sticking points
I had coffee this morning with someone who I would call a "thoughtful seeker." They are really wrestling with issues of faith. Nothing energizes me like a conversation with someone who is asking genuine God questions. I think he wants to believe, but it has to be with intellectual integrity. I respect that.
I think everybody has "sticking points" at some point in their spiritual journey. I think the big three are 1) juxtaposing the creation story with science 2) the inspiration and infallibility of scripture and 3) what about other religions. Those sticking points keep us from jumping in with both feet (or both hemispheres of the brain). I love the picture he painted. He said he wants to be able to walk around the circle of faith without any gaps. I told him that there will always be gaps. But I'm hoping our conversations "close the gap." By the way, I think taking a leap of faith is a lot like our synapses. A thought is really an electrical impulse that jumps from one synapse to the next. That is still a mystery to neurologists. In the same sense, I think faith always involves a synapse. You've got to jump. But the real question is how wide the gap is. There is a difference between a two-foot gap and mile-wide gap. I'm praying our conversations close the gap.
By the way, I asked him a question I've never asked anyone before. I said, "If Jesus said to you what he said to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, 'Follow me.' What would you say?" He said, "Absolutely." I found that response fascinating. For what it's worth, I think the one true litmus test is the question Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16: "Who do you say that I am?" That is THE QUESTION. But what might be just as significant is the fact that Jesus didn't ask it till they were three years down the road! I think we ask the question and then invite people to follow Jesus. Have we got it backwards?
I think everybody has "sticking points" at some point in their spiritual journey. I think the big three are 1) juxtaposing the creation story with science 2) the inspiration and infallibility of scripture and 3) what about other religions. Those sticking points keep us from jumping in with both feet (or both hemispheres of the brain). I love the picture he painted. He said he wants to be able to walk around the circle of faith without any gaps. I told him that there will always be gaps. But I'm hoping our conversations "close the gap." By the way, I think taking a leap of faith is a lot like our synapses. A thought is really an electrical impulse that jumps from one synapse to the next. That is still a mystery to neurologists. In the same sense, I think faith always involves a synapse. You've got to jump. But the real question is how wide the gap is. There is a difference between a two-foot gap and mile-wide gap. I'm praying our conversations close the gap.
By the way, I asked him a question I've never asked anyone before. I said, "If Jesus said to you what he said to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, 'Follow me.' What would you say?" He said, "Absolutely." I found that response fascinating. For what it's worth, I think the one true litmus test is the question Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16: "Who do you say that I am?" That is THE QUESTION. But what might be just as significant is the fact that Jesus didn't ask it till they were three years down the road! I think we ask the question and then invite people to follow Jesus. Have we got it backwards?
1 Comments:
The Alpha gurus have found 7 main "sticking points" or primary questions that seekers ask. I think it would be great to do a sermon series on that. Also, I really like the distinction you made between the two questions- following and identifying. That's an interesting point to consider as we think about discipleship strategies.
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