Dale Cresap's blog

Have you been through a transformative experience? A transformed life is the promise of the gospel. Not everyone follows this path, and not everyone appreciates the changes in those who do. You may have old friends who liked the old version of you better, especially if they are not transformed themselves. You may experience pressure from them to revert to your former ways. Being transformed will always be in tension with being conformed to this world. You have lived both ways and know which one gives life. Don’t let this world squeeze you into its mold. You can always get new friends.

Are you legalistic? This is a term believers apply to other believers, but not to themselves, for it is not considered a compliment. Do you think I was legalistic? I told the rich young ruler to keep the commandments, and said that not a jot or tittle of the law would pass away. You can find verses to support any position, but what would distinguish my conduct from a legalist? Without rejecting the rules my primary concern was for humanity rather than rules, and I applied the rules to facilitate the spiritual formation of people.

How do you respond to those of other faiths? Do you see them as enemies to confront? Do you see them as hopelessly lost in darkness and in need of Christian enlightenment? Do you act in accordance with these perspectives? How is that working for you? What example do you see in me? I was Jewish, but you can tell from the Bible stories that I lived in a time and place with many expressions of faith. How often do you see me confronting them on matters of doctrine? Would you say that I was more likely to heal them?

I told my (all male) followers that greater love had no man than that he lay down his life for his friends. How often have you heard this common phrase? I spoke a great deal about love to my disciples. Yet how difficult it is for modern men to say that they love their male friends! This comes much easier for women, but even they may neglect it. How else would you describe a life-giving relationship that you are highly invested in? Wouldn’t you sacrifice for your friends? Yet cultural biases and pressures can keep you from expressing this. Don’t let fear keep you silent. Tell them.

Do you suffer afflictions? If you haven’t, you will, for this is a common human experience. The primary concern for those suffering is for their suffering to cease. They are highly motivated and what would have a higher priority? Have you ever been in this position? Have you called on me to end it and had less than complete success? You are familiar with the concept of consolation from the Bible. I do not promise to end your suffering, but I am with you in it, and if you are prepared to accept this from what you know of my life on earth, suffering alongside you.

Do you believe in equality? This is a common feature of many political systems. Does it go against your direct observations? Can you see that people vary not only in appearance, but also in resources and abilities, values and tastes, and every other dimension of humanity? So people are not inherently equal and the doctrine of equality requires some reflection, and an equalizer. For believers, the fact that all people are created by me and in that sense my children is the basis for ultimate equality and therefore political equality before the law.

Are you familiar with the idea of virtue signaling? Do you do it? There is a temptation to present yourself as morally superior, but I warned against doing this. I said that you should give your alms in secret so that even your left hand would not know what your right hand was doing, and that your prayers and religious symbols should not be for show. I promised that if you would do these things in secret then your heavenly Father would reward you openly. I also said that you should let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

How do you expect to approach me? Is it through a clearly defined sequence of steps, like a well-designed study curriculum? Most things that you can learn have a program of some sort available and spirituality is no exception. The Bible refers to those whose knowledge of me is line upon line, and precept upon precept, but it does not say that this is the only approach or even the best approach. Could you also find me by feeling your way toward me? See Acts 17:27. If you are more familiar with the first method you may be surprised at how well this works.

Where do you start a journey, at the beginning or at the end? This may seem obvious, but how many believers practicing evangelism start with the propositional truth claims of their doctrine? Whether these are true or not is not always the point. Their audience may not be far enough along to accept them. Another approach would be to listen to your audience to find out where they are, and then help them advance to the next step. Do you believe that those who seek the truth will hear my voice? Sometimes it takes them a long search.

Do you think that self-care is selfish; that it is self-indulgent to do something that doesn’t directly benefit anyone but you? It is not hard to find those who will level such an accusation against you. Do they commit every waking moment to selfless service of others? Have you ever heard the standard passenger briefing that in the event of a rapid decompression you should take care of your own oxygen needs before attending to those around you? In this way you can be a responder rather than a victim. Care for yourself that you may have the resources to care for others.