Dale Cresap's blog

Do you prefer the company of those who agree with you? Is it easy and comforting to be reassured that you are right because you can find people who hold the same opinions? How do you respond to those who are not of your group? Do you have a basis for connection with those you disagree with? This is more difficult but it is worth the effort because it can enlarge your circle of life. Can you start with the fact that everyone is made in my image? Do you see this as a sufficient basis to see everyone else as your brother or sister?

In times past it was believed that the earth was the center of the universe. Theologians defended this idea but science proved it wrong. People had to recalibrate their thinking about their place in the world, but I was not threatened by the discovery of the earth orbiting the sun. I made it that way. Do you see yourself as the center of the world, or at least of your world? Would it take a scientific discovery to convince you this is not true? Have you discovered this on your own? Do you find it threatening to know that the world does not revolve around you?

What do you make of my statement that the poor will be with you always? Do you see this as an excuse to ignore their plight, since the problem will endure despite your efforts to resolve it? If you recall the original story, my statement was in response to a disingenuous objection to love lavished on me. Caring for the poor has been a strong theme supported in the Bible and Christian practice since the beginning, so my statement above should not be considered an excuse for not doing so.

You live in an extremely individualistic culture. Do you hold your faith in the same way? You can find theology to support this, but throughout history cultures have had a stronger sense of community and those that were Christian have found support for this in the Bible too. So has modern culture imposed individualism on the church? If so, is the church better off for it? In ancient times did I deal with Israel as a collection of individuals or as a people? In the New Testament do I describe my people collectively as a body, and people as members that comprise it?

Have you ever said the Lord’s Prayer? Are you familiar with the part that says, deliver us from evil? What do you think this means? That you should be spared from trials and afflictions? But these are common to everyone and praying this prayer will not prevent them from happening to you. Could it have another meaning? How do you respond to your trials? Do they make you bitter and resentful, or do they give you a broken spirit and a contrite heart? You can see how these are opposite responses.

How do you view the doctrines of your faith? Do you see them as propositional truth claims that you must assent to for salvation? Do you see them as anything else? Do they express things that you wouldn’t accept as true in any other context? Is anything necessary beyond an affirmation that they are true? The founders of the faith had no doctrines, but they had encounters with me. Have you? I don’t want you to think of doctrine as a way to avoid encounter with me. Instead I want you to see it as an invitation to encounter me. I want you to see it as an open door. Come on in.

Should Christians be involved in politics? Your answer may depend on whether you are considering those believers who agree with your political positions, or those who disagree with you. Do you think the Bible provides only one clear answer for every issue? Would you encourage those who come up with different answers to actively pursue them? Are you prepared to accept those who do as fellow believers and members of the same body? If you pray, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, then you can work for a more just world here.

The Great Commission I have given you involves sharing my message with others, and hopefully introducing them to me. You know that they can’t see me directly, so they have to see me in you. Do you understand that this carries more weight than all the doctrines and scripture verses and apologetic defense of truth claims you could make? If your audience doesn’t see anything desirable in you why would they respond to your message? What is it about you that would attract people to me? Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify me.

Are you an intelligent person? Do you understand that there are various dimensions to intelligence, so that it involves more than doing well on standardized tests? People can be gifted in math or language or art or movement or empathy. Emotional intelligence is a valid concept. Do you think that there is such a thing as spiritual intelligence? If you approach this question from the above perspective you may think that the one who has memorized the most Bible verses as the most spiritually intelligent, but that is conventional intelligence applied to scripture.

Have you heard the saying that you are known by the company you keep? There is an underlying truth that you will tend to associate with like-minded people, but there is a stronger version of the same concept. You can keep company with people with whom you are not in community. Community is a stronger concept that implies more than casual association. Community includes relationship, a support network, common purpose and a deeper sense of belonging. Community involves commitment.