The transformative effect of meditation upon Scripture is crucial and, as you suggest, often underemphasized. However, transformation is an organic change of *what we are,* and difficult situations often exploit the gap between what we are and what we ought to be, in which case **application**, though its somewhat mechanical nature is ul…
The transformative effect of meditation upon Scripture is crucial and, as you suggest, often underemphasized. However, transformation is an organic change of *what we are,* and difficult situations often exploit the gap between what we are and what we ought to be, in which case **application**, though its somewhat mechanical nature is ultimately less desirable than the more organic nature of transformation, can proceed while transformation catches up. It’s Lewis’ “If you’re not sure that you love God, do what you’d do if you were sure that you loved him” [paraphrase]. This, in turn, eventually has a transformative effect, application and transformation having a reciprocal relationship. While you’re right to emphasize transformation, given a current tendency in certain circles to neglect it, I think that you’ve downplayed the importance and necessity of application in the process.
The transformative effect of meditation upon Scripture is crucial and, as you suggest, often underemphasized. However, transformation is an organic change of *what we are,* and difficult situations often exploit the gap between what we are and what we ought to be, in which case **application**, though its somewhat mechanical nature is ultimately less desirable than the more organic nature of transformation, can proceed while transformation catches up. It’s Lewis’ “If you’re not sure that you love God, do what you’d do if you were sure that you loved him” [paraphrase]. This, in turn, eventually has a transformative effect, application and transformation having a reciprocal relationship. While you’re right to emphasize transformation, given a current tendency in certain circles to neglect it, I think that you’ve downplayed the importance and necessity of application in the process.
Thanks, Matthew!
Sure thing!