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Blair Hodges posted at By Common Consent the talk he gave in church today. It is wonderful, and I immediately thought of everyone here when I read it. That was a lovely talk. Thank you for sharing. It seems that some people are able to get away with, or in fact endeared at church, for saying things with less than certainty, and specifically avoiding the “I know” phrases, by phrasing things such as:
Quote:I’m not always sure I can rely on the Lord for all my needs. Our lives are full of ups and downs, and I’m not the type who thinks God orchestrates every single thing.
and
Quote:My mom has the kind of faith that helps her see the hand of God in all things, but that’s a spiritual gift I haven’t been blessed with.
and
Quote:Why can’t I feel God’s hand guiding me on, lighting the path?
and
Quote:Despite our faith-promoting histories of these events, the saints weren’t free of fault in these troubles
Perhaps it is because the message also contains the balance with followup words like
Quote:But I believe …
…with a list of things that are believed. In other words, there can be a place in church to state the unknown or problematic, if presented also with uplifting thoughts. People can accept some level of uncertainty or paradox, if the message doesn’t directly attack their beliefs or make it sound like it is tearing down faith or the church.
The talk is inspiring and very real. Perhaps not everyone likes such talks, but I find it speaks to me.
It really speaks to me, also Heber13. I’m glad it’s posted for people to read. I am a “believe” guy – things I used to say that I know were true, I now say I believe are (except the ones I don’t believe). In my state, I probably would have turned down a talk on that subject (because I don’t know if he’s involved and believe he probably isn’t), but in the future I hope to be able to handle such subjects as eloquently. I don’t believe that God directs every action that we take but I do believe that from time to time He intervenes in some way. I like the idea of seeing God in the face of people you meet. I have had people be kind to me unexpectedly at low points in my life. I wish we were able to reach out to each other more effectively and more frequently. I read this talk, wondering why parts of it seemed so familiar, and then I noticed I had it bookmarked. Ha! I had read it before! It was good to read it again. I find it uplifting and that it gives me the language to help others who struggle with faith or with seeing the hand of God in their lives. I am one of those people who has frequent guidance from the Spirit, so much so that I have difficulty understanding people who say that they have never felt it (which means either they really haven’t or they don’t recognize it but the sum is the same, they don’t know what it feels like to feel or receive guidance from the Spirit). I can understand it intellectually, but that’s it. I have had prayers met with silence but I always feel heard as if God is saying to me, “Yes, I hear you. No, I’m not going to tell you anything right now.” But this talk I can connect with enough to be able to use find a way to talk to some people who struggle with such issues. I’ve been prayfully pondering how to reach people who don’t know the Spirit and this talk is a partial answer to that prayer methinks.
Ruthie, I just bumped up another thread based on your comment. You probably haven’t seen it, and I hope it helps somehow, as well. I went to find it, but haven’t so far. What’s the name of the thread? “Thestrals, Dementers, Boggarts and Crises of Faith” It’s now near the top of the active topics list. That’s what I meant when I said I bumped it up.
Oh, hey, I did see that but then failed to see it after I went back to find a thread with you as the last poster. Eh heh.
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