Gracious Listening, Gracious Criticism

I've had some good conversations lately about attitudes toward those that deliver the Word. I attend a Bible College: breeding grounds for young people who think they know everything. But some of us are starting to notice things that are getting out of hand.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week was the annual Bible Conference. No classes, but several sessions of speakers preaching on a specific theme: Rock Solid Faith. Before the conference started on Wednesday, I recognized that I have had such a critical spirit when I go into chapel lately. I look at the speaker and just wait for him to mess up. I evaluate his preaching style, weigh his illustrations against the amount of scripture he shares, etc. But what I haven't been doing is saying, "Lord, open my eyes and my ears to the message from Your Word that this person is sharing, whether they do it the way I think they should or not." So, I repented of my wrong, and prayed for an open heart to what God would teach me this week. It has been really good! One very important point during this conference has been made that "rock solid faith comes from our rock solid God. Our faith is only as good as the object of our faith." This week has been such a good reminder of my lack of faith in many areas, and my lack of praying in faith for those areas.

So, all was well until this morning. The speaker was one that I have heard before, and have always had a hard time not being distracted by the things that he says that don't always line up. But I always hear people talking about what a great man he is, and what a great heart for God that he has. So, I resolved to be open-minded and to try to listen to the text he shared and what he had to say. . . Oh well. He said too many things that just don't seem to line up with scripture. I felt really bad, cause I had just had another conversation last night about the critical spirits on this campus, and the way we rip apart the speakers that graciously come to share with us.
I didn't bring it up to anyone right away, but a sweet and discerning girl asked me what I thought. I was honest, and tried to say it in a gracious way. It turned out that she was feeling the same way.

At lunch my friends and I talked about the situation. I love my friends. One friend confesses that he is overly-cynical about everything. Another friend did not hear the sermon but wanted to think the best of this brother who spoke. Another friend is so tender-hearted and graciously gleans the truth from those who preach, but does not always notice the problems with some of the things they say. A fourth friend was, like all of us, wanting to find a balance (or ballast as some might say).

Our conclusion was this: We should be gracious critical thinkers, and gracious listeners. Both should be present without the exclusion of the other. We should be open to what God wants to teach us through the text that is shared, despite the human flaws of those that share it. However, our love for God's Word should compel us to listen critically, be discerning, and to measure the things that people say against what the Scriptures say. We should by all means talk about it when we think a point was wrong, but graciousness should be present in all.

Strive for truth; don't strive to be right. The former stems out of love for God and His Word, the latter stems out of pride and self-righteousness.

Transcendence and Immanence of God

It's interesting that I've had several conversations lately with different people about the transcendence and immanence of God. They were very good conversations. I'm struck by the fact that we as humanity do not know how to fully understand that God can be both at once. It's one of those mysteries.
Sometimes we veer to the side of immanence to the point that we forget His transcendance. We talk about Jesus as our friend. We wear shirts that say, "Jesus is my homeboy." We treat Him as though he just another human being that we can toss around at will. We take His lovingkindness and grace for granted in the way that we approach worship. It becomes a carefree, come-just-as-you-are affair. Our prayer suffers because as we come boldly to His throne we forget His greatness and power. Our small view of Him gives us a weak faith.
On the other hand we can jump over to an understanding of His transcendence to the neglect of His immanence. When we read the command to love God, we translate that as simply "obey God." Our prayer suffers because in our understanding of His holiness and our lowliness we think that He does not concern Himself with our day-to-day needs. We conduct our lives in fear alone.
This is so hard to get, but we must understand that God is not only holy, high and lifted up, but also loving, near to the humble. The God who is too holy to tolerate sin is also the God who clothed Himself in flesh to become the sacrifice for sin. He is the God who said "come unto me, all who are weary and heavy laden." The God who is near to the broken-hearted. The God who said, "I am God, and there is none like me." The God who said, "kiss the Son, lest He be angry."
I fear that in most evangelical circles the danger is to forget God's holiness. I think I have been at both ends of the spectrum from time to time.
One friend has spent most of her life focused on God's immanence. As He has been teaching her about His holiness, it humbles her so much that she feels that she can do nothing before Him. The Job syndrome: "I have heard of You, but now I have seen You. Therefore I cover my mouth and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." We need more of that, as long as we understand that He has made a way for us to approach Him.
Another friend spent most of her life focused on His transcendance. When she read the command to love God, to her it meant to obey God. It never occured to her that there could be a wonderful joy in knowing and loving God. Loving God not merely in her obedience, but also with her affections, with her whole being. God is near, we can talk to Him at any moment.

"The first and greatest commandment is this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength."
I think this verse encapsulates the issue in a way that I have never thought of before.