Dale Cresap's blog

When I was crucified I was referred to as the King of the Jews. Do you think this title was appropriate and honorary? Do you recall that this took place in occupied territory, and that the Jews were ruled over by  the Romans? This title was not regarded as a compliment under these circumstances, but it was still appropriate. You live in two realms. Do you realize that in the realm most visible to you that I was rejected from my rightful place? Yet in the transcendent and eternal realm my Kingdom was recognized and secure.

Do you think of the church as an army? There are Bible verses to support this, and many more references  in hymns and other forms of Christian culture. Yet churches do not go to war in the conventional sense. So what martial aspects are appropriate for a church? Soldiers are trained to commit themselves to and sacrifice for a mission. They are trained to act as one under a unified command. In this way a small group of soldiers can dominate a larger but disorganized opponent. You don’t need a uniform or a rank to function as an army for a common mission. All you need is unity.

Are you familiar with the story of the prodigal son? Are you aware that it is unfinished? For at the end of this story the father is still outside with the pouting and indignant elder brother, entreating him to come in and join the party. Do you rejoice in the mercy and grace you have received? Are you as eager to rejoice in the mercy and grace received by others who were equally undeserving? Have you ever acted against your own best interests because you were upset or feeling slighted? So what do you think?

Could you endure a one percent loss? Most people would be able to absorb that even if they would not welcome it, but I told a story of a shepherd who had 100 sheep, one of whom was lost. He left the 99 and searched for the lost sheep until he found it, apparently no matter how long it took. Did this make sense in practical and economic terms? Most people would commit to search for a while but be prepared to call it off if it took too long. A shepherd thinking of his own interests would have to be practical, but a shepherd who loves his sheep would not quit.

Are you familiar with the reformation of the church? Historians treat this as a well-defined period of time. But should you think of it as a single interval? I told a story about new wine and old wineskins. This combination doesn’t work, and my audience understood that, but they didn’t understand the deeper meaning, that their familiar forms and structures were about to change in a big way. Do you think this story refers to a one-time event, or is it an ongoing process? The concept of new wine and old wineskins is enduring.

You are familiar with my commandment to honor your father and mother. Do you do this? It does not say that you need to pay them back for the sacrifices they made to raise you. That would be a much greater burden than just to honor them. Yet if you are aware that much was invested in getting you to adulthood you can still do something about it. You can pay it forward in the raising of your own children. But this does not apply to all.

What is the source of authority? Politicians claim a mandate from winning an election. Lesser office holders are appointed by them, and the military has a well-defined hierarchy of rank. There is a similar structure in the world of commerce, and academic credentials for those in academia. Churches also have a structure of authority, often with many levels. Can anyone from outside the system exercise authority? Some people seem to carry it within themselves, or have had extreme experiences that confer it.

How often do you say, ‘but I could be wrong’? Do you avoid doing this whenever you can, being more comfortable with certainty within yourself and more comfortable projecting an image of certainty? It is reassuring to have everything settled and resolved in your mind, but this comfort comes at a price. It puts you in a position where you are unable to learn and receive additional truth. Are you accustomed to doing everything right on your first attempt? Few would claim this, but it is the unspoken premise of being unwilling to revisit your positions. Truth is sturdy.

Are you a hero? Would you like to be one? Do you assume that heroes are larger than life figures with super powers and courage who prevail in impossible tasks? Would that make it impossible for you to be one? This club is not that exclusive. The door is open to anyone, with any abilities, at any time. All you have to do is commit yourself to a cause greater than yourself. Isn’t this the common theme of all heroic stories?

Do you find it easy to trust people? What is your default position? Do you wait for people to prove themselves before you trust them, or do you trust them until they give you a reason not to? Does the second approach seem too trusting? There can be problems with each approach. It is easy to see the problems of being too trusting. You can be taken advantage of. It is harder to see the problems of not trusting enough, but this will cost you opportunities that would have enriched your life if you had acted on them.