Dale Cresap's blog

Do you see yourself as being on a journey? You are familiar with the concept from your travels, and trips come in both one-way and round-trip versions since you normally want to return home. Do you see your spiritual journey as an excursion and return, or one-way? If you see this as a journey of transformation then you are changed in the process so going back isn’t really an option and there are Biblical stories that support this. Have you already experienced this? Do you ever feel that you are in limbo between a destination you can’t see and an origin you can’t return to?

Do you know many wise people? Do you know many critics? Do you think these are the same? You live in a culture with real problems and even more critics to point them out. Do you find that a negative mindset is prevalent in politics, and within the church and without? Problems are generally obvious enough that it doesn’t take any special discernment to see them. This is regarded as wisdom but it is false wisdom. Godly wisdom has a positive and restorative perspective. Can you look at all the problems around you and see solutions according to redemptive purpose?

You are familiar with the concept of rules from my commandments and the laws of the land that you are subject to as a citizen of your country. Ideally these are the same for everyone. Do you make any rules for yourself that only apply to you? You can create and follow these even without telling anyone else. If you have learned from life experience that things work better for you if you follow certain guidelines, for instance, concerning your dietary habits and sleep hygiene, then you have created rules that are unique to you.

Have you ever copied someone else’s homework? You know you are supposed to do the work yourself, and this is typically only an issue for school children. Yet there are other less obvious ways to do this throughout life. Is your spirituality based on first-hand encounter and experience, or are you tagging alone on someone else’s experience? Do you refer to your faith as a relationship with me? This only makes sense in a direct encounter. You can’t have a relationship with me or anyone else through someone else. The good news of the gospel is that if you will seek me you will find me.

Do you have within you all that you need? You live in an individualistic culture and this is a popular concept, even among believers. Is it true? How is it working out for you? I said that it was not good for man to be alone. This applies more broadly than just having a life companion. You were made to live in community, and in communion with me. Apart from this you are isolated and alienated even if you are financially secure. Do you choose the direction for your life or does it choose you? You refer to your faith as a relationship with me.

Do you remember the story of the lost sheep? The good shepherd left ninety-nine to search for one. What do you conclude from this? If you think of yourself as that one lost sheep are you grateful for the effort? Are you daunted by the Great Commission? Do you think it will be carried out by mass crusades in stadiums? Ask your believing friends what was effective in reaching them. Does the task seem impossible if it has to be carried out one at a time? Faith can’t be mass-produced. I have already given you a powerful lesson in the value of one. Go forth and do it.

Are you familiar with the concept of sacrifice? It is an element of every faith tradition and understood even in the secular world. It involves the voluntary giving up of something of value. What does it mean to you as a Christian? Do you think of it as a means of buying favor with me? What do you have that I need? Could it be that sacrifice is for your benefit rather than mine? What would it do for you? Have you ever found that the things you value have a claim on you? Have you ever felt a sense of release and freedom from letting go of something you valued?

Do you believe experience matters? Employers think so. Is there any area of human endeavor that isn’t improved by effort in time and practice? What about your spiritual life? Have you improved in maturity since you first believed? You have promises about seeking and finding, and walking on the strait and narrow way that leads to life. Yet I also said that if you did not become as a little child you would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you see these concepts as being contradictory?

You live in a literate culture and this has many advantages. Are there any disadvantages? Do you accept the premise that everything can be expressed in words, or is there truth that cannot be articulated? My word teaches you that the Spirit intercedes for you with groaning that cannot be uttered, and Paul saw things in heaven that were not lawful, or possible, to speak. Have words ever failed you? You crave meaning. Are there things that are deeply satisfying because they are meaningful that you cannot explain?

Do you know that questions come in all sizes? There are small questions about current events and immediate concerns, such as lost items, and matters of no consequence. Have you found that you can usually get answers for these? Have you found that there are also big questions with eternal significance concerning things that endure? These are questions you can wrestle with even if you have accepted a version of ultimate reality. Don’t abandon these big questions even if you can’t resolve them.