For the Joy of the Journey

Recently I’ve been trying to recover some blog postings that I lost in a database crash. I have found some and thought I would re-post a few. Here is one from December 2006

The End of Apologetics

Some time back, I posed a question in the Wednesday night men’s class: “What do we say to someone who does not believe they are lost or need God and their lives are, for the most part, satisfying”? We had quite a bit discussion, mostly it was suggested that it is Christians’ responsibility to make sure non-Christians understand they are in jeopardy. Today as a read a section in “How (Not) to Speak of God” entitled The End of Apologetics, there were some interesting thoughts that hint at some answers to the question. I will paraphrase them briefly. The author asserts that the 20th century church reflected an obsession with apologetics ( a term which refers to the formal justification or defense of doctrine). He says further, that legal terminology is often employed within the apologetic discourse so as to give the impression that Christianity can be proven beyond all reasonable doubt by a cold and objective analysis of the empirical evidence for its claims. The apologetic process employs “power discourses” to build an apologetic case via the use of either reason or miracle. In the former case, the rational and logical case is so compelling that it must be accepted by anyone who wishes to be rational. The latter builds an apologetic case through demonstration such that the other must believe. These “power discourses” attempt to present faith in such a way that rejection, if not impossible, is utterly irrational. The result being “converts” with no heart, having been compelled to bow their knees regardless of their motives or desires. The author suggests a different kind of discourse based on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Paul’s suggests a “powerless discourse” which refrains from resting his faith on wise words or the miraculous, instead endeavoring to create a space for the Spirit’s power to arrive, a power that is not compelled by human might or miraculous wonder. Instead of closing thought down – by telling people what they ought to think – this discourse opens up thought. Unlike “power discourses” (which attempt to forcibly bring people to their knees), the discourse of Paul acts as an aroma. It is in this “powerless discourse”, unlike a religious discourse that is a type of drink designed to satisfy our thirst for answers, that one experiences the teaching of Jesus which is salty, evoking thirst. In a world where people believe they are not hungry, we must not offer food but rather an aroma that helps them desire the food that we cannot provide. As I considered these thoughts, it becomes apparent that I need to think about what “opening up space” and “aroma” mean pragmatically

posted by George at 12/28/2006 09:02:00 AM

I just finished reading Inspiration and Incarnation by Peter Enns. It was a challenging book but worthy of my time. I will continue to contemplate his theses. I found the following quotes on biblical interpretation to be personally timely and insightful.

Perhaps we should think of biblical interpretation more as a path to walk than a fortress to be defended. Of course there are times when defense is necessary, but the … task of biblical interpretation should not be defined by such. … The burden of “getting it right” can sometimes be discouraging and hinder effective ministry. I would rather think of biblical interpretation as a path we walk, a pilgrimage we take, whereby the longer we walk and take in the surrounding scenes, the more people we stop and converse with along the way, the richer our interpretation will be. Such a journey is not always smooth. At times what is involved is a certain degree of risk and creativity: we may need to leave the main path from time to time to explore less traveled but promising tracks .

… as we attempt to understand scripture, we move further along the path. At the end of the path is not simply gaining of knowledge about the text, but God himself who speaks to us therein. The goal toward which the path is leading is that which set us on the path to begin with: our having been claimed by God as coheirs with the crucified and risen Christ. The reality of the crucified and risen Christ is both the beginning and the end of Christian biblical interpretation.

It is always an option, I suppose, to halt the journey and stand still, or perhaps turn around and walk back a few hundred yards, so as to stand at a safe distance from what lies ahead. we should continue the journey, however, not because we are sure of the footing, but be cause we have faith in God who placed us our journey to begin with.

I had a great Father’s Day. There were expressions of appreciation from all my children and Ann as well as others. I truly appreciate each of them.

This Father’s Day was special for other reasons. For some time, Tanya and Daniel have been talking with their children, nurturing and encouraging them in their relationship with God. Together they decided it was time for them to demonstrate their belief in Jesus as God’s Son and commit their lives to following Him. J. D. and Tiffani Walt are valued friends of the Crocketts and have played an important role in their family’s spiritual journey. Yesterday, Ann and I were invited to join with the Crockett and Walt families to travel to Lake Herrington for worship and fellowship and celebration in the baptism of Jerod, Meredith, Blake and Grayson Crockett. After breakfast together, J.D. led our worship and performed the baptisms.

It was a glorious day. I am so thankful for God’s gracious love. Congratulations Jerod, Meredith, Blake and Grayson and Tanya and Daniel.