"The thing about vice is that it is what renders God coherent...It delivers up sorrow and temporary joy- but mostly sorrow, eventually. It delivers, too, a bit of grace."
This is exactly right. You know you have fallen when you hit the ground. I have worked with teenagers for the past 3.5 years and I have become increasingly aware that we do not have shared imaginaries, particularly in the way we understand God, the world, and ourselves.
Thanks for writing. Will definitely be thinking on this!
I feel like you have put into words something that has been stirring in my heart for years. (I wrote a little about it through the lens of Keller's book "The Prodigal God." https://amyhall.substack.com/p/our-prodigal-god) For many years, I was like one of your students. I didn't have vices. I mean I would have admitted that I was sinful, but I was also a rule-follower. I was the classic older brother from the parable of the two lost sons. So, I was self-righteous. At the heart level, I did not see my need for a Savior. So, the gospel was not good news for me anymore. I also did not understand that sin deserves the wrath of God in hell. (Sometimes I think that I was not born of the Spirit until recently, but I guess the timing of it all is not super important.)
One of the things that concerns me about the 21st-century view of shame ("all shame is bad"...at least that's what I hear often) is that it strips us of our felt need of a Redeemer. If I have been taught that I should not feel shame, how will I know that I need to repent? I can begin living however I want. I can live as the prodigal son and never be ashamed. I will not come running back into the arms of the Father because I have been told that my shame is toxic. These things came to mind again when I read of your students' reaction to forgiveness.
And sure, there is illegitimate shame that we feel sometimes (an example being when Satan accuses the saints of past sins and tries to heap on condemnation). But, insofar as shame equals "conviction," it is to be welcomed because it is part of what the Spirit uses to draw us to Christ - first at justification and then every day after that, as we continue to confess our sins and abide in Christ. It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. This is missing from a lot of discipleship today, I think.
Thank you for this article and for your work as a teacher.
"The thing about vice is that it is what renders God coherent...It delivers up sorrow and temporary joy- but mostly sorrow, eventually. It delivers, too, a bit of grace."
This is exactly right. You know you have fallen when you hit the ground. I have worked with teenagers for the past 3.5 years and I have become increasingly aware that we do not have shared imaginaries, particularly in the way we understand God, the world, and ourselves.
Thanks for writing. Will definitely be thinking on this!
One of your best.
I feel like you have put into words something that has been stirring in my heart for years. (I wrote a little about it through the lens of Keller's book "The Prodigal God." https://amyhall.substack.com/p/our-prodigal-god) For many years, I was like one of your students. I didn't have vices. I mean I would have admitted that I was sinful, but I was also a rule-follower. I was the classic older brother from the parable of the two lost sons. So, I was self-righteous. At the heart level, I did not see my need for a Savior. So, the gospel was not good news for me anymore. I also did not understand that sin deserves the wrath of God in hell. (Sometimes I think that I was not born of the Spirit until recently, but I guess the timing of it all is not super important.)
One of the things that concerns me about the 21st-century view of shame ("all shame is bad"...at least that's what I hear often) is that it strips us of our felt need of a Redeemer. If I have been taught that I should not feel shame, how will I know that I need to repent? I can begin living however I want. I can live as the prodigal son and never be ashamed. I will not come running back into the arms of the Father because I have been told that my shame is toxic. These things came to mind again when I read of your students' reaction to forgiveness.
And sure, there is illegitimate shame that we feel sometimes (an example being when Satan accuses the saints of past sins and tries to heap on condemnation). But, insofar as shame equals "conviction," it is to be welcomed because it is part of what the Spirit uses to draw us to Christ - first at justification and then every day after that, as we continue to confess our sins and abide in Christ. It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. This is missing from a lot of discipleship today, I think.
Thank you for this article and for your work as a teacher.
Very interesting. I wonder...who is researching and writing about the Christian imaginary - besides yourself?
this is my own take, though i've obviously been heavily influenced by my reading over the years. i can compile a reading list if you'd be interested.
I'm interested.
Thank you for this. It puts words to many of the concerns I have about people younger than me.