Dale Cresap's blog

The most prominent actors are referred to as movie stars. This term clearly implies that they are a level above other actors or ordinary people. Have you ever heard of a pastor referred to as ‘the star of the show’? This is not common church terminology and you may find it inappropriate and offensive in this context, but have you seen this concept in practice whether it was referred to this way or not? Isn’t the concept just as offensive and inappropriate regardless of terminology? Those who I call to positions of leadership are to be servants of all, even as I was.

Do you prefer high church or low church? These terms are not in common use anymore, but they were in times past, and the distinctives still remain. High church is more formal, traditional, and liturgical, and low church is more experience based. Each person is free to choose according to his own conscience and preferences and each thinks his choice is the best, but there is room in my body for many expressions and each should be prepared to accept his brother who prefers a different style. Does it seem to be implied that high is better than low?

Would you like to have an encounter with me? What would you expect this to involve? You have some examples in the Bible to consider. Would you expect it to be placid and serene? This isn’t what the Bible characters experienced. Consider Moses who exceedingly trembled, and Isaiah who was undone. Consider John who fell to his face as a dead man. These were extreme experiences for those involved, and they were not sure they would survive the encounter, but they did, and were transformed. So do you still want to have an encounter with me? Can you handle it?

Do you go to church to be reassured that you were right all along? There is comfort in this but it is false comfort. I have more to accomplish in your life and it will not be done if it isn’t brought to your attention. Can you accept that I love you absolutely and still want you to move forward? Change is a permanent condition. Look at the natural world around you. The part of you that opposes change is working against you. Have you ever sensed my Spirit saying you were right all along?

Have you ever been lied to, or believed something you later found was untrue? This is understandably devastating. Consider the other side of the coin. Have you ever found that there is truth outside of your tradition? This situation is not as severe, for who would claim to know everything? Yet this too can be devastating for those who have been brought up and indoctrinated in a world view that is small and self-contained.

Do you think the gospel message is for the poor or the rich? You could say everyone, but that would avoid a valid issue. The Bible says not many rich or noble are called. What is your own experience? Do you find your fellow believers drawn more from the top of society or the bottom? What is the incentive for those who are well-off in this world to seek the Kingdom of God? They are winning in the present system and have their reward. Those who are not have a stronger incentive to seek a place of refuge in the world above and they have my promise that they will find it.

Have you ever heard of magical thinking? Have you ever been accused of it? This term is not used as a compliment, and it is often directed toward believers. The implication is that anything that can’t be fully explained by rational inquiry is superstitious and doesn’t really exist. Yet everyone including the skeptics and critics considers some things to be important that don’t yield to systematic analysis. These would include love and suffering and beauty and death. Spirituality is not magic, but it is a way to address the questions of identity and belonging and meaning.

Are you a marked man? This phrase is used to refer to someone designated for a special purpose, and sometimes has a literal meaning. Indigenous peoples still practice initiation rites to mark transitions and many of these involve permanent markings. Lest you roll your eyes at these “primitive” practices consider that I gave circumcision to my people as a covenant ritual. Paul experienced this, but this isn’t what he was referring to when he said, I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Not all marks are external and visible.

Do you find meaning in silence? There are some faith traditions in which silence is an intentional practice. How have you experienced silence in connection with other people? Since a conversation involves speaking by turns, silence is necessary on the part of the one who is listening. So silence can be an active attending presence, and among intimates this presence is real and profound even when neither is speaking. But silence can also indicate a passive withdrawal, disengagement, and absence. How do you experience silence in a spiritual context?

Are you familiar with the Great Commission? Go ye into all the world and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. Christians refer to this task as evangelism. It is also less commonly known by the term proselytizing. This term is so broadly defined that it can be applied to any attempt to get anyone to change their mind about anything. Evangelism certainly is that, but much more besides. Have you found it is a far greater challenge to make disciples than it is to get someone to profess belief? Do not be discouraged.