I don’t have any better words for you today than these I read this morning…
What would you think of a pollster who issued a definitive report on how the American people felt about a new television program, if we discovered later that he had interviewed only one person who had seen only ten minutes of the program? We would dismiss the conclusions as frivolous.
Yet that is exactly the kind of evidence that too many Christians accept as the final truth about many much more important matters — matters such as answered prayer, God’s judgment, Christ’s forgiveness, eternal salvation. The only person they consult is themselves, and the only experience they evaluate is the most recent ten minutes.
But we need other experiences, the community of experience of brothers and sisters in the church, the centuries of experience provided by our biblical ancestors. A Christian who has David in his bones, Jeremiah in his bloodstream, Paul in his fingertips and Christ in his heart will know how much and how little value to put on his own momentary feelings and the experience of the past week.
We need roots in the past to give obedience ballast and breadth; we need a vision of the future to give obedience direction and goal.
Excerpt from A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society by Eugene Peterson.
Kris says:
wow. These are good words for today. I can think of many ways this applies, even to myself (sadly). Thank you for sharing this thoughtful insight…. might have to snag a copy of this work…. god’s blessings to you and yours, Shaun. Christ is evident in you.
Jessica says:
Obviously, I agree. Who wouldn’t? ๐
Where I’ve become frustrated is not in people consulting only the last 10 minutes, but the last 50 years (Although, from an eternal paradigm I guess that’s tomato/tomahto).
Like thoughts on God in the last century or so are the most right and pure and biblical. And the suggestion of anything else is labeled heretical. :/
Kelli says:
I’ve long known this is to be my biggest flaw. It is only recently that I’ve finally decided to quit talking and start listening, learning, reading and so on…
Jason says:
Wow. That’ll preach.
Bryce says:
I read “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” two years ago. I found a copy at a camp we were teaching at for the week, so I read it. Last year I tried to download it on Kindle. No dice. It is not on Kindle, the study guide is but not the book. I was frustrated, pretty ironic that I could not “instantly” down load a book about patience. Pretty ironic that we now treat our faith, hope, trust, and spirituality the same way.
If we don’t get it instantly, it isn’t worth our time. Maybe for me Eugene is saying slow down, consult your community, live in your history, and soak up more than 10 minutes with your creator.
Thanks Shaun,
Bryce
laura@lifeoverseas says:
I found this book once at a goodwill and immediately bought it. I love Peterson and read his The Message lots and lots.
I think for me the best part of the book was simply the title. That holds such incredible weight, doesn’t it?
I LOVED the last part of your quote, too– such goodness in being reminded to keep keeping on.
THanks for posting this . . .
Rachel says:
Such great words. I realized a couple of months ago that I don’t know the Bible nearly as well as I should. Or nearly as well as I thought I did. So I’ve been trying to rectify that. And as I read, I see something and say, “oh, I never knew that was in there!” Or, “So that’s why this church says this…” Or, I understand why {this} person thinks this, but when you look in context, {this} person is not quite right. It’s been amazing, astounding, and wonderful all at the same time.
And I will never again claim to believe something just because it’s what I’ve been taught at church. I have to know why I’m saying it – and be sure that I’m not misleading others out of my own ignorance. The message of Christ is too important to have it wrong.