“In the United States need degrades a person; failure condemns a person, but not in the kingdom of God. To be in need is to be in a position of honor.”
From Arthur C. McGill, Death and Life: An American Theology (1987)
A really important quote (h.t. to Kim ) and something I resonate with but find it hard to articulate in talking with my wife. To her, admitting need (can we call this a kind of begging) is a sign of weakness especially in front of those who have not shown us the kind of respect and appreciation that we expect.
"Christians think we are creatures that beg. Prayer is the activity that most defines who we are. Through prayer we learn the patience to take the time to beg, to beg to the One alone who is the worthy subject of such prayer. Through prayer Christians learn how to beg from each other. Christians, therefore, can never be at peace with a politics or economic arrangements built on the assumption that we are fundamentally not beggars."
(Stanley Hauerwas, Performing the Faith, 241 h.t. to Dan )
I know that the begging for my physical well being is a strong part of why His faithfulness pulls me in a direction that all my intellectual legwork could not do. So there is no need to feel sorry for weakness and need when these are our own essential condition, and when these are the necessary condition for the joy of receiving?”
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2 comments:
Human beings cannot achieve EVERYTHING, no matter what they may aspire to do. They will always face situations in which they have a need, the fulfilment of which is well outside of their control. There is definitely no shame in admitting to being too weak or being incapable of fulfilling all desires, however I differ with you in only one area. There is a difference between being needy, asking for something, and begging. Begging is the equivalent of pleading without dignity. I would prefer to say that in most situations I would "ask", but to reach the stage of begging reveals that one has already reached a stage of total hopelessness, which is not necessarily the case in all situations of need. I pity, however, the real beggar, who faces misfortune all his/her life, and even then finds that even all begging goes in vain. Faith offers no consolation for such a person.
Ranger,
Thank you for commenting once again. The word "begging" can take the strain of how the 2 of us look at it. I have often felt utter hopeless darkness when asking for grace. Most of the time the darkness tinged with grace looks no different than the darkness without. Perhaps our confusion comes from trying to fit reality into our words.
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