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Bored By Life, By God
BY: Denis Haack |
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I’ve been thinking about what we Christians experience when we read Scripture. On the one hand, we believe it to be God’s revelation of himself, the Story of redemption in Christ that is unfolding in space and time. It is the telling of a gospel, Kevin Vanhoozer says, that “displays a goodness than which nothing greater can be dramatized.” On this creedal level, it’s dramatic. On the other hand, we can hardly expect to be so overwhelmed every time we read, to be so swept up into the drama as to be rendered speechless. The brokenness of our lives and world is far too deep for that, so expecting it is nothing short of utopian.
Still, much of the time many of us seem to find the task of reading Scripture to be at best mundane. If we do it, it is because we should, not because it is our delight.
Yet “delight” is precisely the word David chose to express his response to meditating on God’s law—the Old Testament law, for goodness sake. Jonathan Edwards used it too:
I had then, and at other times, the greatest delight in the holy Scriptures, of any book what so ever. Often times in reading it, every word seemed to touch my heart. I felt an harmony between some thing in my heart, and those sweet and powerful words. I seemed often to see so much light, exhibited by every sentence, and such a refreshing ravishing food communicated, that I could not get along in reading.
I yearn for this delight. Desire it. Not all the time, or every time, but at least occasionally. Which is why I’ve chosen Joseph Hart’s (1712-1768) old hymn as my prayer this year:
Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Let thy bright beams arise;
dispel the darkness from our minds,
and open up our eyes.
Convince us of our sin,
then lead to Jesus’ blood;
and to our wondering view reveal
the secret love of God.
Dwell, therefore in our hearts;
our minds from bondage free:
then shall we know and praise and love
the Father, Son and thee.
Questions:
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Denis Haack
Denis is the author of The Rest of Success: What the World Didn’t Tell You About Having It All and has written articles for such journals as Reformation & Revival Journal, Eternity, Covenant, and World. He holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis.
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This year spring came late to southern Minnesota, and when it arrived it brought chilly temperatures, cloudy skies, and lots of rain. Whether it is because of these factors or something entirely different I don't know, but 2013 has turned out to be The Year of the Morel. If you have never sampled these delicious mushrooms, you are in for a treat. We've found them on more than one walk in the woods, and so feel we have had a special opportunity to experience one of the wonders of creation.
Morels, goldfinches, a well crafted film, an iris bursting into bloom, a chance for an unhurried conversation in a safe place--such glimmers of hope help us flourish as persons in this broken world. These are the sort of things we are concerned with at Ransom. Thanks for visiting.
Denis & Margie Haack
Anita Gorder
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