Those words from Greek poets in Acts 18 were always a very good rebuttal when someone accused me of using "secular" quotes in sermons (which I did all the time!!)
Well said! We have words in scripture telling us that if all that might have been recorded had been saved that there would not be enough books in the world to hold those stories -- or words to that effect. Jesus said that those who came after him would do greater things than he did. We have some of those stories, a mere sampling of the expansion of his influence. A huge amount of written material in the past 2000 years is of scriptural quality. The Bible has been added to via those libraries, despite warnings not to add to the canon. We have hagiography in many forms, and not only under church imprimatur. Even the church recognizes the blessed pagans. Of course, discernment is needed but it is by that discernment, as you say, that we can receive godly voices and images from many different sources. Perhaps the chief danger is in lapping up merely sentimental slop that quiets turmoil when something more surgical is needed.
Thank you, Laurna. I think there is something important here about distinguishing the canon of Scripture from the much wider stream of Christian witness that has continued ever since.
John’s Gospel ends with that wonderful exaggeration that, if everything Jesus did were written down, the world itself could not contain the books. And Jesus’ words about his followers doing “greater things” certainly leave us with a faith that was never intended simply to freeze at the end of the first century.
I especially like your final point about discernment. Not everything that feels comforting is necessarily helpful, and not everything that disturbs us is necessarily harmful. Sometimes we need consolation; sometimes we need something that cuts rather more deeply.
Perhaps part of spiritual maturity is learning to tell the difference.
Those words from Greek poets in Acts 18 were always a very good rebuttal when someone accused me of using "secular" quotes in sermons (which I did all the time!!)
I love that passage so much.
Well said! We have words in scripture telling us that if all that might have been recorded had been saved that there would not be enough books in the world to hold those stories -- or words to that effect. Jesus said that those who came after him would do greater things than he did. We have some of those stories, a mere sampling of the expansion of his influence. A huge amount of written material in the past 2000 years is of scriptural quality. The Bible has been added to via those libraries, despite warnings not to add to the canon. We have hagiography in many forms, and not only under church imprimatur. Even the church recognizes the blessed pagans. Of course, discernment is needed but it is by that discernment, as you say, that we can receive godly voices and images from many different sources. Perhaps the chief danger is in lapping up merely sentimental slop that quiets turmoil when something more surgical is needed.
Thank you, Laurna. I think there is something important here about distinguishing the canon of Scripture from the much wider stream of Christian witness that has continued ever since.
John’s Gospel ends with that wonderful exaggeration that, if everything Jesus did were written down, the world itself could not contain the books. And Jesus’ words about his followers doing “greater things” certainly leave us with a faith that was never intended simply to freeze at the end of the first century.
I especially like your final point about discernment. Not everything that feels comforting is necessarily helpful, and not everything that disturbs us is necessarily harmful. Sometimes we need consolation; sometimes we need something that cuts rather more deeply.
Perhaps part of spiritual maturity is learning to tell the difference.