I think this is powerful. I love the vocabulary and concept of "spiritual bypassing." It's interesting to consider how the "spiritual" language we're inclined to use might sometimes hinder healing. We can indeed use (or misuse) our faith as a "crutch" and miss out healing available through Jesus.
There's irony for you.
I was just reminded of Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 10 Q&A 27 about God's providence, how he upholds everything in his hands. The examples that follow in the answer include "health and sickness, prosperity and poverty." Q&A 28 goes on to invite us into a posture of endurance. But it says nothing to the effect of "God rules everything so stop crying." Expressing pain does not come from a lack of faith but from a trust that God receives and carries it, and carries us through it. Expressing pain can actually reveal faith.
I wonder, though: While the people in the examples provided (i.e. "It is what it is" and "What are you gonna do about it?") may indeed be hiding behind spiritual clichés, maybe those are all they have at the moment to process their experiences. Maybe it's not so much spiritual or emotional immaturity as it is an inability to honestly articulate one's knowledge and belief in their Saviour and Lord in their present circumstances. (Or is that the same thing as spiritual immaturity?) Instead of seeing responses like these as defenses to dismantle, is it better to see them as incomplete and possibly fragile expressions of faith that need to be received gently and then deepened? I mean, that's consistent with how Jesus often dealt with people – not crushing inadequate faith but meeting people where they are and helping enlarge their faith.
Maybe I'm saying the same thing as the author, just expressing it slightly differently. Regardless, this remains for me a powerful piece that I'll be pondering for a while. Thank you!
Thanks, Ron. This piece as well as last month's are helpful. Is this a safe place to admit that I often struggle to "prioritize [my] over-populated to-do list?" How often don't I succumb to doing the fun things on the list before those that are more important and significant! I appreciate the reminder not only to prioritize better, but to prayerfully consider and work through my daily tasks. ~S
Thank you, Tricia, for your reply! Sorry for not making it clear as Monica & I usually do who it is that's writing... It's Stan here. =)
I like what you say about faith that's passive and faith that's expressed actively. Good to discern within myself and help others discern when one may be healthier than the other.
And I appreciate what you say about weighing deeper understanding against spiritual distress. There are times I've just let inaccurate (can I say "dumb?") things people say slide because it would do no nothing to alleviate their pain and they're probably not in a place to process/integrate it anyway. An example that quickly pops into mind is when a grieving person refers to their beloved as now being an angel in heaven. I'm pretty sure we won't turn into a different species when we die, but that's not the place to make such a correction. (Although I could see some advantages to becoming a cat after I die...)
Thanks for sharing these reflections. Good wisdom here to simply tell the story.
I appreciate learning from Darrell Johnson at Regent College that a better word and concept than "applications" could be "implications." I cannot apply the text to every single person's life in front of me. But I can pray that I bring up a point or question that leaves them pondering how it connects with their life, relationships, choices, etc.
Word is not my first choice. This meme explains everything: www.instagram.com/reel/DIWPFrKSBoy/ =)
We've been working with Canva. I'd be interested in hearing what other resources people here are switching to. At some point I'd like to try Affinity, LibreOffice, and/or Scribus. Does anyone here have experience with any of these?
Creative. Imaginative. Clever (in the good sense of the word). Thought-provoking. The "risk of sacrilege" is worth it when it it helps us better understand and articulate deeply held beliefs we might incorrectly assume everyone else simply gets. ~S
Well, this is most fitting for me as I've just started serving an enthusiastic and caring and older congregation. (Not sure if you can still call me a "younger pastor!") I am hopeful as I look to the future, that God still has Kingdom work for us to do. Meanwhile, one thing I also say to myself is that I will love the church as it is and not as I imagine/wish it would be. If God doubles our size, great! If we shrink, still to God be praised. Thanks for helping us see the big picture and beautifully connecting it with Ps 46. ~Stan
Thank you, Sarah, for your work as Network Manager – it's appreciated. I imagine the role presents its challenges but I'm pleased to hear how it's a blessing for you too. Happy Thanksgiving!
So insightful! I think it happens subtly for church life to mutate into organized religion. Granted, some organization is required (admin, planning, etc. – and I enjoy those sorts of tasks), but it's easy for me to get more caught up in the religion than in the relationships, to excessively focus on what I have to get done at the expense of living into the reality of what Christ has accomplished for me.
I really appreciated this series with its insights I had not considered before but now want to keep in front of me when I think about and preach on these texts. Thank you!
I appreciate your questions, Rob. I'd love for the council at the church where I serve to grapple with these questions, but the flag is a sacred cow in my context. I've been hesitant to say anything publicly partly due to me being a Canadian serving in an American church. Many churches in the area have one at the front their worship space; it's just "normal" (except for me).
We also have the so-called Christian flag up front. I really dislike that one too – looks like we want "such as all the other nations have."
I would be interested in someone giving a defense for keeping an American flag in the worship space. Maybe there's something we're not considering.
Posted in: Ordinary Healing Faith
I think this is powerful. I love the vocabulary and concept of "spiritual bypassing." It's interesting to consider how the "spiritual" language we're inclined to use might sometimes hinder healing. We can indeed use (or misuse) our faith as a "crutch" and miss out healing available through Jesus.
There's irony for you.
I was just reminded of Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 10 Q&A 27 about God's providence, how he upholds everything in his hands. The examples that follow in the answer include "health and sickness, prosperity and poverty." Q&A 28 goes on to invite us into a posture of endurance. But it says nothing to the effect of "God rules everything so stop crying." Expressing pain does not come from a lack of faith but from a trust that God receives and carries it, and carries us through it. Expressing pain can actually reveal faith.
I wonder, though: While the people in the examples provided (i.e. "It is what it is" and "What are you gonna do about it?") may indeed be hiding behind spiritual clichés, maybe those are all they have at the moment to process their experiences. Maybe it's not so much spiritual or emotional immaturity as it is an inability to honestly articulate one's knowledge and belief in their Saviour and Lord in their present circumstances. (Or is that the same thing as spiritual immaturity?) Instead of seeing responses like these as defenses to dismantle, is it better to see them as incomplete and possibly fragile expressions of faith that need to be received gently and then deepened? I mean, that's consistent with how Jesus often dealt with people – not crushing inadequate faith but meeting people where they are and helping enlarge their faith.
Maybe I'm saying the same thing as the author, just expressing it slightly differently. Regardless, this remains for me a powerful piece that I'll be pondering for a while. Thank you!
Posted in: The (Genuinely) Helpful Pastor
Thanks, Ron. This piece as well as last month's are helpful. Is this a safe place to admit that I often struggle to "prioritize [my] over-populated to-do list?" How often don't I succumb to doing the fun things on the list before those that are more important and significant! I appreciate the reminder not only to prioritize better, but to prayerfully consider and work through my daily tasks.
~S
Posted in: Ordinary Healing Faith
Thank you, Tricia, for your reply! Sorry for not making it clear as Monica & I usually do who it is that's writing... It's Stan here. =)
I like what you say about faith that's passive and faith that's expressed actively. Good to discern within myself and help others discern when one may be healthier than the other.
And I appreciate what you say about weighing deeper understanding against spiritual distress. There are times I've just let inaccurate (can I say "dumb?") things people say slide because it would do no nothing to alleviate their pain and they're probably not in a place to process/integrate it anyway. An example that quickly pops into mind is when a grieving person refers to their beloved as now being an angel in heaven. I'm pretty sure we won't turn into a different species when we die, but that's not the place to make such a correction. (Although I could see some advantages to becoming a cat after I die...)
Grateful for your insights!
~S
Posted in: The Spirit Will Have To Do the Speaking: Reflections On Preaching
Thanks for sharing these reflections. Good wisdom here to simply tell the story.
I appreciate learning from Darrell Johnson at Regent College that a better word and concept than "applications" could be "implications." I cannot apply the text to every single person's life in front of me. But I can pray that I bring up a point or question that leaves them pondering how it connects with their life, relationships, choices, etc.
Posted in: Navigating the Shift from Microsoft Publisher: A New Bulletin Template for Church Admins
Word is not my first choice. This meme explains everything: www.instagram.com/reel/DIWPFrKSBoy/ =)
We've been working with Canva. I'd be interested in hearing what other resources people here are switching to. At some point I'd like to try Affinity, LibreOffice, and/or Scribus. Does anyone here have experience with any of these?
Posted in: People Who See Dead People
Creative. Imaginative. Clever (in the good sense of the word). Thought-provoking.
The "risk of sacrilege" is worth it when it it helps us better understand and articulate deeply held beliefs we might incorrectly assume everyone else simply gets.
~S
Posted in: Ten Years from Now
Well, this is most fitting for me as I've just started serving an enthusiastic and caring and older congregation. (Not sure if you can still call me a "younger pastor!") I am hopeful as I look to the future, that God still has Kingdom work for us to do. Meanwhile, one thing I also say to myself is that I will love the church as it is and not as I imagine/wish it would be. If God doubles our size, great! If we shrink, still to God be praised. Thanks for helping us see the big picture and beautifully connecting it with Ps 46. ~Stan
Posted in: Grateful
Thank you, Sarah, for your work as Network Manager – it's appreciated. I imagine the role presents its challenges but I'm pleased to hear how it's a blessing for you too. Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted in: How Many CRC Churches Still Teach Catechism?
Hi Andrew! Are you willing to share more details about the material you've crafted? Or even the material itself?
[email protected]
Posted in: Because Jesus Didn't Die to Start a Country Club
So insightful! I think it happens subtly for church life to mutate into organized religion. Granted, some organization is required (admin, planning, etc. – and I enjoy those sorts of tasks), but it's easy for me to get more caught up in the religion than in the relationships, to excessively focus on what I have to get done at the expense of living into the reality of what Christ has accomplished for me.
Posted in: Recognizing the Image of God in Every Body, Story 4: Jesus and Zacchaeus
I really appreciated this series with its insights I had not considered before but now want to keep in front of me when I think about and preach on these texts. Thank you!
Posted in: What Are Your Policies Concerning Flags in Church and Worship Spaces?
I appreciate your questions, Rob. I'd love for the council at the church where I serve to grapple with these questions, but the flag is a sacred cow in my context. I've been hesitant to say anything publicly partly due to me being a Canadian serving in an American church. Many churches in the area have one at the front their worship space; it's just "normal" (except for me).
We also have the so-called Christian flag up front. I really dislike that one too – looks like we want "such as all the other nations have."
I would be interested in someone giving a defense for keeping an American flag in the worship space. Maybe there's something we're not considering.