Dale Cresap's blog

Have you met people who are angry and bitter? Do you draw a distinction between the two? My word tells you to be angry and sin not. Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath. The first part is spoken by way of permission. If you feel that anger is a necessary step in dealing with issues, then go ahead, but don’t remain there. Unresolved anger that is retained becomes bitterness. Anger can be directed at an offense, but bitterness is a characteristic. The bitter person may be blind to this, but other observers can see that the bitterness is no longer attached to the original offense.

Does your church have one-true-church mentality? Some churches are famous for this, but the same issue can be found in any church. Every church has a unique identity, and the people who go there rather than to some other church do so for a reason. There is nothing wrong with this as far as that goes, but there is a temptation to think that if you are doing it right then others are doing it wrong if they are doing it differently. You can do what is right for you and they can do what is right for them, and each will answer to the same master.

Do you think it is important to identify and name evil? Are you as committed to identifying and naming good? Which do you think is more important? I have called you to be as wise and serpents and as innocent as doves. Do those who specialize in naming evil and neglect naming good seem out of balance and lacking in redemptive purpose? You are not to ignore evil, but neither should you be fascinated or fearful of it.

Do you believe in believing? This is a powerful theme throughout the Bible and the history of the faith. Do you evaluate people as being in or out depending on their confession of faith? How do you evaluate people whose lives show evidence of love who do not profess the same beliefs you do? The question of ‘who is my neighbor?’ arose in response to my affirmation that the way to eternal life is to love God, and to love your neighbor as yourself. My response about the Good Samaritan implied that loving actions were more important than right beliefs.

Do you like to get a bargain? High quality goods are more expensive than common ones, and people are willing to pay more when quality matters. But everyone likes to get high value for low cost, which is a bargain. Were you a bargain? Do you understand that you were bought with a price? Are you aware of how much grace was lavished upon you to bring you to the point where you are now? Perhaps the concept of a bargain does not apply in this case. If you want something badly enough, you are willing to pay whatever it costs to get it, and that is how much I wanted you.

What is your understanding of rewards for your devotion and faithfulness? Do you expect to get your reward in heaven? What is the essence of your faith? Doesn’t every Christian describe it as a relationship with me? What do you have on earth that is more valuable than your relationships with your friends? In my time on earth my disciples followed me, but at  the end I changed the relationship from servants to friends, and this is available to you. Do you understand that the relationship itself is the reward, and that it is available to you now?

Do you consider yourself to be an empathetic person? To whom do you extend empathy? Are you kind to those who are kind to you, and lend to those who are able to repay, and show favor to those who hold similar beliefs, values, and ideology as yourself? What reward do you expect from your Father in heaven for that? Doesn’t everyone do that? I taught you to love your enemies, do good to those who hate and persecute you, and lend to those who could not repay you. The true test of empathy is not in how you treat your friends, but in how you treat your enemies.

Have you ever heard someone say, consider the source? This is usually used in a negative way, in response to a stupid remark by some other person. It implies that you could  not expect an intelligent statement from them. Have you ever heard it used in a positive sense? Are there people that you admire for their wisdom and good judgment? Have they ever made statements that seemed odd or out of character? Yet you should know better than to dismiss them lightly. Here you can consider the source in a positive sense. Examine their statements for a deeper meaning you may have missed.

My word uses the illustration of running a race like you intend to win it. What conclusion do you draw from that? Do you see it as a competition in which you strive to beat your opponents? This would be the wrong conclusion. The proof of this is in the conduct of those Christians who behave as if they are in competition with their fellow believers. If not that, then what? The passage refers to internal focus. Structure your own life and do all that is necessary to prepare yourself to put forth your own best possible effort.

Have you ever held a garage sale? This is one way to get rid of the clutter in your house. Did you sell everything you owned, or just the things that were outgrown, no longer of use, or ill-advised acquisitions? Most people consider it worth the effort to get rid of clutter from their homes. Have you ever held a spiritual garage sale? Perhaps you should. In addition to essential truth, you can acquire beliefs and thought patterns that were bad choices to begin with, or were once useful but have served their purpose and no longer are.