The Myth of Certainty

My daughter gave me this book (THE MYTH OF CERTAINTY: THE REFLECTIVE CHRISTIAN & THE RISK OF COMMITMENT) by Daniel Taylor. She bought it for a class she was taking, and apparently thought I would like it. Just from reading the intro it sounds like I will (thanks Carrie).

On the back cover it says:
"Do you resent the smugness of close-minded skepticism on the one hand but feel equally uncomfortable with the smugness of close-minded Christianity on the other? If so, then THE MYTH OF CERTAINTY is for you. Daniel Taylor suggests a path to committed faith that is both consistent with the tradition of Christian orthodoxy and sensitive to the pluralism, complexity and relativism of our age."

Doesn't that sound good? Has anybody read this?

In the intro he quotes Barth:
"What are you doing, you man, with the word of God upon YOUR lips? Upon what grounds do you assume the role of mediator between heaven and earth? Who has authorized you to take your place there and generate religious feeling?"

:) Sounds like an ordination board.

The sentence that really got me going was Taylor's: "How can one justify more talk about God in an age that already talks too much and listens to little?"

Hmm. Yes. Good question. Not that I think we shouldn't talk about God, but one of my pet peaves does happen to be people who think they have all the answers... but they've never shut up long enough to hear any of the questions.

I think that is a large problem with the church - or at least people's perceptions of the church. And, if I'm honest, I have been feeling pretty convicted lately that, as a pastor, it's my problem too. I have to admit, sometimes there is just so much that needs to be done, that I don't really have time to listen to people. Or I shy away from it, avoid it, because I know if I do, I may find that what I am using my time on is irrelevant. Or else there just simply isn't enough time to do everything.

I don't want to be irrelevant. But it is hard work to "be there" for people. And to stop doing some of the useless things I do will undoubtedly cause a stir for some. Because there are many who don't care if the church is being relevant or not, they simply care that we are meeting their expectations. Or, maybe it's "my" expectations that are the problem.

At any rate, I'm not sure how I got here from there, but... I want to listen more. To God; to those in my church; to those who aren't a part of the church. And may I not "have to" justify talking about You when I do. May I hear what people are really saying, and be able to help them find You in that place.

Peace. Revolution.