tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post3638950237601948374..comments2023-05-11T08:00:50.001-05:00Comments on A Glass Darkly: Wondering about my faithDenis Haackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04401098607183612613noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-25716206363286010802009-08-20T11:28:38.329-05:002009-08-20T11:28:38.329-05:00Amen, brother!
I have lots of personal baggage to...Amen, brother!<br /><br />I have lots of personal baggage to add to your questions. I grew up in a tradition that sold the gospel in rather glowing relational terms. I embraced it on those terms and was somewhat satisfied until I realized that what I had seen as "relationship" was only emotion produced in me by a manipulative style of worship. Of course seeing it meant that it didn't work anymore. This realization was followed by some very dry, overly-intellectual years.<br /><br />One bright spot this journey: Richard Winter's "Knowing the Invisible, Inaudible, Untouchable God" (published in Critique!). I still find wisdom and encouragement in it.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14581701969652331893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578496623140464256.post-60277270064080857122009-08-01T23:31:59.088-05:002009-08-01T23:31:59.088-05:00Denis,
Thanks for your thoughts on this. "D...Denis, <br />Thanks for your thoughts on this. "Do I really love/know/relate to Jesus?" I keep continualy come back to this question. I recently starting preaching through 1 John which has driven this question back to the center of my consciousness once again because it's one of the main concerns of the book.<br /><br />John goes to great lengths to assure his readers of the reality of Jesus, in the sense of fact not just a value. I relate to Jesus through faith but my faith rests in the fact that he is real apart from my faith, and not simply believed in like someone might believe in Santa Clause. <br /><br />I wrestle with this because it's so easy to simply think of Jesus as a mythical figure whom I appreciate and even call my Lord, but to whom I have as much a living relationship with as Caesar or Zeus. Of course as soon as I think these things (or type them as the case may be) there's a part of me that rises up and says, "No, imperfect as it may be you do have a real relationship with God in Christ. You do know and believe that Jesus is more real than even yourself." And so I often live torn between what I know and what I feel, and even those two things tend to switch place. <br /><br />The comforting thing to me is that the biblical authors seem to anticipate these types struggle for people who won't know Jesus in the flesh until he consummates his kingdom. Jesus himself told James that though he believed because he saw, those would be more blessed who believe without seeing. Is this not an implicit recognition that faith in the risen Savior is more difficult for those of us who are thousands of years removed from his earthly ministry? <br /><br />I could go on, but I've already written an overly long comment. Just wanted you to know that I appreciate your honesty and openness about this struggle. It's far more common than most Evangelicals want to admit. <br /><br />Love ya brother.Travishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14342831817730032182noreply@blogger.com