Dale Cresap's blog

Do you think that you can predict the actions of other people? If you know someone really well, you may have a good guess as to how they would act in a given situation, but people are full of surprises. They may resent your overconfidence in predicting what they would do, especially if you are wrong. Have you heard believers pose the question, what would Jesus do? This is a good question since I have called you to follow me. How do you go about getting a good answer? This doesn’t need to be a mystery. If you inquire of me I will show you rather than leaving you to figure it out on your own. 

When I presided over the last supper with my disciples I told them that whenever they should eat this bread or drink of this cup, to do it in remembrance of me. This has become a sacrament of the church that you refer to as communion or the Eucharist. It takes a variety of forms, but the common purpose behind them should be recognized as an observance of remembrance. You may not partake of this sacrament frequently, but you don’t need to limit your times of remembrance to it. Look for anything that puts you in remembrance of me and be eager to take part in these opportunities for they are beneficial for you. Do everything in remembrance of me.

Have you ever been corrected by someone who told you that you were better than that; you were not the sort of person to engage in that sin? This motivation may prompt you to better behavior, but beware of doing the right thing for the wrong reason. You should avoid sin, but this line of reasoning tells you to give up some sin in exchange for the greater sin of pride and conceit. Your adversary will always encourage you to make this trade, for pride is more subtle, deeply embedded, and damaging than other sins. If you do the right thing for the right reason, you will end up better off rather than worse. 

You have an enormous amount of knowledge available to you. The vast majority of it you accept on authority rather than first-hand observation. This is a tremendous advantage in that you can learn about people you have not met, places you have not been, and subjects for which you did not do or duplicate the original investigation. This expands your knowledge nearly without limit, but it does raise an additional question. On whose authority? What is the quality of your sources? Be as wise as a serpent in considering the validity of the information you accept that changes your view of the world and the way you live. 

Do you go to a church where you have to leave your mind at the door when you walk in? Perhaps you should find another church. Your walk of faith should provide you with a lifetime of intellectual engagement. In this case it isn’t a mere academic exercise. I invite you to engage in questions about things that really matter; the questions of eternal consequence of being and meaning and purpose. I have not left you alone to pursue these questions. I have given you my written word, and also the Spirit of Truth who will guide you into all truth. Love me with all your mind. Come and let us reason together. 

Have you ever heard it said that you should not be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good? This is bad advice and it is most often given by believers. When you look at those who have succeeded in doing and teaching all that I have commanded you, advancing the principles of my Kingdom in earthly society, you will find that they were people of vision with a passion to see the matter through to completion. You don’t get this by looking down but by looking up. Heaven will be your home in due time. If you want to be effective for me now you need a conscious awareness of both realms. 

Do you ever encounter churches or individual believers who seem threatened by questions? Dealing with matters of the world that you see and the world that you do not see provokes difficult questions in your search to unify them in eternal truth. Some people will give you ready-made answers that seem unsatisfactory as premature or incomplete. Dont grab a wrong answer just to have an answer quickly. It is better to walk with an unanswered question. I want you to know that I am not threatened by your questions.

Are there some doctrinal points on which you differ with other believers? How far are you willing to go to defend them? Have you ever entered a debate over these issues? If you get in an argument with another believer on such a matter and it is observed by an unbeliever, will it make them more or less likely to embrace the points of faith that you do have in common? There can be tension between your desire for unity and your desire for truth. You can hold your beliefs graciously without generating strife and contention. If you are to suffer yourself to be defrauded rather than to sue a fellow believer, you can do this too. 

Do you think of some sins as being typical of men and others as being typical of women? There may be a basis for these stereotypes, but this is not a helpful line of reasoning. The vast majority of the Bible is not gender specific, and the same rules apply for all. Even lust isn’t exclusively male. The Biblical method for applying the rules is to examine yourself and judge yourself. To look outward to others and make evaluations and generalizations is not helpful for your spiritual growth and generates strife and contention. Assume that everything applies to you, judge yourself that you would not be judged, and extend grace and mercy to others. 

My word speaks of fasting as a spiritual exercise. Dieting is culturally familiar concept, and both involve voluntarily going without food. Do you think they are the same thing? The same activity can be different depending on the motivation and purpose. You diet to lose weight. Why do you fast? Traditionally it has been a means of spiritual growth, a separation from the things of this world to encounter the things of God. If you need to lose weight that can be a beneficial side effect, but those who diet do not encounter God as a side effect. Two people doing the same thing for different reasons are not doing the same thing.