Story versus Formula
We are reading Searching for God Knows What as a staff. The big theme in chapter 1 is God’s relationship with us is story more than formula.
We took a poll. I was the only one that had a history with formula. The others had come to love Jesus later in their life and it was His story that wooed them. The reality is that the story finally wooed me too but for a long time – I was a formula guy.
Do this, pray that, think this, act this way and Jesus has to let you into the Heaven because you did all the right things. When you think about it – that’s still works-based, we earn our way to Heaven mentality. Besides that, it completely misses the point.
You “love” Jesus because you want to get into Heaven?
We have a name for people like that – gold-diggers. You love someone for what they can do for you or get for you – not because of who they are? That’s the relationship?
Yet, that’s exactly how most us ‘sell’ Jesus. Believe these propositional truths and say these words and viola!! You’re in.
One of my favorite pagans a few months ago asked me what if what I believed was wrong and Jesus couldn’t save me from Hell. What if I missed the whole thing and at the end of it all, Jesus sends me to hell?
I told him it didn’t matter all that much to me.
He about spit out his coffee.
I smirked – “Please don’t tell my church! I think they’d be a tad bit upset about that.”
But here’s the REALITY of where I am at today. I love Jesus. I just love him. He’s real, he speaks. His not 2-D Formula Guy but relational let’s take this turn and see where it goes kind of guy. And my ‘salvation’ is completely in his hands and whatever he decides to do with it – I’m okay with. He doesn’t owe me anything. If I’m sent to hell, I’ll go loving Jesus. If not, I’m still loving Jesus.
Intellectually, I can prove all the ‘formulas’ but there was no life there. The story made the difference.
[tags] Donald Miller, Searching For God Knows What, leadership development[/tags]
6 Responses to “Story versus Formula”
Wow – I am an internet/blog “lurker” – rarely commenting. (And I appreciate your insights and stories!) But this really hit home for me. I’ve been struggling with the whole “formula” concept – but didn’t have the words. You have framed it well and I appreciate it more than you can know.
Thanks…..can’t wait to share it with others….to just keep telling the story and living the part of it God has designed just for me!
“…whatever he decides to do with it – I’m okay with.”
While I see your point, I imagine this perspective would last for about one millisecond in Hell.
On the other hand, this language should have framed the “Lordship salvation/cheap grace” discussion of 15 years ago. It would have made it far more productive.
Wow, that is some great insight… the same thing we’ve talked about before but with some great new perspective. Good post.
Evidence of a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ…no longer about heaven and hell personally (doubt is gone) but about how to reach, teach and inspire others to experience Jesus
great conversation.
any post that brings out two ‘lurkers’ has got to be good!! ha ha. Thanks David and Bud.
Jerry – just for grins, CS Lewis (and more recently McClaren) in the Great Divorce has an interesting viewpoint of what Hell is.
My purpose is not to define or defend a particular position on Hell but rather to say that ‘belief’ in Jesus for the purpose of escaping Hell might not be enough. Is that kind of ‘belief’ salvific? Could it miss the point completely and put the owner of said belief even more in danger of experiencing Hell?
I was a formula guy too. I still fight it a bit. That’s why I blog all the process ministry stuff. Good to see someone else making the connections.
There is also other good news. Since Catbird hasn’t corrected this post, apparently it must be error free.