Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Schaeffer & his letters
From a recent book report on Letters of Francis Schaeffer.
A Culture of Letters
To our great loss, this seems to be a neglected and even forgotten practice. (Ironic, given our age of "easy" communication?!)
Considering it is so thoroughly a biblical template for discipleship, its abandonment suddenly now worries me. We must ask, can it
truly be said that a handful of "sound-bite" emails, text messages, 30 minute coffee meetings and the like are comparable to a well
thought out letter joined to the receiver's meditative reading? Certainly the former things have their place, but I believe we are due
for a renaissance of letter writing. Even as I write this, I've opened a new document and begun writing a long overdue letter to a
young man I am currently discipling. I do hope this is the beginning of a kind of rediscovery of--if just in my own ministry--letter
writing for the sake of intensely heart-directed discipleship.
Taking Seriously the Concerns of Others
Consistently, Dr. Schaeffer takes the concerns and struggles of his friends seriously. His words in the letter "What is the Normal
Christian Life?" are emblematic of the entire collection: "I read your letter with care and would certainly want to do everything I can
to help" (159). Not once did I find a flippant comment, sarcastic or minimizing remark. The credibility this must have given him is
incalculable. How can I begin to grasp effective pastoral work if I first do not weigh and contemplate the words and thoughts--and
the pain therein--of my people? In the limited experience I have had in the ministry, there have been times I have attempted to
diminish one's hardships trying to help when in reality it came across as unloving or indifferent. Here I must learn from Dr.
Schaeffer.
Spirituality
Ringing out, again and again, is Dr. Schaeffer's emphasis on spirituality--an urgent and real devotional life before the Triune God.
Frankly, this shocked me. The Schaeffer I have assumed to understand for years is one of gargantuan intellect and rigorous
apologetics. (Really, I think I've been exposed as a one who has read very little Schaeffer!) He faithfully calls his friends and
correspondents to make certain the spiritual--communion with the God who is there--is in fact the center of their lives. Yes, the
other outer circles of the doctrinal and apologetic must be in place but not without the blazing center--the glory of the Most High
God, the beauty of the Son and the power of the Spirit. If, through vibrant prayer, fellowship with other believers, and pouring over
his Word, this is not in place, all is lost. Nothing can replace this; not organizational machinery, not tailored programs to people's
needs--nothing. This core will be shown to be properly in place when the person, the community, the ministry, etc. is led in full
surrender wherever the Spirit might lead. Few things grate as hard against our default functioning of autonomy, predictability and
control.
Casting Off the Approval of Men
My heart was penetrated when I read the following: "[Through the recent difficulties I have faced], the Lord taught me more than I
ever knew of the greatness of the Lord and the smallness of any man--and the corresponding importance of pleasing the Lord, and
the lack of importance of pleasing any particular man...[In spite of all that has happened there is no question of] personal
discouragement, for I am probably less discouraged than I have ever been since those bright days when I first saw the face of the
Lord, and before my feet got stuck in the problems of the prestige of man" (40-41). How much of my service in the church thus far
has been prompted and sustained by the approval of man?! Surprising it is to think of a man of Schaeffer's stature being susceptible
to such a stumbling block. Realizing the smallness of man in light of the glory and greatness of my God I have got to cast this off.
Lord, let my heart not tremble at their words, their looks, their silence, their anger or their pleasure with me. I belong to You and
You alone. Please, Father, let me live in the reality of your love for me above any other man, no matter their position or opinion.
Their prestige or the poverty they may bring is but a vapor. You alone are eternal, unchanging and Your promises are sure. Blessed
be Your name.
A Culture of Letters
To our great loss, this seems to be a neglected and even forgotten practice. (Ironic, given our age of "easy" communication?!)
Considering it is so thoroughly a biblical template for discipleship, its abandonment suddenly now worries me. We must ask, can it
truly be said that a handful of "sound-bite" emails, text messages, 30 minute coffee meetings and the like are comparable to a well
thought out letter joined to the receiver's meditative reading? Certainly the former things have their place, but I believe we are due
for a renaissance of letter writing. Even as I write this, I've opened a new document and begun writing a long overdue letter to a
young man I am currently discipling. I do hope this is the beginning of a kind of rediscovery of--if just in my own ministry--letter
writing for the sake of intensely heart-directed discipleship.
Taking Seriously the Concerns of Others
Consistently, Dr. Schaeffer takes the concerns and struggles of his friends seriously. His words in the letter "What is the Normal
Christian Life?" are emblematic of the entire collection: "I read your letter with care and would certainly want to do everything I can
to help" (159). Not once did I find a flippant comment, sarcastic or minimizing remark. The credibility this must have given him is
incalculable. How can I begin to grasp effective pastoral work if I first do not weigh and contemplate the words and thoughts--and
the pain therein--of my people? In the limited experience I have had in the ministry, there have been times I have attempted to
diminish one's hardships trying to help when in reality it came across as unloving or indifferent. Here I must learn from Dr.
Schaeffer.
Spirituality
Ringing out, again and again, is Dr. Schaeffer's emphasis on spirituality--an urgent and real devotional life before the Triune God.
Frankly, this shocked me. The Schaeffer I have assumed to understand for years is one of gargantuan intellect and rigorous
apologetics. (Really, I think I've been exposed as a one who has read very little Schaeffer!) He faithfully calls his friends and
correspondents to make certain the spiritual--communion with the God who is there--is in fact the center of their lives. Yes, the
other outer circles of the doctrinal and apologetic must be in place but not without the blazing center--the glory of the Most High
God, the beauty of the Son and the power of the Spirit. If, through vibrant prayer, fellowship with other believers, and pouring over
his Word, this is not in place, all is lost. Nothing can replace this; not organizational machinery, not tailored programs to people's
needs--nothing. This core will be shown to be properly in place when the person, the community, the ministry, etc. is led in full
surrender wherever the Spirit might lead. Few things grate as hard against our default functioning of autonomy, predictability and
control.
Casting Off the Approval of Men
My heart was penetrated when I read the following: "[Through the recent difficulties I have faced], the Lord taught me more than I
ever knew of the greatness of the Lord and the smallness of any man--and the corresponding importance of pleasing the Lord, and
the lack of importance of pleasing any particular man...[In spite of all that has happened there is no question of] personal
discouragement, for I am probably less discouraged than I have ever been since those bright days when I first saw the face of the
Lord, and before my feet got stuck in the problems of the prestige of man" (40-41). How much of my service in the church thus far
has been prompted and sustained by the approval of man?! Surprising it is to think of a man of Schaeffer's stature being susceptible
to such a stumbling block. Realizing the smallness of man in light of the glory and greatness of my God I have got to cast this off.
Lord, let my heart not tremble at their words, their looks, their silence, their anger or their pleasure with me. I belong to You and
You alone. Please, Father, let me live in the reality of your love for me above any other man, no matter their position or opinion.
Their prestige or the poverty they may bring is but a vapor. You alone are eternal, unchanging and Your promises are sure. Blessed
be Your name.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The tyranny of emotional comfort
When I refuse to confront, when I attempt to sweep under the rug a hard issue of consequence, I relegate my soul to an eventual flaccid existence. What do I fight for? My personal solitude. What do I teach people in the process? That truth, that real things concerning the well being of Christ's church take a back seat to supposed interpersonal tranquility. Love is indeed the constraining factor in all interactions but it is also the brazen foundation and reason for dealing with conflict head on. If I reject this I will be the serf of my emotional comfort indefinitely.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Countermeasures to unchecked ambition
"A kindly forewarning is given to pastors lest, while they satisfy the needs of those under them, they slay themselves with the dagger of ambition."
- Gregory the Great
Remedy-
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
- John 13:14-17
- Gregory the Great
Remedy-
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
- John 13:14-17
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Slow Death
If idolatry is diametrically opposed to the law of God
and the law of God is fulfilled
in love of God and neighbor,
then idolatry will necessarily bring about
the deadening of one's entire being
to God and neighbor,
and ultimately,
oneself.
and the law of God is fulfilled
in love of God and neighbor,
then idolatry will necessarily bring about
the deadening of one's entire being
to God and neighbor,
and ultimately,
oneself.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
From Dietrich's Pen
“The word of grace cannot be proclaimed and accepted when a person lives in unrecognized and undisclosed sin. In such a case the word of grace becomes a poison. It no longer arouses us but rather lulls us into a deadly quietism. When the effect of the poison has worn off, one still has a disconsolate conscience. Impenitence and callousness become more firmly entrenched. Countless Christians hear the word of grace only in this way. For them it has become a sleeping pill. The person is cheated out of a salutary life in awe of God.”
From Spiritual Care
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Guilt by association
Waking up this morning to the news I couldn't help but notice that immediately after a report on the Pope's visit and most recent speech, there was an update on the ongoing fallout from the polygamist ordeal in Texas. If I am compiling news stories for a radio broadcast might I be able to ever-so-subtly jab at something I may think is opiate for the masses by simply putting them next to each other so as to cause the listener to think, "Good riddance, look at what religion does to the world..."?
In journalism, is there such a thing as silently critiquing one event by following it with a report of another ostensibly related event?
In journalism, is there such a thing as silently critiquing one event by following it with a report of another ostensibly related event?
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