April 9, 2012
Pastorgraphs: “Crisis of Faith”
Some of the greatest stories in literature
and the Bible (the greatest stories ever told) are those where one faces a
crisis of faith that painfully shakes them to their core. The process of
confronting faith-trials either destroys one’s faith or enables one to emerge
from the crisis with a stronger, perhaps somewhat different understanding of
faith than before.
Of a hundred examples, two great
illustrations are Jacob and Jesus. Jacob came to a moment of crisis when he was
required to confront his past, his betrayed brother, and wrestle with God
himself until he emerged with a more genuine faith. For Jacob, it was a very
painful experience. He bore the scars of that struggle the rest of his life.
But he arose (was resurrected) from being a rapscallion to being one worthy of
Israel’s patriarchs.
Even Jesus faced a crisis in Gethsemane’s
Garden. As for many, Jesus had to overcome his personal will, his doubts that
God had forsaken him, before he gained the strength to pay the ultimate price
of faith.
Crises of faith come in many forms. The
crisis may be concurrent with a life crisis, such as the loss of a loved one,
the betrayal of a trusted friend, a major illness, loss of a job, and so on.
Others begin with self-inflicted crises, as we see every day in the tabloids.
Those that are most painful are the ones that involve a fundamental assumption
of our faith, including when that faith (our church, our system of beliefs)
itself seems to have turned upon us.
Occasionally I encounter folks who share
they have never had a doubt in their life; have never had a crisis of faith. My
response is, “How sad!”. I’ve had several, one in particular that was very
painful, left permanent scars, and allowed me to emerge with a more genuine
faith that is core to who I am today. I thank God every day for that crisis.
[Perhaps at another time I will fill in the details for any who want to know.]
The real heroes of faith are not those who never
had a faith-struggle, but those who were broken and shaken to their core. Only
then is one able to emerge with a stronger, more perfect faith, born of
personal experience, that will withstand the test of time and eternity.
So if you are in crisis today, look up, for
your salvation draws nearer than ever before. Though it may be painful, like
the caterpillar on its way to becoming a butterfly, (an Easter metaphor), you
will emerge a more perfect, beautiful creation of God.
And remember that it does not mean you are
unusual, or a bad person, or abandoned by God. Embrace your struggle until, as
with Jacob, your dayspring from on high breaks through your doubts, sorrows,
pain and struggles.
May your wrestling with God be genuine,
intense, faith-enhancing and life-changing.
Devotedly, Brother Bill
From the Quote Garden
“Easter reminds me that there was One
Perfect, who invites me to be my best self. To be kind when kindness is not
around me. To be patient when life is a blur of rushing priorities. To care for
those who are spiteful and difficult. To give all for the cause of others,
setting aside my own priorities and comfort to serve, even in the face of
hurtful criticism. The Savior endured all and asks that I only endure
comparatively little as I try to follow His example. To find myself filled with
gratitude for His life, provides hope, peace, and comfort.”
~ Craig Howe (Facebook post)
“Easter Anthem”
Guss Jenkins Shelly, a retired Methodist
District Superintendent and pastor (and distant cousin from Attala County MS)
who now lives in Amory, MS, posted yesterday on Facebook:
In
the Sacred Harp song book, a song entitled "Easter Anthem" speaks of
the resurrection of our Lord, declaring his resurrection. It then declares--in beautiful
words and beautiful harmony:
"Then, then, then I rose, then I rose, then I rose, then I rose,
Then first humanity triumphant passed the crystal ports of light, and seized eternal youth.
Man all immortal hail, hail, heaven, all lavish of strange gifts to man,
"Then, then, then I rose, then I rose, then I rose, then I rose,
Then first humanity triumphant passed the crystal ports of light, and seized eternal youth.
Man all immortal hail, hail, heaven, all lavish of strange gifts to man,
Thine’s
all the glory, man’s the boundless bliss,
Thine’s
all the glory, man’s the boundless bliss.”
Christ United Methodist Ministry Center
“Christ in the Heart of San
Diego”
3295 Meade Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 284-9205
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