A Personal Relationship with GodIf we are going to have a personal relationship with God, we are going to have to come to terms with the concerns expressed by those who have not experienced what we are talking about. And as we approach this matter, we have to recognize that in relationship to those who have not yet come to faith, apologetics must move away from the level of argument toward the realm of real-life experience. So the primary work of a Christian apologetic at this point is to help Christians overcome their confusion or doubt about their daily personal interaction with God. This is difficult work, because it puts each of us on the line. I mean, you would feel that I should have something personal to do with God in my role as a minister, wouldn't you? And the same would be true for any ministers, right? Don't you feel that we ought to occasionally talk to God? And perhaps, after the discussion above, that he would occasionally talk to us? Clearly, you would expect a minister to have some direct, personal dealings with God. Most Christians would also believe that what is true of the ministry should be true of everyone among the redeemed. Isn't that right? We are talking about what our religious life really consists of. And I want to simply say that it consists of God's speaking to us in his word as well as personally, our speaking to God, and then finally our speaking with God. In our conversations of prayerful love with God, we must move beyond giving God a list of wants, needs, and desires and move into deeper conversations with God about what we are doing together in his world. From The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus. Copyright © 2015 by Dallas Willard. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins Publishers. |
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