I don’t read very many books about faith. And I don’t listen to very many sermons about faith. I’ve not known exactly why for some time, or at least until lunch yesterday. Those books were fine (I may have even written one or two) but they didn’t seem to be very applicable to my life. And it’s never actually helped me to “work on my spirituality or my relationship with Jesus” either. What has helped me is finding myself lost in the woods and calling out to God, looking for wisdom in the scriptures.
Yesterday, at lunch, my friend David mentioned he’d spent some time in Colorado with the guys at Ransomed Heart. David used to work with them and went back to hang out with them for a weekend in the mountains. He mentioned that one of the guys reminded him that spirituality was not a context. I asked David what the guy meant, and Dave said what he meant was that you learn about God while learning to fly a plane or raising a child or planting crops in a field. It’s not a hard, fast rule to be sure, but the idea is that sitting around looking at your spiritual belly button isn’t going to provide an object lesson for your faith. The idea is that faith makes sense in the context of some other pursuit.
And that might be the reason I don’t migrate toward conversations specifically about faith.
In the Bible, God guides people through stories. Stories is how He teaches people about themselves and Himself. He doesn’t get the children of Israel out of Egypt instantly. God drags it out, creates plagues, guides them through positive and negative turns, all to shape their faith. He does the same with Joseph, giving him a vision, then immediately letting him be thrown into a well by his brothers.
If we think we are going to grow in faith by sitting around at a Bible study, we are wrong. That stuff is fine, but without a story, without diving into something really difficult, something that requires us to look to God for support and wisdom and comfort, it will be more difficult to become a person of great faith.
“I sought to hear the voice of God and climbed the topmost steeple, but God declared: “Go down again – I dwell among the people.”
— John Henry Newman
I’ve always loved that…
“Faith makes sense in the context of some other pursuit…” Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. It’s very insightful, and it lets the air right out of a lot of our over-spiritualized balloons. Thanks for so concisely expressing that faith is a holistic way of being in the world–it is impossible for faith to exist long-term in its own separate compartment–whether or not that compartment includes lots of hand mirrors for the belly-button-gazing!
I think the concept of story is something we miss as we read the Bible. When we try to fit everything written there into neat little packages, we can miss the development of the understanding of God through the stories written in this book. All of us have our own stories that we are writing with God, but there is also a bigger story that God is writing that will bring His absolute love into reality for all of us. If we want to put God’s story in movie terms, Christ’s life, death, and resurrection were the first climax with our defeat of the kingdom of evil leading to Christ’s return being the last climax. God will finish His story and we will benefit from His work.
I have to agree. Everybody in college knew the true purpose of a bible study was to meet girls. It was only later, after we got knocked around in the real world for a few years, that we realized our true need of a genuine relationship with God. When reality hits, bible study takes on an entirely new dimension.
I know the woods, because I grew up in the woods. I know that scripture is read differently when you can look outside your window and see rain falling and there is this rhythm to the world like the poetry that you’re reading in the Bible, that the words are larger than just what’s on the page. And then you have this great desire to be a part of that. You see that scripture is active, not passive. You become the sort of person who needs to experience God. As you said, like a story; nobody wants to read a story that’s just a message, you want to experience the story. And if you go to a Bible study or to church, you trust God but something makes you want to see His power working in others and know it yourself. You want a community that comes together, sharing in testimony and worship…. Okay, so this is what I wish church was like, but we actually are doing a study on how to be “holy;” seriously, we’re going through PowerPoints on how to be holy, and it’s painful. So I agree with you, or at least as far I understand I do. Since I agree with you, when I read your work (which I’ve just started doing and am very much enjoying); I think wow, Donald Miller is really wise, maybe on par with Wendell Berry. However, some people I go to church with really like the sermons on doctrine. They’ll tell me that sermon was just what they needed to hear, which makes me feel pretty arrogant criticizing the way people approach God, or even worse criticizing the way that God created people to be different from me, from what I understand. So, I don’t know; do you think that people just might be wired differently? That some people need to experience God’s power in their lives and in their communities, to grow in faith; and then others can just hear a message about God to trust God?
Holly, I think you are wiser than you realize. God speaks to us all differently, at least that is my understanding. I feel closer to God, not in church, but in the woods, some where awesome like Rocky Mountain National Park, nothing compares. Yet I also gain from lessons in church. As you said, God has made us all different.
Just wondering, do you find it ironic that you write “those books” (in a broad sweeping sense) though you rarely find satisfaction from them yourself?
Maybe I misunderstood, just wondering.
I love the part about “how God guides people through stories”.
We are in the process of adoption and very early on, I began to write down all the twists & turns of the process. Even today, something happened that made me say (again) God is awesome! And, the way he works, in this story has been nothing short of amazing.
One day soon, I will share this story with our new son.
What kind of books DO you read?
Exactly. Thanks for the reminder!
I have been seeking a new dimension in my walk with Christ. A freedom so to speak. So here is what I have learned from reading Blue Like Jazz. Conditional love is not love at all!!!
I have come to know God so much more from being a mom. Potty training, tantrums, feeding and changing and feeding and changing, have all been wonderful lessons in God’s immense love for me. Thanks for this post. It greatly encouraged me!
[...] I do that is to follow the blogs of some of my favorite authors, speakers & artists. I read this today on Don Miller’s (Blue Like Jazz, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years) blog [...]
Thank you for writing this. I have a story to share and I’m just a regular middle age guy wanting to share it but wasn’t sure why, how or when.
Someone recently mentioned that I might consider a blog to tell the story and today is the first time I ventured to see what a blog was really about.
You’re the second I sifted through & the way you described your view of spirituality convinced me that how my faith has been tested several times. Each life event I’ve encountered has strengthened me to face the next life event when most would ask “what can be worse”? What I’ve experienced in such a short span of time, 7 years, and most people may not encounter in a life time? I’m still here, to share hopefully.
Thanks for the insight Mr. Miller.
[...] Miller posted recently about how life is the context for our spirituality. Simple, but, you know, I think this one gets [...]
I was thinking about all sorts of Bible stories the other day. I was thinking how the stories aren’t just class lessons God gave to certain people to teach them some thing they didn’t know. The stories that David, Samson, and Gideon were a part of shaped them as people. Some times it was brutal and intense but in the end they were shaped into different men, stronger men. I wonder what story we’re living right now that is shaping us.
The play’s the thing.
We don’t become swimmers by sitting on the edge of the pool watching what the other kids are doing. We become swimmers by getting in the pool and swallowing some water and looking inept and finally making it to the other side and hoping we look a little less laughable the next time across.
I’m right there with you, Don. I think God’s grace gives us the strength to actually go out there in the world and live our lives, open to the way our faith in His grace can be built up as we learn through everyday experiences.
I eschewed Christian books for years until I discovered Blue Like Jazz, when our church turned it into a drama/jazz/dessert evening some six years ago(It was really cool, think you’d been proud!). I could never manage to build any faith reading Christian books full of bulletholes, and I couldn’t follow the rules and guidelines in all the devotionals, so I quit. What followed was so much more interesting, creating my own personal path to deeper faith.
Just reread my post and can’t believe I wrote “bulletholes” instead of “bulletpoints”! Hahahaha. I’ve got summer on the brain.
I like Kim’s comment, and I’m wondering what a drama/jazz/dessert evening at church would look like; if there was cake, it must have been pretty good : ) I never read faith books either. It always seemed silly to me when you can just read scripture and rely on God to walk you through it and live life and rely on God to walk you through that too. Anyhow, after having Blue like Jazz on my shelf for like five years, I just read it last week and loved it. And now I’m reading Searching for God Knows What; I was admittedly embarrassed about shopping in the Christian Inspiration section. I think the Searching book is filled with some pretty good stuff too. Only, I have to say that it is a bit more like a faith book, i.e., it explains faith. Whereas BLJ has this special quality of reading more like fellowship, maybe because of the way it paints pictures of people, like hearing about something terrible on the news and not getting it vs. reading a book like An Imperfect Offering with actual portraits of people in Rwanda and Somalia…and then you get it because you can see real human beings, real problems, and real efforts to help. And now I’m thinking, apart from spending too much time considering this blog, Donald Miller if you actually read all these blog comments…Since you have a talent for seeing people it seems, could you please write more books that show these beautiful portraits of people and their experiences with God that help to build faith, understanding, and encouragement? Or, maybe someone could suggest the next best Miller book to read?
Ooops, should have waited…I’m reading chapter 9 right now.
It was pretty fun, Holly, the Blue Like Jazz drama/dessert evening at church. And yes, there was cake!
My church got Don’s permission and people acted out scenes from the book with a jazz trio playing between scenes. Fun evening.
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Your theology sounds very Eastern Orthodox. I find God in the ordinary every day things as well, these stories that make our lives give us lessons through the gentle divine whisper.
Hmmmmmm…..How has my faith increased?
Not in the I know more of His word, I have incredible insights into life as I know it, someone thinks I have faith or I look “together” – whatever that means. I’m thinking it’s more about when I don’t see, don’t understand, don’t hear, don’t like how the story is going, blah, blah, blah.
I guess that’s where waiting comes in – I really don’t know any better place than that near-eternal time period between when what I want and when it comes to fulfillment by the powerful and loving hand of God. That’s where I’ve wrestled, cried, called out, gotten angry, “made” it happen myself, manipulated, controlled, driven myself (and others) crazy, been depressed, and worse yet – given up my desire. Somewhere in the middle of those times, peace calms me, I rest from striving, joy pops up, the humor in it all surprises me, and it seems obvious that my desire is best placed in the hand of God vs. being thrown away in self-protection – and then I just keep moving. Still not seeing or hearing or understanding, but so much more assured and confident, that when it is time, it will be.
I love this. It puts this Texas Christian culture to the curb – and calls us to the deep. I’m a social worker and thrive off seeing the dirty/broken parts of the world so I can quickly acknowledge His goodness that He has to offer us & them, especially children in foster care. My middle class life style – child hood has crippled people around me from being able to walk in the dark to carry the Light. They just want to sit around in Bible Studies and socialize. Yes, let’s study. Yes, let’s socialize. But let’s do m.o.r.e.
Thank you for thinking/writing this way. It’s beyond encouraging!
I think spiritual books can be cool because it’s like listening to somebody share their faith, and I think sharing stories is a big way we grow because we see a little bit of ourselves in each other and show a little bit of ourselves to each other. We feel less alone in what we’re thinking, like maybe it’s not just in our heads, it’s something real. So it’s nice when you haven’t had a conversation like that in too long, you can read some kind of a spiritual book and feel a bit more fulfilled in that sense. Idk.
While I agree with your basic thought pattern, I would just add that Bible Study can be and should be a “context” itself.
I guess the way you feel about certain things, I feel about boxing God and his ways.
Don, I believe you are one of those children of God being used “for such a time as this” in certain circles now. The humanities aspect of Christianity has been quite neglected that God is using those he’s prepared to bring that aspect in.
My “advice” for what it’s worth (and do pray about it). You want to be cautious of advocating a certain “way” over another. The only Way we are told to advocate and lift up is Jesus. Explore with the Lord, build that puzzle, but be cautious about what you advocate. I don’t see you often “clear cut” doing so (though sometimes seems so but my memeory fails me now) but your words do seem go that route, to me anyway.
I’ve had things imparted to me Supernaturally, and I have gone the longer route. I like to say there are two time frames. One God allows are humanity to play out that helps us to see ourselves and our fellowman better. The other God does supernaturally for what He is looking to accomplish at that time. When the Spirit is at work, it is a fast pace (as I have known it).
Yet I will not say this is clear cut because I claim to know nothing of certainty except Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and who God is…Love, Good, Faithful, Merciful…that other stuff is what I know of his ways in general.
And yes, I do tell others when the Lord gives a vision there can be with it a prep time and the vision can be something that helps us remember where the prep time is for. Some have incredible visions, then life gets hard after that and I tell them.
Many times in history when God brang in a certain aspect of our walk that was neglected, whether it was the faith movement or spirituality or humanities, where the failure often happened as I saw it was that people seemed to get deceived into thinking they now had the whole and that is where problems came in. I believe the enemy was at work. It’s a puzzle, and the whole is Jesus. God will give us the wisdom to know how and where the pieces fit in, if our hearts are in the right place and often that longer journey can also include that (Paul’s thorn in the flesh due to the revelations GIVEN to Him).
Awhile back I was given something that I believe was from God. This guy that I didn’t know who he was, was saying about “God doing something knew”. Yet I noticed those stars in that night sky weren’t shining so bright. No criticism as I can use shining up myself. I didn’t get it at the time but within several months I noticed things and felt I got it.
It’s long, feel free to keep to yourself or share. Realize it may be “out there” for this forum. No problem. I share because I love the body of Christ, my Spiritual family, and love my Jesus. I’m jealous over him and protective of my family.
I’m sure you and others can relate whether on the same level or another level.
I wanted to come back and see you are you and I am me. I am a puzzle builder and it grieves me so when I feel I sense some advocating their piece of the puzzle over others when we should all understand we have all been entrusted with portions and the whole is found in Jesus.
So,didn’t mean to make you me yet prayerfully consider what I’ve said then be faithful with what the Lord has entrusted you too, and try not to swash my piece while you do so, and I will prayerfully try and do the same.
Too many abortions have gone on already for my taste.
Thanks, keep living for Jesus and the rest will fall into place.
[...] The Context for Spirituality is not Spirituality | Donald Miller’s Blog The Context for Spirituality is not Spirituality [...]
John Eldredge, of Ransomed Heart, was a professor of mine in college. I mark that semester as the moment my faith had life breathed into it. I haven’t been the same since. And what you have said here in this post encapsulates it beautifully. My heart has been searching for words to express it, and I am thankful that I don’t have to search anymore. It’s been said here. I’m in tears with thankfulness. Never doubt your need to be writing words. Words help people. You’ve helped me.
[...] The Context for Spirituality is not Spirituality – Donald Miller [...]
So true.. Though I am lucky enough to be in a men’s gathering that’s REAL- everything it should be. It serves it’s purpose for sure.
BUT for an example of what you are saying, NOTHING has taught me more about our Father than being a dad myself.
And those times alone with God, outside, listening for Him.. looking for Him.. Crying out to Him.. = priceless & absolutely essential.