Friday, September 30, 2005

found bears

Update: The writing piece below eventually became the introduction to the following sermon. Download file

On Wednesday night great sobs erupted in the Taylor family. On Thursday night great sounds of joy erupted in the Taylor family.

On Wednesday, squirrel and bear were lost. On Thursday, squirrel and bear were found. Great rejoicing and mighty giggles of relieved laughter echoed down the hallway.

Face down in the washing basket, squirrel and bear were retrieved, then held aloft to be paraded around the house, triumphantly presented to mother, father, sister.

But the theological question is this: When were squirrel and bear converted?


This is a vital question. If squirrel and bear were to give their testimony, would they point to 6:53 pm, Thursday, 29th September as their conversion?

Or would they note the tears of intercession on Wednesday, the thoughtful probing questions of Mother Taylor on Thursday, the guiding companionship of Father Taylor.

Is conversion an event, or a process? Well, it depends whether you ask Paul or Peter.

Posted by steve at 11:40 AM

3 Comments

  1. Normally in these cases I refer to Jesus’ “Parable of the Lost Blankie.” And indeed, what about their being found in a “washing” basket? Did they take part in some ordinance, or even sacramental, ritual of washing?

    Comment by Stephen Garner — September 30, 2005 @ 5:16 pm

  2. Hmmm. Based on your analogy I’m afraid I would have to say they were definitely reconciled to their parent at 6:53. Does the analogy hold up, though, with a God who knows where we are and what we’re doing?

    My 7 year old frequently hates me, and tells me I won’t be invited to her birthday party (without thinking who’s throwing the party.) I know it won’t last more than 5 minutes and it never does.

    Comment by Steve Cramb — October 1, 2005 @ 4:58 pm

  3. Charles Spurgeon comments “There is no adjective between the word “save” and the word “sinners””

    So Christ Jesus did not come to save “aware” sinners or “sorry” sinners…

    As Christ is both the object and subject of our faith I’ll go out on a limb and say “Whenever squirrel or bear place their faith in and on Christ whether or not they can call Him by name”

    That’s my first thought… and already it seems terribly inadequate…

    Comment by Randall — October 4, 2005 @ 5:18 pm

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