Dale Cresap's blog

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. 

Have you ever experienced righteous indignation and moral outrage? Are you sure? Everyone experiences outrage and indignation, but are yours righteous and moral? For these things to occur together is extremely rare, and it is easy to judge yourself lightly when you are making judgments that I would not make. What would truly righteous indignation look like? The righteous part would require a willingness to make a personal sacrifice to implement restorative rather than retributive justice.

Are you a builder? Some people have an aptitude and a passion for building and others do not, but those who do generally don’t start from scratch. They use kits or plans, and obtain the appropriate materials for what they are building. It is generally obvious from the finished product if the builder used whatever materials were available. To extend the metaphor, you are building a life. Do you feel like you have all the special materials you need for this task, or does it feel like you are making do with what you can get your hands on?

I told you to stand fast therefore in the liberty in which I have made you free, do not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Do you see liberty coming in two versions, internal and external? Which do you think is more important? Which do you think this verse refers to? Do you get the sense that the yoke of bondage referred to in this passage refers to thought patterns, habits and prejudices that are holding you back from an abundant life? You are sensitive to encroachments on your external liberty, which limit your freedom of action.

Have you ever gone through a major life transition? You may postpone such experiences because the upheaval and disruption are so great, but that is the price you pay for moving into a situation that is better for you in the long term. So there is a tradeoff between short term pain and long term gain. The transition may not be as traumatic as you imagine it. It is more a matter of letting go of certainty to face the unknown. How do you know when the time is right to change? When the pain or restraint of staying put are greater than the risk of moving forward into an unknown future.

How often do you write a blank check? How often do you commit to a purchase without knowing what it will cost? The gospel even warns against doing this, and encourages you to count the cost. This may be the Biblical commandment that is followed by more people than any other. But this same principle can apply beyond purely monetary exchanges. Can you see that safety and liberty are held in tension one with the other, so if you insist on more of one you will get it at the expense of the other?

Have you ever been convicted? This term has a legal sense but for this case consider the moral sense. Conviction of sin leads to repentance. What has been most effective in convicting you? The written word can do this, and believers commonly encounter forceful spoken messages from those with positions of authority in the church. But these are not the only alternatives. What about the unspoken and even unaware examples of those who act with an integrity that you do not yet possess? You have heard that actions speak louder than words.