To say that “prayer works” is absolute nonsense. While it’s right to emphasize the importance of prayer or scripture, it’s also possible – easy! – to talk about them in an idolatrous manner. Prayer, in and of itself, is nothing. It is the divine Subject that makes this frail and fallible human action into something powerful. God is the One who works and is powerful, but His ways are so often not our ways.

Whenever we treat prayer, scripture, or any other spiritual discipline as though they are important in and of themselves, we disconnect them from God and make them into abstractions! Remember that satan doesn’t really care if we are spiritual or not as long as we are not connected to God.  If spiritual things distract us from God while deluding us to feel as though we are close to Him, so much the better.

“satan doesn’t really care if we are spiritual or not – as long as we are not connected to God”

In the end, grace or even the gospel can be made into an abstract idea. Once that happens, we can lord over it and use it for our purposes.  That’s why it’s possible for even grace-oriented, gospel-centered ministries to seem godless and oppressive at times. The way to avoid this kind of abstraction is to make sure that all these things lead us to a deeper communion with the Person of Jesus Christ, not just giving us some sort of a spiritual experience.

“The last word I have to say… is not a concept like ‘grace’ but a name: Jesus Christ. He is grace, and he is the final thing, beyond the world, the Church and also beyond theology. We cannot capture him, but we have to do with him, and what I have sought to do in my long life is… to highlight this name and say: there…!”

-Karl Barth on his last radio interview
Author

Daniel D. Lee is a minister, husband, and father of three daughters. He directs the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary and teaches theology and Asian American ministry.

41 Comments

  1. Pingback: sleep meditation

  2. Pingback: cafe jazz

  3. Pingback: cozy jazz

  4. Pingback: bossa nova cafe jazz

  5. Pingback: Top Payment Gateways

  6. Pingback: John Lobb

  7. Pingback: luggage storage bangkok

  8. Pingback: รับทำ SEO ติดหน้าแรก

  9. Pingback: Buy BRNO 611 10 round .22WMR .17HMR magazine (ZKM 611/617)  Online

  10. Pingback: klik dultogel

  11. Pingback: ที่มาของเว็บ goatbet คาสิโนออนไลน์ที่กำลังมาแรง

  12. Pingback: ทำจมูก พัทยา

  13. Pingback: หวยต่างประเทศ LSM99Live

  14. Pingback: JILISLOT

  15. Pingback: bk88

  16. Pingback: บับเบิ้ล

  17. Pingback: cookie cart flavors

  18. Pingback: Darknet Market

  19. Pingback: stedentrips

  20. Pingback: ทดลองเล่นสล็อต ฟรี

  21. Pingback: คาสิโนออนไลน์ เกมทำเงิน 24 ชั่วโมง

  22. Pingback: รับจัดงานศพ

  23. Pingback: No investment required

  24. Pingback: คาสิโนสด Ufabet

  25. Pingback: enhanced AR-15 lower parts kits

  26. Pingback: joker369

  27. Pingback: lazywin888

  28. Pingback: pk789

  29. Pingback: ไฮเบย์

  30. Pingback: thailand tattoo

  31. Pingback: เครื่องซีลสูญญากาศ

  32. Pingback: Lotto 432 หวย มวย คาสิโน เกมสล็อต

  33. Pingback: spa in Bangkok

  34. Pingback: kc9

  35. Pingback: lottorich28

  36. Pingback: 안전 사설 토토 사이트

  37. Pingback: Investor Relations หรือ นักลงทุนสัมพันธ์

  38. Pingback: สล็อต นาจา เว็บตรง ไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์

  39. Pingback: Freshbet

  40. Pingback: Werewolf\'s Hunt

  41. Pingback: FORTUNE DRAGON