The pastor explained: Christ never promised these things. He promised mercy, grace, and a relationship with him. But he also promised that this broken world would bring us suffering and persecution. When Christians make promises in the name of Christ which Christ never made, they set up new believers for disappointment and despair.
This much I've been taught before, but not in this way. It struck me that there is one particular false promise that I've bought for a long time. And every time God doesn't make good on this promise I've attributed to him, I'm left with disappointment, confusion, and often anger.
I believe God promised me that if I came to him, he would make the world make sense. He didn't, and it doesn't.
Now I didn't expect God to give me a reason for everything that happens, or to fully reveal the inner workings of the human condition, or give me a bankable answer to every spiritual question I have. But I'm starting to realize that deep inside me I expect God to provide a cognitive, cohesive belief system. A basic set of ideas which fit together in such a way that the world can be intellectually approached without fear of contradiction or complete confusion. I know that God is truth, and that he created this world, and therefore somehow my gut has concluded that if I follow him I will find a sublime coherence.
But I've looked in the Bible, and this promise isn't there. At no point does Jesus set a pile of philosophy texts on the ground in front of five thousand onlookers and promise, "Follow me, and all this will fit together."
I understand why Christians think it's there. Throughout the modern age religion has been accused of lacking any semblance of intellectual integrity. We have been accused of being sheep, of lying to ourselves, of believing in contradictions we pretend aren't there. We are accused of choosing fairy tales (dangerous fairy tales, at that) when plain and simple facts are laid before us. We want to defend ourselves, and to a certain extent we should. God is the creator of all truth and knowledge and we should seek this truth diligently and passionately. He has revealed much to us and he has even more yet to reveal. Belief in Christ is not a conceptual balm for the simple-minded.
Still, this world is full of mystery. There are many things God has chosen not to reveal, though sometimes they grate against my desire for truth and justice. God has given me himself, his son, and I am charged to let that be enough.
Image: TheOtter
I loved your Del Gleck quote from the last post. I even copied and posted it. Larry Crabbe's, Shattered Dreams saved me several years back. I pull it out frequently for a re-read when I begin to despair and question. Too often giving answers is the wrong step when what the compassion of Chirst means is to walk alongside through the Shadowlands. Thank you to the Skin Horse, Lewis and Schaeffer (and you) for voicing struggles with this same thing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Who was the pastor?
ReplyDeleteJustin, that is a profound and difficult observation, but freeing at the same time. I wonder how often I am frustrated at God for not providing what he never promised. Your last sentence will stay with me for a long time to come, "God has given me himself, his son, and I am charged to let that be enough." Good words friend.
ReplyDeleteJustin, I read this the morning after having a roundabout discussion along the same lines. Your thoughts were much more concise and, I felt, to the point. I appreciated that you brought the issue back to God and what he has or hasn't said instead of chasing down one of the plenteous rabbit trails related to the (seeming) incongruence of theology and existence.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. And I especially appreciate the observation that holding up these false promises not only has the potential to harm or destroy our own faith, but the faith of others as well. Randy Harris once said, on the topic of theodicy, "who died and made coherence king?" and that comment resonated with me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteGreat read. I have never actually looked at it like that. My church well every church I suppose is a great believer in evangelising, spreading the gospel and winning new souls for christ. All too often are we too quick to bombard new believers with Gods "promises" as you have nicely put it. The consequence when disappoint comes well.... I say no more. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOne of the kindest men I know was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and having emergency surgery tomorrow. Pondering this tonight I remembered your post. It is so well written and though I know what you say is true, I need the reminders. Thanks....
ReplyDeleteThese insights are going to be missed with your blog being shelved. Also, I write and teach to encourage myself...I hope you find other ways to do that.
I'm so sorry. I'm glad this post was helpful to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words. I will definitely be looking for different outlets during this extended break.