Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever heard someone justify a personal indulgence with the words, I’m worth it? Does this seem like a disingenuous argument? How would you refute it? It would seem ungracious to say they are not, but the argument confuses intrinsic worth with the budget for indulgences. Your intrinsic worth is priceless, but this does not give you unlimited resources to satisfy your appetites. Don’t confuse your wants and needs, or attach your personal worth to external gratifications.

You are familiar with my commandment not to take the name of God in vain. Do you think this applies only to profane expletives? Could it have another meaning? What about those who invoke my name with intended piety, but in a way that claims a righteousness they do not possess, or to advance a self-serving interest that is not according to my will? Isn’t that as bad as using profanity to express anger or frustration they cannot otherwise articulate? What about swearing an oath to gain greater authority than a simple yes or no? Which of these is the worst form of taking my name in vain?

Do you expect to go through a spiritual transformation? Have you gone through one already? Every believer must say yes because they were not always believers. Do you expect to go through another one? The alternative is to be settled and comfortable in your current position. But this is not a way to grow and be transformed. There is a human tendency to think that things will continue in the current state, but is this realistic? Wasn’t it a journey that got you to where you are now? Apply the same logic to the future.

Do you believe that generosity is important? Do you believe that generosity can be compelled or coerced? Doesn’t that sound like a contradiction, because true generosity must be freely expressed, and if coercion or compulsion are present that extortion is a more accurate term than generosity? How does your church go about raising money? Churches have real expenses, and it is reasonable to expect the members to support them by contributions. There are many ways to go about the appeal for funds.

Have you ever gotten in trouble for doing something right? We are accustomed to the idea that we can get in trouble for doing things wrong, and expect to get commended for doing things right. But have you ever made a stand for principle or truth for which you paid a price? Did you pay the price cheerfully, or did you resent it and feel that you were the victim of a great injustice? Did you regret doing right because it cost you? Don’t you admire others who will take an unpopular stand on principle as opposed to seeking their own gain?

Do you judge people by the best things they do or the worst? Is it easy to judge people you like by their best and those you do not by their worst? An objective statistician considering this question would probably say that neither of these is correct because the best and worst are outliers and not representative of consistent behavior. How do you judge yourself? Your own consistent behavior is the best indicator of your character. Your sins are forgiven, and to dwell only on the best things you have done is to overlook areas that need improvement.

What do you see as the main theme of my message? That heaven will be glorious when you get there? But didn’t I put more emphasis on the Kingdom of God as a present reality? Didn’t my illustrations and actions all declare the Kingdom as immediate and available now? I did promise to return, and told my followers to watch for me, but this is not the same  thing as waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. You should indeed watch for my return, and great is your reward in heaven, but neither of these things should cause you to miss out on the reality of living in my Kingdom today.

Do you find that your enemies occur in groups of people that you do not identify with? Do you judge your enemies by the worst examples of their groups? Does that make your task easier to criticize them? But doesn’t every group produce good and bad examples, including your own? What does my word tell you about loving your enemies? If you would do this, then try considering those groups that oppose you by the best examples they produce. That would make a fair comparison to the examples you use to evaluate your own group, and would make you a better example of yours.

My word warns about the danger of offenses. Woe unto those who cause these little ones to stumble. So you should strive to live your life in a way that avoids giving offense to others. But there are two sides to this issue. You should also strive to avoid receiving offense. So here you have two opportunities to live in a sacrificial way. As a result you may have the opportunity to overlook the behavior of others that you would not do to them. Have you heard it said that you should do unto others as you would have them do to you?

What do you think are the qualifications for a prophet? In some circles a bad disposition and a big mouth and a judgmental attitude are enough. Yet true prophets are commissioned by God and anyone who claims this title should welcome the scrutiny it invites and you should be eager to give it. Is it enough to be accurate in what you foretell or forthtell? Those who operate in this gift should do more than bring judgment and correction. How hard is it to be an accuser? That job is adequately staffed with a multitude of volunteers. A true prophet brings forth words with redemptive purpose.