Mark here. Well, this is kind of an interesting week for me to do the initial post, since I have been preaching for the last month on the idea of new life in Christ, which is a key idea in chapter 3 of Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. So I thought I would start by giving you some Scripture passages you may want to take a look at when you get time. They might provide some good insight or additional questions for us to talk about.
John 15:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5; Colossians 2:6-3:17
Miller quotes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet:
Romeo: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Miller, speaking of seeing this play as a teen, remembers thinking about this sentiment, "People really should put a limit on how much they give to emotion."
What role does emotion play in our relationship with God? Is it possible that we can give too much to emotion in our faith?
Miller writes, "I think the devil has tricked us into thinking so much of biblical theology is story fit for kids." His primary example: the story of Noah's ark. If you get a chance, read Genesis 6-9:17, the story of Noah. What does this story say to you as an adult? Do you agree with Miller's observation?
Miller observes that what helped him accept Christianity was when he learned the four elements of story: setting, conflict, climax, and resolution. Setting is where you are. Every story needs conflict, either internal, external or both. Climax is the point of decision that determines how the story ends. Resolution is the ending based on the decision made.
Can you see your own faith journey in these terms? What other models have you seen or heard? Were these helpful or harmful to your understanding of Christianity?
This chapter of Miller's book centers on tracing how he moved from viewing Christianity's promise of new life as a trick or illusion to viewing the reality of new life in Christ as a reality that he desperately wanted. Why do we as people sometimes view new life in Christ as an illusion? Are there times when we don't even want new life? What moves us to an understanding of new life in Christ as a reality that we want?
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I am going to focus on the idea of emotion and our faith. Can we give too much emotion in our faith? I think yes. I am usually not a very emotional person. However, when it comes to faith, we have to have some emotion - the love Christ showed for us was emotional. The response we give back to him should be emotional. However, we can focus too much on emotion and leave our mind (knowledge and reason) behind, and we fail to capture an integral part to our faith. We are called to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength - an important part of that is our MIND. I personally feel this focuses on logic and reason, something that "emotion" can often get in the way of. Is it possible to give too much emotion to our faith - Yes, but we do have to give enough to the point that it does not cloud our mind.
I felt like the most meaningful part of this chapter was the story shared by a musician about his friend, a Navy SEAL rescuing hostages. The hostages were reluctant to follow their gun toting, American rescuers as they lay huddled on the floor. Then, one of the men removed his gun and headgear and got down on the floor with them, making physical contact. He looked one of the hostages in the eyes, explained who he was and asked that the man follow him. One by one each of the hostages chose to follow and gained their freedom.
I think this story is a beautful metaphor for exactly what God did for us in the form of Jesus. God was different from us and distant until He came to earth in a form man could recognize. He was a man, himself, able to touch and be touched. He lived among us and then looked man in the eye and said, "Follow me". I thought this story was so beautiful and touched my soul.
My computer has been down with a virus. I just got it back so I can join in now. I focused on the question, Is it possible that we can give too much to emotion in our faith? That is a hard question. What exactly is "too much emotion?"
In my experience emotions usually stem from a situation or a perception, like a carry-over from a thought. The worst thing for me to do is to "react" to an emotion, versus to "act." I think it all depends on what the emotion is, and how you use it for His glory. Emotions are natural and I think it varies from person to person. Some individuals are better at "handling" their emotions and can use emotions to be pleasing to God, while others have a more difficult time and let the emotion consume them, getting stuck in the self-centered part of the emotion. SR
I think I am finally caught up. I responded to Chapter 2 and 3. SR
I want to answer a couple of the questions, but first I want to just add to Jennifer's observation about the story of the Navy SEAL. I think this image does really help get to the heart of what is so important about understanding Jesus as fully human, fully divine. As divine God, Jesus is the one who can set us free from what holds us captive. As fully human Jesus, he was able to approach us in a way we could comprehend. When one looks at the OT appearances of God, his glory and presence is so awesome and so magnificent that people always had to turn away or hide. In Jesus, we meet God face to face.
I think Millers' picture of salvation in terms of the elements of a story is interesting from the standpoint of the classical picture of salvation. However, I think that I hesitate to fully accept wholeheartedly, mainly because I think it is a story with more than one crisis and more than one climax. Each day brings me new temptations and challenges which ultimately come to a decision: will I react in anger or love? will I act by lust or fidelity? will I use my resources for personal benefit or the service of God's kingdom? These decisions affect my relationship with God and how I move according to His will or not. While the story elements maybe help understand these moments, I think Miller maybe oversimplifies the daily walk of faith.
I think this is where the conversation about understanding "new life" becomes important. Christ died to set me free to live a new life, a life of holiness and righteousness. I struggle with the reality of how far I fall short of this and how lofty and unreachable this reality seems. At the same time, I have come to think that we sometimes too easily give up on it because it does seem hard and unreachable. I think, for me, I have to constantly hold out in front of me the reality that the work Christ does in me through His Holy Spirit should change me, and I need to allow me life to be open to that change.
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