Thoughts on “Glimpse of Jesus” by Pastor Mark

Chapter 1

“I hope it is clear that feelings of guilt, accompanied by anxiety, fear and restlessness, arise from deep within ourselves and are not an accurate gauge of the state of our souls before God” (Bernard Bush as quoted by Brennan Manning in “A glimpse of Jesus” pg.7)

I was struck by the fact that, while my feelings of guilt may be the result of a sinful action on my part that results in anxiety, fear and restlessness, they are not a reflection of how God feels about me. Even though I have been a Christian for many years and have ministered to others and have spoken to them about the unconditional love of God, I am still learning to know that love for me. I am at times like the prodigal son that, because he feels like a slave he assumes his father will treat him like a slave. He anticipates the father will feel the same way about him as he feels about himself.

When I find myself feeling this way I usually go in one of two directions; I may just stop trying to please God altogether (why work so hard at trying to please a God that can’t be pleased). Or, I work harder to please him. I become a perfectionist and I allow little room for failure. Hoping I’ll do things so right that he won’t find fault. What a trap!

But what wondrous surprise it must have been when the prodigal son returns and finds out the father didn’t feel the same way he felt about himself! He showers him with his love!

Dear Lord, I need your help to see myself as you see me and not see you as I see myself. Help me take what I know in my head and put it into my heart. I desire to know the joy of the freedom from self-condemnation. I know you will help me with this. Amen

A Glimpse of Jesus, Chapter 1

The main topics discussed in this chapter are: Projectionism, Perfectionism, Moralism/Legalism and Unhealthy Guilt. I know these are issues for folks but I kept asking myself - if you really know the heart of the Father and what the cross did for us, why are people still caught in these? Isn't the power of the cross that we can walk out of these and into an intimate and safe relationship with God Almighty?

I have to say that putting some distance between the Reckless Grace article and the re-reading of this first chapter really helped me. With some distance between them, this first chapter didn't seem to be so depressing but instead details possible areas that keep us from childlike faith and trust.

Regarding the opening turkey story - if God is perfect and full of love (and He is), there is nothing to fear. He is not fickle. Trouble and disappointment are not Him withdrawing from us or expressing His disapproval, but instead the fine chiseling of a Master shaping a masterpiece - Christ in me.

Regarding projectionism - it is true that people who influence us can put their own spin on what God looks at or is concerned with, but ultimately these just become a backdrop as I draw near to the throne of grace and come to know the heart of the Father myself. I apparently experienced a profound conversion based on this quote: "It takes a profound conversion to accept the belief that God is tender and loves us just as we are, not in spite of our sins and faults, but with them."

Regarding perfectionism - only God is perfect - He knows what I am and who I am - as long as I stay on the Potter's wheel, the work He's doing in me should be considered a work in progress - relieving me of the pressure to be perfect now and I'm really good with that.

Regarding moralism/legalism - who wants to be a score keeper and spend the energy to track other people - "all indeed is gift and gracious clemency"!

Regarding unhealthy guilt - I know people who have been trained by guilt - they are forever burdened and never feel like they measure up. However, a correct guilt which leads us to repentance evaporates once it has played it's role to restore us to right relationship. God remembers it no more so I am allowed to let it go as well - hallelujah!

With these out of the way, I'm looking forward to the upswing now that the table of contents seems to suggest.

Testing

Testing, Testing, 1.2.3 Ü Is this thing on???

The Script for Self-Hatred (Manning, Ch. 1)

Manning offers a refreshing response to Yaconelli's "Reckless Grace" when, quoting Lewis Smedes, he writes, "This is healthy shame, and we are closest to health when we let ourselves feel the pain of it ["failing," sinning] and be led by the pain to do something about it" (p. 18).
Just as those in AA welcome other alcoholics into their groups, with "empathy, compassion, and unconditional acceptance, " so too believers must demonstrate "the unflinching love of the Abba Jesus, who cannot despise" (p.16). Further, "AA invites me to confess my weakness [as a "failer"] at the very moment I am turning away from it" (p. 16). This active repentance, this "turning away," is what Yaconelli overlooked and, thereby, downplayed.
I also appreciated Manning's question: "Does the neutral onlooker [especially postmoderns] identify a Christian by his pious practices and cultic regularity ['ritual and cult'] or by the loving quality of his everyday presence in the workaday world ['personal commitment and the sacrifice of one's life,' Doherty]" (p. 12). Neither perfectionism, moralism, nor legalism - which Manning derides - will develop such a loving presence.