The Philippian Fragment
Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Another day,
Old ones and new ones. Those who know me probably think I'm talking about songs. Often, I listen to old songs and new songs. Not this time though.
Books. I am reading through a few of my favorite books from years ago. Calvin Miller has always been among my favorite writers. His stories and poems and images have taken me many places over three decades.
I decided to return to The Philippian Fragment. Reading a confessional series of epistles reveals a mix of truth for me. Here are a few:
- New ones are similar to old ones. This time I refer not music or books, but problems in the church. Miller, in his letters from Eusebius of Philippi to his beloved friend Clement, humorously and seriously reveals reality historically. And reality now.
- As humans, our flesh often gets in the way of God's will.
- As Christians, we live in a world of mixtures. We must avoid too much, and too little, of anything.
- People who seek to control every decision cause major problems.
- Popularity often gets in the way of reality.
Miller - or, rather, Eusebius - wrote it this way: "The church, called to fish for me, finds herself in the mindless support of a score of special interest groups." And read this rebuke: "How far we transgress when we slam the basin down, throw in the towel and stomp off in angry sandals!"
I'm glad I returned to that ancient fragment.
Soon I'll write more about our similarities to historical realities. For now, I want to read what Eusebius had to say about the dangers of Christianity being so popular.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: It is closet praying which addresses God alone. Such prayer is itself a discipline, unattended by lesser ears or human compliment. May we meet Him in our loneliness to serve Him before the watching, listening world.
(Calvin Miller, The Philippian Fragment)
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Another day,
Old ones and new ones. Those who know me probably think I'm talking about songs. Often, I listen to old songs and new songs. Not this time though.
Books. I am reading through a few of my favorite books from years ago. Calvin Miller has always been among my favorite writers. His stories and poems and images have taken me many places over three decades.
I decided to return to The Philippian Fragment. Reading a confessional series of epistles reveals a mix of truth for me. Here are a few:
- New ones are similar to old ones. This time I refer not music or books, but problems in the church. Miller, in his letters from Eusebius of Philippi to his beloved friend Clement, humorously and seriously reveals reality historically. And reality now.
- As humans, our flesh often gets in the way of God's will.
- As Christians, we live in a world of mixtures. We must avoid too much, and too little, of anything.
- People who seek to control every decision cause major problems.
- Popularity often gets in the way of reality.
Miller - or, rather, Eusebius - wrote it this way: "The church, called to fish for me, finds herself in the mindless support of a score of special interest groups." And read this rebuke: "How far we transgress when we slam the basin down, throw in the towel and stomp off in angry sandals!"
I'm glad I returned to that ancient fragment.
Soon I'll write more about our similarities to historical realities. For now, I want to read what Eusebius had to say about the dangers of Christianity being so popular.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: It is closet praying which addresses God alone. Such prayer is itself a discipline, unattended by lesser ears or human compliment. May we meet Him in our loneliness to serve Him before the watching, listening world.
(Calvin Miller, The Philippian Fragment)
