Dale Cresap's blog

Do you get an annual performance review at work? These are typical as a meeting with management to discuss what is going well and what needs work. In the best of conditions it is an affirmative meeting. Would you be eager to have such a review of your spiritual life with me? Would you fear it? You need not think of it as punitive. You would benefit from periodic reviews of your practices to find out which are working for you that you may do more of them, and which are not working that you may let them go. Come and let us reason together.

How do you know when you are deceived? You can’t figure this out on your own and need others to help. How do you know when you are self-righteous? Do you think there are self-righteous people? Are they aware of this? Do they identify as such? What do you think is the source of the problems in the world? Can you readily identify them? Does your list of immediate responses include only those other than yourself, outside your group and creed? Can you only see evil outside of yourself? If you think that everyone other than you is the problem then you may be self-righteous.

Have you ever run from me? Jonah did, but he couldn’t outrun me, and I got him in the end. People spend a lifetime running from me, but I’m always in hot pursuit. This is a legal term for police in actively chasing a suspect, and you too will find that you can’t outrun me. Where would you go to escape from my presence? The Psalmist discovered that no matter where he went I was there. So if you decide to stop running you don’t have to trace your entire route back. No matter how much time and distance you have put into running from me, if you stop and turn to me I will be there.

Are you familiar with the passage of scripture that says that my mercies are new every morning? I set the world up to run in one day increments so you can take things one day at a time. Even so, every day is different and presents a different set of challenges. And so you have my promise that the mercy you receive every day is appropriate for that day; custom made if you will. Do you walk with a conscious awareness of the presence of mercy in your life? Are you sufficiently attuned to it to see how the characteristic flavor of it changes to meet your current needs?

Are you familiar with the passage of scripture that says many are called but few are chosen? Do you understand this or is it an enigmatic statement that leaves you with more questions than answers? Can you interpret it in the context of the other doctrines of your faith? Are you comfortable with the idea of many being called? Is the concept that few are chosen more difficult to deal with? How would you describe your own experience? Would you say that you chose me or that I chose you?

Do you believe correct doctrine? How would you know if your doctrine was incorrect? Believers study diligently to understand the truth of reality. Is the purpose of this study an end in itself, or is there a greater purpose to knowing the truth? Does your comprehension of doctrine make you more loving, generous, patient, joyful, meek, gentle and all the other fruits of the spirit? If not, then how is it useful to you and others? Do you know people who are stronger in character and conduct than in doctrine, and others who are the other way around? Who would you rather associate with?

How big is the Kingdom of God? I told my followers that in my Father’s House there were many mansions and that I went to prepare a place for them. They weren’t ready at the time to comprehend the full implications of this statement. Are you? Do you have criteria and draw boundaries about who is in and who is out? Do you remember me answering the prayer of the Siro-Phoenician woman, commending a Centurion, and telling a story in which the hero was a Good Samaritan? How many mansions do you think there are in my Father’s House?

Are you growing in faith and righteousness and spiritual maturity? Are you following a structured program to do this or are you letting nature take its course? Are you seeing as much progress as you would like or are you disappointed with your rate of improvement? People in focused disciplines use a structured system of practice. They identify the aspect of their performance most in need of improvement and work on it systematically. Can you see how you would apply the same concept to your spiritual development?

You can take it as a matter of doctrine that you are created in my image and that this applies to everyone. Is this just a propositional truth claim for you, or a living reality? When you look at other people, even the least of these, do you see their infinite worth? Do you see it in yourself as well? You have been told that you are sinful, and you see the evidence to support this. Do you also see that you are beloved; that your infinite worth is intrinsic and inalienable? Do you behave as if this is true?

Are you a loud listener? Do these concepts seem contradictory, so that this phrase is an oxymoron? Have you ever had anyone listen to you in a way that was passive and unresponsive, so you weren’t convinced that they were engaged in the conversation? Did this discourage you from sharing more? Have you also had someone respond with obvious engagement and enthusiasm, giving an emotional reaction to the points you make? Did this serve to validate your story? Did it make you want to go on? Are you prepared to do for others what provided a positive experience for you?