Dale Cresap's blog

Are you familiar with the concept of going through the motions? This implies that there can be the right movements without deliberate thought or heart engagement. You have heard this phrase. Have you ever done it? The rituals of your faith can be powerful tools to take you to places you could not go without them. They can also be dead and dry and devoid of life. At the end of the Old Testament I said that no one closes a door for no reason. If this tiny action is done for a purpose then how much more should you have a purpose to kindle a fire on my altar or anything else you do for me?

Do you read scientific books? Do you read poetry? Do you consider these to be the same thing and evaluate them by the same criteria? Don’t you rather evaluate them by the intent of the  author? No one has the same expectations for a scientific textbook and for poetry. How do you regard my word? You do well to regard it as true and to believe it, but is that the end of the story? For the distinction between a scientific book and poetry is still valid. Peter’s affirmation of me is still true, that I have the words of life. Yet they find their meaning according to the intent of the author.

Do you have questions for me? I have answers for you. Do you prefer answers that are straightforward and direct? I do not promise that I will answer this way. I gave my audiences answers in the form of parables. The answer was embedded in the story for those who were paying attention. For those who were not it was just a nice story. Sometimes the answers I give you are embedded in the story of your own life. Are you paying close enough to see my answers to your questions there? He who has ears to hear, let him hear, and he who has eyes to see, let him see.

The biblical emphasis on salvation by faith alone is very strong, yet it also says that faith without works is dead. If you are trying to decide who shall ascend into heaven and who shall descend into hell, then you have some difficult choices to make, but this is not your job. Stepping back into the here and now and looking around, what do you see? Do you see everyone who makes a profession of faith walking in the fullness of life and love?  How would you describe the people whom you consider to be the most spiritually mature? Do they see their lives as transformative journeys?

Do you believe in the idea of holy ground? Most believers would consider church property to be in this category, but it is not the property or even the structures on it that would make it holy but the people who meet there. I instructed my people to build structures for worship and I met them there, but these were temporary measures. I demonstrated my true intent when I poured out my spirit on all flesh. My Kingdom is within you and the Comforter I sent indwells you. So perhaps there is holy ground.

How do you approach the world? With fear and suspicion? Or with openness and trust? You have learned by experience that trust can be misplaced. So does that make the first alternative preferable? Statisticians recognize two types of errors, named type 1 and type 2, which could be considered false positives and false negatives. You can see the problems with trusting too much and too early. Are you equally aware of the problems of trusting too little and too late? Is your current level of openness to trust enhancing or diminishing your life?

Do you see corporate logos as the icons of the modern age? Companies take their symbols seriously and spend millions to promote and defend them. Do you see the cross as the ‘corporate logo’ of the church? This symbol is universally associated with the Christian faith. Does it seem like an odd choice that no one else would choose; an instrument of cruel death? Yet my call to everyone who would follow me is to lay down their life and pick up their cross. You see the symbol of the cross everywhere the gospel message is proclaimed. Do you see as much visible evidence of believers embracing it?

Do you live in a consumer culture? This is based on the premise that more and newer and better stuff will give you a better life and make you happy. This is another name for materialism. Have you found this to be true? The fact that this outcome is elusive serves to keep the customers in the game and coming back. But there are benefits from this system as well – an unprecedented level of prosperity and abundance of resources for multitudes of people. You are one of those people. Can you partake of the benefits of the consumer culture and at the same time reject the values it represents?

Do you come into frequent contact with bureaucrats or other people who serve in menial functional tasks? Has this ever been an unpleasant experience for you? Is it easy to criticize them or the system they are involved in? Don’t forget that they are first of all people, who are created in my image just as you are. This modern world has produced some jobs that are dehumanizing, but they are still performed by humans. Look beyond the functional exchange and learn to see these interactions as encounters.

Do you see sin in yourself? Is it easier to see it in others? Sin is something that everyone can see, but generally by looking outside themselves and their group. Republicans can see it in Democrats and Democrats can see it in Republicans. The rich can see it in the poor and the poor can see it in the rich. You can repent for your own sins and even for those of groups you identify with but you can only offer judgment and condemnation for those whom you consider entirely different from you.