[Pastor Lee Grzywinski]

Hello everyone!

Another great chapter. Even the opening quote by Calvin is amazing! I wonder how often we are impressed with a conviction of our insignificance?

I love his explanation of how Jesus defied categories. We do the same thing all people do: we all have categories that we classify people into. And when someone doesn’t fit neatly into our own categories, we have trouble with them. We might be overly impressed with them, needlessly uncomfortable with them, or somewhere in between. We might be attracted to the quality, or want to avoid them. But we are aware of their category defiance. Jesus should do all of these, as the “supreme mysterious stranger.” As much as He is the Shepherd Who cares for us, He is also holiness incarnate, and we should always be aware of that.

I also liked his claim that “people have an appreciation for moral excellence, as long as it is removed a safe distance from them.” I think it would be a good thing if we made people uncomfortable, and if “they feel crowded by holiness, even if it is made present only by an imperfect, partially sanctified human vessel.” I pray we would reflect that holiness more and more.

[Marie]

One thing that stood out to me in this chapter was the idea that coming face to face with God’s holiness can be uncomfortable because it exposes our sin. I liked how Sproul explained that this isn’t meant to make us feel hopeless, but to help us recognize how much we need God’s grace. It reminded me that conviction has a purpose it draws us closer to God rather than pushing us away.

[Tom Coursin]

Romans 8:22 tells us that all creation groans under the weight of sin. The corruption of the world has affected even the wind and the waves to the point of even putting Jesus and His disciples in great physical danger. However one great difference between all of nature and man himself is that when God speaks to the natural forces they must obey. There is no other option for the wind and the waves. They must obey their creator. Not so with mankind. His corruption is so complete as to the unbelievable ability for man to disobey his creator. Jesus’s own disciples were even astonished that the wind and waves obeyed Him. Humankind’s corruption is so complete that they were astonished in the fact that nature should obey. What a great salvation Jesus has purchased for us. Great fear came upon the disciples when they realized the power Jesus has over creation and great love and obedience should come over us when we realize what a great salvation Jesus as won for us. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Let’s try to be more like the wind and the rain when we hear our Savior’s commands.

[Lynne MazzaHilway]

Yes, the wisdom of scripture in the countless reminders to fear not, as it seems like an instinctive response and why we categorize or try to fit things, sadly people, into boxes to make sense of and master difference. Yet Jesus, even His “love that makes some angry, is beyond typecasting, in a class by Himself, a curve breaker and supreme curve buster.”
“The hound of heaven, just His presence is enough to cause them to recoil from Him; nothing exposes the counterfeit faster than the genuine.” Thankfully,hopefully we are all undone in His presence.

I like Sproul’s responsive question to Freud’s theory that people invent religion out of a fear of nature- “Why would (people) invent a God whose holiness was more terrifying than the force of nature that provoked them to invent a god in the first place?”
Again, although challenging to process the provacative use of the word trauma in relation to holiness, when thinking about how far evil is from holiness I can see, sadly, how many would feel such. And “the threatening power of His holiness is transferred to His people.” What an amazing, humbling and convicting responsibility! Even if we begin with the knowledge that “the overwhelming testimony of the world is to the incompatible perfection of Jesus”, we also must realize, seeing them with His eyes and heart, how far they may be from this holiness, and forgive and love them, as we try to embrace them with His Word of truth. So we pray for His Spirit to lead and cover all.

[Theresa]

I thought this was an interesting chapter. I’m not sure I would agree with the use of the word “trauma” relating to holiness. I think “undone” for me is a better description of it. Perhaps because trauma has so many negative connotations. I liked how the author brought different examples to our reacting to holiness – from the disciples reacting to Jesus calming the storm to the Pharisees reacting to Jesus. Two very different reactions to His holiness revealing the heart of the person.

[Nayara Jordan]

A bit late to the party! Nonetheless I really liked this chapter and how it challenged some of my thoughts around the “trauma of holiness.” I thought the point challenging Freud’s concept was super interesting, and I liked the notion that in the power of Christ, the disciples on the boat met something more frightening than they had ever met in nature. Freud’s perspective that God is an invention to make us feel better falls so flat. A god who could comfort us but not actually have the power to change or stop anything wouldn’t be much of a god at all. Instead, God in his power and holiness and authority is over all the natural world, and it obeys at His command.

On a separate note, I was not prepared for the very thorough spoiler of Of Mice and Men. It has been sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read it one day and now I know the entire book’s plot!

[Author]

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