More Than a Warp Spasm of Devotion

The Bible contains different kinds of literature, which means that it also contains different approaches to theology. Because these theologies are ultimately harmonious, it is obviously our task to be students of them all. But part of this task means mastering them on their own terms before the harmonization is attempted.

For example, the psalms of David represent a devotional literature, which means that they shape a devotional theology of personal piety, heart religion. The proverbs of Solomon represent a wisdom literature, which means that they shape a wisdom theology. The two must go together, but they must be themselves in order to go together rightly. Wisdom theology isolated turns into an arid moralism. Devotional theology isolated turns into rationalism and egoism. We must be shaped by the entire Bible, but we do not do this by throwing the entire Bible into a blender, reducing it to biblical molecules. No, Scripture is assembled out of some great blocks of granite, and those blocks must be respected.

What does this have to do with the Supper? You must come here loving Jesus Christ, the way David loves God in the Psalms. There needs to be an existential encounter. We are not playing church; we are loving God. We sing to Him. But evangelical religion must not be limited to some kind of warp spasm of devotion. It must grow up into thoughtful, reflective, studious wisdom. But if we grow up into wisdom and get stuck there, the result is that we become a bunch of studious, learned, academic duds.

So there is something beyond wisdom, which is glory. “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” (1 Cor. 2:7). So come in faith to this edible glory, the glory of sacrifice vindicated, and grow up into what you eat and drink.

So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.