I’ve always tried to avoid trite Christian sayings like, “Christians aren’t perfect…just forgiven” or, “Be ye fishers of men. You catch ‘em; He’ll clean ‘em.”
Yet after 30 years of walking with Christ, I still struggle to explain the all encompassing impact of the Christian life. Of course we know the Lord delights in a broken spirit and contrite heart. And grace through faith opens the promise of heaven. But how do we characterize the impact on our day-to-day life? Tim Keller does a remarkable job here with his “Reason For God”:
“When my own personal grasp of the gospel was weak, my self-view swung wildly between two poles. When I was performing up to my standards – in academic work, professional achievement, or relationships – I felt confident but not humble. I was likely to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people.
When I was not living up to my standards, I felt humble but not confident, a failure. I discovered, however, that the gospel contained the resources to build a unique identity. In Christ I could know I was accepted by grace not only despite my flaws, but because I was willing to admit them.
The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. This
leads to deep humility and deep confidence at the same time. It undermines both swaggering and sniveling.
I cannot feel superior to anyone, and yet I have nothing to prove to anyone. I do not think more of myself nor less of myself. Instead, I think of myself less. I don’t need to notice myself – how I’m doing, how I’m being regarded – so often.
It’s beautiful isn’t it?
There is no reason for The Divine Reality.
The Divine simply IS, before and prior to the thinking doubt-filled mind that needs to ask any questions re IT’s existence.
To ask the question, and even to try to “prove” that The Divine exists, is, in effect, to affirm the negative proposition that The Divine does not exist until “proven” absolutely, by the same DOUBTING MIND that asked the question in the first place.
Ed – I can relate to this on a number of levels. Years ago in my career, I learned a valuable lesson that aligns with this principle, I think. I was promoted to a regional job that moved me from Indiana to Chicago, and didn’t replace myself for more than six months.
I was simultaneously overconfident and ‘over humble.’ I was ‘overhumble’ because I assumed that my day to day impact on the team in Indy probably wasn’t that big of a deal and that they were all so strong that they’d be fine. But they weren’t — they needed the coaching and encouragement that I was giving them, if not from me, from somebody!
I was overconfident because I assumed that since I’d been connected with them for so long, I could check in once in awhile and it would be fine. It wasn’t. They deserved more. I think the point is exactly that we really do often think more or less of ourselves instead of thinking of ourselves less. If I’d have thought more about the team, what they needed and the useful role I was playing, I’d have realized that we needed to anoint one of them to step up right away instead of waiting six months.
I really do think this applies to life in faith as well — it’s so easy to be overhumble and think we aren’t making a difference — we probably are! And it’s easy to be overconfident and think we can (without paying full attention) cover what people need, even from a distance. This is a fine reminder to be present, and active in our day-to-day lives, living the faith, because with our eyes on others, we can humbly be confident that God in us will make a difference.
Sue – Your words remind me of the opening verses to John’s story about Jesus. ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
I agree with you the The Divine IS! And what you say makes sense to me in that The Divine is before and prior to all our doubts. I hear a lot of resonance, too, in your “moving the focal point” away from starting with us — our doubts, hopes, etc. — to beginning with God. I think that’s part of what Timothy Keller (and Ed) are pointing us to do.
For many of us who have lived most of our lives in churches, it’s easy to get stuck in the cliches and traditions, and we need to be shaken with a new paradigm. Jesus was great at that, especially when he told his stories — he was forever changing the point of view and helping us see differently.
What I wonder (and I’m just making assumptions from some of the language you use), is whether you know that The Divine (who is before and prior and beyond reason) is also personal and present? Nothing in my life has made a greater difference than in understanding a tiny fraction of who God is (which you seem to get quite easily), then beginning to understand that The Divine from before all time and understanding pierced the veil and entered time and was willing to meet with me as a frail, oh so limited human. All of our churchy hand-wringing can never capture who he is — you have to meet him to believe it, but Jesus… he is both the Divine before beyond and above all, and he’s also the most wonderful person you could ever meet.
Ed,
I can really relate to all those emotions. Once again, God and His ways are balanced (confidence and humility). -Something that I can only hope to grow towards.
Dan & Sue,
Amen…well said Dan.
Sue…I sense that same Jesus exists and rattles around inside all our souls provoking us to make sense of it. I believe we begin with positive propositions. Something IS there. But to know him…to prove him…requires something of us. Something that begins with a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
If we truly believed there was nothing there we’d pay no attention to it. Yet the searching to make sense of it exists in every corner of the globe.
Thanks again Sue…I hope your journey brings you peace.
Mark,
Thanks for your thoughts. I hope and pray I can continue to grow as well. But Tim’s thoughts create such a clarity and a special hope don’t you think?
Its so good to hear from you.
The scriptures do tell us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should, but does it say that we should think low of ouselves. After all we are children of the King and joint hiers with Christ.
I guess the thing to remember is that we are nothing without Jesus, but we can do all things through Christ Jesus.
The “Through Christ” part is what keeps the balance. Because as soon as we think that we can do everything by ourselves, life will prove to us that we can not, we call it “being stressed out”.
I like how Paul mentioned this in 2Corinthians 10:8 & 12,13
Ed – thanks for your post. I too have been moved by this book. -Aaron
A great book! Would recommend Keller’s new book “Prodigal God” which examines the parable of the Prodigal Sons.
Aaron,
Thanks for the heads up.
What can you tell me about the new book?
What’s his slant on it?
Oh my! I make a presentation and feel pretty confident listening to the applause. I read an article and feel frustrated because a writer surpasses by abilities. HA! I must think it’s all about ME.
Perhaps I’ll make a sign and post it to my mirror.
“Stay in the present by thinking about yourself LESS.”
I love the message of acceptance!!!!!
Thanks for sharing, Ed.
Barb,
Love your transparency. We’ve all been there…well..no we are there!