Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
This is the crux of what I refer to as the vagary of trying to attain, know, etc. Christ, or his death, his resurrection, etc. That I feel something is itself vague.
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In a similar way, those of us who have ever been involved in the LC, and even many who have simply been part of similar inner-life groups are effectively taught about the things that should "lift our spirits." And since the things that lift our spirits so often result in outward displays of agreement, excitement, etc., we have learned to be excited when we hear certain things. Or when we engage in certain activities. We expect that things read or spoken that include certain words or phrases will lift our spirits, so we join in the "amens," hallelujahs," and so forth. And since this is what others are doing, it actually does give us positive feedback.
So the question is this. If you didn't get the feedback, would you have concluded that there was nothing there? Was the sensation simply because of the content of the spoken or read word? Or was it the fact that because positive actions and statements were both expected and actually observed we had the sensation that the content was somehow so important or beneficial.
I realize that this kind of analysis of the things that have caused us to become excited and solidified our thinking related to those things is a bit harsh. But if the source of the sensation is something so vague. So large an expanse that you cannot actually put anything solid to. So much grounded in nothing particular. What is it? It may seem almost un-Christian to question anything about the "expanse of Christ." But if the things that capture you about Christ are without the ability to actually perceive, what are they? If we are simply excited to keep talking about the height, depth, and breadth of Christ, but cannot point to anything that actually provides meat to those lofty statements, then what is it?
To me, this is the failure of the inner-life movement. They are enamored with the feelings and sensations related to the words that they study and repeat. But they are so quick to dismiss the diligent effort of other Christians that it would seem likely that they truly have little more than a better lexicon for discussing things so that they are more stirred up about the words.
I know. Maybe too harsh. But it is what I have seen in both the LC and in other inner-life teachings. So spiritual that they are of no earthly good.
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For the record, this is what bothered me to no end as a church kid. But of course I could never question it in order to realize that the problem wasn't me. So I thought the problem was me, for decades, that "the dimensions of Christ" fell flat to my ears and didn't excite me the way it seemed to get oohs and aahs from those around me.
What on earth does that actually mean to me, practically? Tangibly? In this real physical world? The height, depth, and breadth of Christ? WHAT???
My mind conjures up some fuzzy (literally.....fuzzy) cube-ish spiritual substance that goes on forever that I'm somehow supposed to get excited about.
But that's not what the height/depth/breadth verse says. It's not talking about the dimensions of Christ,
because that would be meaningless. The verses say.....
Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray
that you, being rooted and established in love,
18
may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
....the height and depth and breadth of what?
The LOVE of Christ.
Not of Christ. But of the love of Christ.
Ah. Now THAT I get. It's something that makes sense. Something I don't end up feeling condemned for not understanding.
And it's something that humbles me that the undeserved love of someone for me could be described in those terms.
For church kids:
-inner life speak = confusion and condemnation
-the truth of the Bible = humble gratitude and overwhelmed by His love
For the record, I do agree with what the Texas Street Preacher (whether I agree with his style or not) says in one of his videos that "enjoy the Lord" isn't in the Bible. It's been a while since I listened to it but IIRC he made the point that the grammatical English structure of "enjoy [noun]" is that you enjoy someTHING, not someONE. Fundamentally, according to English grammar, "enjoy [the Lord]" actually ends up de-personalizing Him into a thing.
And the local church wonders why they can't keep their young people around.