.

You know I came in the flesh and walked this earth as a man. Yet you also see me as transcendent. Is your view of me dominated by the former or the latter? Many believers refer to me as a personal savior. Do you understand that this requires some explanation? For every other application of this word refers to things that are exclusively your own property. Yet your salvation is about you becoming mine rather than me becoming yours. Can you extend this concept beyond my life here in time and space and make it universal?

What is the worst insult that you have given or received? Isn’t it to say that someone is stupid? You live in a rational age where cognitive ability is highly revered, so to suggest that someone is deficient in this is to challenge the very basis of their humanity. But is this the way the world really works? Do you see people being held back from leading full lives because they aren’t smart enough, or because they are too fearful, biased, prejudiced, insecure, or blind in the sense that they are unaware of the reality around them?

Do you know the difference between a prayer and an incantation? Prayer is a part of your faith practice and incantation is not, although unbelievers do not draw any distinction between them. Prayer is a request made to me and an acknowledgment of my power. An incantation is an expression of “magical words” based on the belief that the power resides in the words. Your faith is relational and always a recognition of a power beyond yourself that you do not control. Yet I regard the prayers of my people and take seriously petitions offered in faith and humble gratitude.

Do you like stories? Everyone does. I spoke to the people in parables and they listened gladly. Do you listen to stories for entertainment value or do you listen for deep spiritual value? Multitudes heard my stories but my disciples were frustrated with them and kept asking me to declare the parables to them. What fraction of those who heard my stories do you think comprehended their full message? What about today? Don’t you continue to find new layers of meaning in familiar passages? If all you ask of a story is entertainment that is available.

Which principle do you think is more important: the same rules for everyone, or each man can only serve one master and will answer to him alone? Could both of these be true? The economy of grace is not like one run by a uniform code of civil and criminal justice. Doesn’t that sound like the law and don’t you claim that you live under grace rather than under the law? These are different concepts and it will be helpful for you to realize that every person is in a different place in their journey of grace.

Do you like ice cream? Who doesn’t? Can you think of a more popular treat? And yet this highly favored dish comes in many flavors, and everyone has their favorites. Do you like my presence? This is not as popular as ice cream but for those who seek it, it is even better. Even so, have you noticed that the flavor of my presence is different in the church you visit than it is where you feel most at home? In my Fathers house there are many mansions. Can you accept that my presence is a special treat even in flavors that are not your favorite?