Dale Cresap's blog

Do you know the difference between justice and mercy? Justice is deserved and can be claimed; mercy is a benevolent gift. In my word I refer to justice for the poor. Do you see it as justice or mercy? Most who donate would count it as an act of charity, alms-giving, or philanthropy. Who thinks of this as justice? In like manner, is it possible for there to be unfair labor practices if the terms of employment are accepted voluntarily? But I make it clear that I do not approve of defrauding the worker of his wages. Justice is a stronger term than mercy.

Do you pray? This may be the most common practice of believers. What is your understanding of prayer? Skeptics accuse believers of magical thinking, and the accusation is credible if believers view prayer as a vending machine, ATM, or even a slot machine. Do your considered doctrines of my omniscience and omnipotence make you wonder about the purpose of prayer, knowing that I am capable of doing whatever I want unbidden? So do you claim to have a complete understanding of what your part is in the process of prayer? Are you still willing to pray if you view it as a mystery?

Do you find it reassuring to know that my word is a lamp unto your feet? What do you think of as a lamp? Do you use a flashlight with a focused beam to find your way at night? You understand that flashlights were not available when this was written. The lamp referred to in the passage was more like a candle than a flashlight. Could you find your way at night with a candle? This is a more challenging task and would limit your rate of movement. You have my promise of guidance but only for one step at a time.

How do you feel about rejection? Is there anything more painful? How do you feel about rejecting others? Obviously you should not practice this. Do you find Biblical justification for doing so? How do you treat those among you who fall into sin? Is a part of the discipline process treat them as a publican and a sinner? Do you equate this as cutting off all contact? But how do you treat publicans and sinners? Don’t you do business with them and engage in conversation with those outside your church? How else could you present my message to them?

Do you love me? Do you love people? Do you see these things as being connected? It is easy to say you love me. It is much harder to love your brother in manifested visible ways, but if you do this people will believe you when you say you love me. Even as John has spoken, how can a man love God whom he cannot see if he cannot love his brother whom he can see? Consider the people you admire most. Isn’t their love for people necessary and central to their admirable qualities? Is this separable from faith? In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me.

Do you believe in one faith, one baptism, one Body? Do you think faith practice and expression are influenced by culture? How much of your faith practice is pure essence and how much is culturally influenced? How would you know? How many believers do you know who come from cultures quite different from your own? Your understanding of the gospel is that it is a strong enough bond to hold you together despite these differences. Do you find this to be true in practice?

Do you seek the truth? Who could say no to this? Yet if you do you will face obstacles and opposition. For you live in a culture and age in which you are surrounded by those who would influence you by fear or anger or false promises. It takes more than a little intentional resolve to avoid such manipulation. You have to stand fast for your liberty, and also for the truth. You must overcome fear to go where the search leads you. You will not find the truth by casual examination, and you will be changed by the search.

Do you know that I was a regular church attender up until it was my turn to read from the scroll? What do you think offended my audience? Was it that I identified myself as the one chosen to proclaim liberty to the captives? Or was it that I went on to point out the stories from scripture in which God poured out blessings on those outside the house of Israel? For whatever reason I wore out my welcome and was not popular from that moment on. I went on to add more stories to the Bible about God’s provision and blessing on outsiders. Is this still an issue?

Have you ever had the occasion to give someone correction, or approval? What is the most gracious way to go about this? Consider the Golden Rule and the way you would want it done unto you. Do you keep correction at the lowest level possible, preferably just involving you and the other person, and maintaining confidentiality? What about approval? If you are caught doing something right, don’t you want the recognition to go up the chain of command? Do you find more opportunities for correction or for approval?

In ancient times festivals and religious observances involved feasting. This was an appropriate way to celebrate in times when food was scarce. An abundance of food was a special treat and part of the celebration. Do you live in an affluent culture in which you can feast every day? Too much of a good thing is not a good thing. And yet food is still central to the life of a faith community, and breaking bread together intensifies human spiritual connection. In a culture of abundance, how can you hold a feast without going to excess? How can you make a feast a special occasion?