Dale Cresap's blog

Do you find that believers have reputation in the secular culture at large? How highly esteemed are you because of your faith by those outside the faith? Is this association beneficial to you or not? Do you contribute to it being better or worse? Do you see a trend over time of an increase or decrease of the reputation of Christians in society? If it is declining, would you attribute it to depravity and moral decay in the surrounding culture, or would internal problems in the way the faith is practiced be a stronger factor? Is the church criticized for being too Christlike?

Joseph was privileged and arrogant, and was treated badly by his brothers as a result, but he learned his lesson and went on to advance. In this process he remained gracious and did not become bitter or resentful about the injustices he suffered. When he is finally reunited and reconciled with his brothers he forgives them and says what they meant for evil God meant for good. This was true, but his receptivity and resilience were part of the story. So Joseph had a part in turning evil into good. Is it true that I mean all things for good? Can you do your part in turning evil into good?

Have you ever heard entertaining sermons? Is this the kind that you prefer? Do you offer judgment toward those who give them, thinking that they should be serious about spiritual things? Don’t be too hard on them. I gave entertaining sermons myself. I told stories to get my points across. These were accessible at multiple levels. You understand them as illustrations of the Kingdom of God. Did the original audience understand them this way? Some truth is too profound to present as a list of assertions. Do you look for redemptive purpose in the stories you hear? Seek and you shall find. 

Do you rank people according to their value? How do you assign it? Those with a lot of money are highly admired, but perhaps you can look beyond this and other outward displays of wealth, and look at character. Do you rank people according to the fruit of the Spirit that you see expressed in their lives? Perhaps this is a better measure of evaluation, but perhaps not. It still requires you to enter into judgment and assign rankings accordingly. You hold the sanctity of life as a doctrine on the basis that all people are created in my image.

My word gives instruction on being reconciled with your brother. You are to go to him rather than to others, and to resolve the difference on the smallest possible scale; not escalating the matter unless your brother will not hear you. Is there a still smaller scale than just the two of you? It wouldn’t seem possible, but what if the offense between you is the result of unhealed wounds within yourself? This is common enough that I told you to remove the beam from your own eye before you assisted your brother in removing the speck from his eye.

Have you ever heard of all men referred to as gentlemen, as in the phrase, ladies and gentlemen? This is a polite form of address, but have you found that not all men are gentle? Is gentleness even admired as a masculine trait? It should be at least in the sense of not being threatening to women and children. How much beyond that? Is your concept of masculinity formed by your culture or by universal enduring principles? Can you conceive of a masculinity that is gentle and at the same time strong, courageous, and fearless? If you are a man, can you practice it?

Do you hold on to me for all you are worth? Do you know that I am the source of your life and cling to me as tightly as you can? Do you evaluate the success of your spiritual life by the intensity with which you do this? Can you imagine letting go? What do you think would happen? Do you know that I hold you more tightly than you hold on to me? Will you ever know that you are held until you quit grasping and clutching? Is there a way you can approach this question without diminishing your own commitment?

Do you lead a meaningful life? Is there any deeper human longing than a life that makes sense, that gives value to suffering, that attaches your efforts to something transcendent and enduring? Where will you find meaning? Is this something that you can inherit from your family or your church? Can it be real if it doesn’t fit with your own lived experience? Have you ever had new experiences that were too big to incorporate into your existing structure of meaning? Did this present as a crisis of meaning? Did you see this in a positive or negative light?

Do you ever feel like you are the only one on your faith journey? In a sense you are, for every person has a unique path. Yet I will provide you with the traveling companions you need. How many do you need? Do you find it reassuring to be in a large crowd, to be marching with a multitude? There is comfort in sheer numbers, but you know that truth is not determined by the majority, and strait and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it. If you know that you are on the right path for you, it may be necessary for you to walk it alone at times.

Do you base your life on theological absolutes? Do you find that this makes it easier or harder to find common ground with others? Consider me. Do you think that my doctrinal positions were correct? Have you noticed how many times I reached out to, and even commended, those who were outside of my own faith? There was a Centurion, a Samaritan woman at the well, and I told a story about a good Samaritan, among others. Doctrinal differences did not prevent me from connecting with, and sharing my message of life with anyone. You could make that one of your theological absolutes.