now let me speak to an entirely different cadre of christians - the company of the beleaguered believers who are racked with uncertainty, tormented by doubts, and haunted by unanswered questions. they are sold out to Christ, and yet they struggle constantly, fearing that human freedom is fatal. as one woman told me, "people say that God won't force Himself on us. well, i don't need that kind of courtesy." these individuals want to embrace the gospel, yet they cannot seem to get inside it. the most frustrating words they hear are, "you just have to believe," because belief does not come easily - and sometimes not at all. admirably, they refuse to fake it, even though that stance may mean resigning themselves to being outsiders in the faith community. but they are not outsiders in the fellowship of ragamuffins. one of the great christian writers of our generation belongs to their company, and i consider him a spiritual giant.
these brave souls enter deeply into the existential loneliness of the human condition and refuse to quit. where can they go to meet with their elusive deity? "i can't pray, 'Abba, i belong to you,'" a friend told me, "because it feels phony - as if i'm just mouthing words i don't really believe." yet the mysterious love of God is fierce enough to penetrate even those who think that they cannot receive it. as they sink into the silence of infinite Mercy, the outsiders become aware of the Presence and hear a gentle voice whipser, "I am here. do not be afraid. within the dissonance and contremps of your troubled world, I live and reign." just as for many alcoholics, recovery begins on the far side of despair, so for the outsiders, trust lies on the far side of hopelessness.
2 comments:
That is really good.
Thank you for sharing that.
This is the very book that Cindy and I were going to do a study together. I hope we still can.
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