Summit
The dictionary describes summit as this.
1) The highest point or part; the top.
2) The highest level or degree that can be attained.
So is this week the highest stage of my spiritual walk? I'll be honest I have a tough time swallowing that. I've always been a bit. . . dare I say skeptical of it, because I hope that I have closer and more intimate moments with God.
Don't get me wrong I love the rock out worship (sometimes), and I thought this speaker did a nice job, but I feel a bit odd saying that's my summit. Are we setting ourselves up for a big let down later on. I've been thinking about Keith Drury's discussion on "faith meltdowns" and how we start to realize that our "spiritual high" was just the bass drum rippling through us. And our "religous" encounters were heavily based on the emotional side of our brains (not that there's anything wrong witht emotions, I'm an emotional being we all are, and I don't trust my rational much more than I trust my emotions).
James said that Pure and undefiled religion before God is doing this, Feeding the widdows and orphans and keeping oneself unspotted by the world.
The word for religion there is more of a worship or a literagy. So is it saying our real summit should be when we are "out there" someplace bringing the Gospel to others? I really lean that way.
Am I being too cynical? Or maybe this week of services is the best we get? Help me out please.
posted by Aaron at
9:55 PM
6 Comments:
As far as the "let down factor," I feel that the anticipation and expectancy of God to move through campus is a great thing in theory. The problem is no one wants to start the change. Despite our years and years of Summit, nothing has really "broke the mold" so to speak when it comes to a campus revival. No one to blame but us, we are all guilty of it. Last Summit with Clayton King was AMAZING, and that was coming from someone who had little or no anticipation or expectancy from Summit last year. It is not up to the speaker, the band, etc. to change our hearts and lead a revival or even a personal victory. It is our own choice to take what we are presented and apply it, take it in, and live it...or not. I believe last year I was able to do that. So far, for some reason, I have not had that this year at Summit yes. Is the speaking and music good so far, yes...is God moving, absolutely, I am just not as receptive this year...and I want to be open as possible and try to take it in and learn and apply it. Hopefully God breaks my heart in that like I believe He did in an amazing way last year. I hope we don't fall into the trap of thinking Summit is just a "spiritual high" that we charge our spiritual battery with and hope it lasts us 'til next Summit and the bext "high" that comes along. We as Americans are trained to "cram." Cram information in our heads, food, technology. A quick temporary fix that last as long as the next time we are hungry...which isn't long. The substance should be that of Christ and not the EMOTIONS (alone) of the Spirit. Here's to a Summit to kick off the school year.
-Steven
By
Anonymous, at 1:25 AM
I think if the only summit we will ever reach in our spiritual lives is the three days the university sets a side for it at the begining of each semmester we are leading very trite and shallow lives. I don't see anything wrong with being excited by the music and move emotionally, but we can't wait for that to come every year. Never felt over moved by the majority of the "summits" that I attended while I was there. I agree with you, that to call them personal summits would be a little far fetched. I've never felt closer to God when I was being pummled by five kids on a trampline in New Zealand. The meetings have there purpose, but Paul said that Faith with out works is dead. We are fed so that we can feed others, and if that isn't happening we've failed.
A.T.H.
By
Combs, at 8:47 AM
And we feed others best in the context of a spiritual high that is fed by religion, being properly defined as worship in a community. This bashing of the word "religion" is getting old, and I am not happy that Summit, which is essentially the gathering of a community to worship, would misdefine and disregard religion. It's the new cool thing to do, oh wait, it's not new, people have been doing the whole "not religion" thing since The Jesus Movement, and before that, since Luther (but in a different degree). Ok sorry your post wasn't about that topic exactly, but I had to get out the rest of Schenck's/Drury's discussion.
I like what C.S. Lewis does with faith in particular. That faith is what is left after the emotional high, after crappy stuff comes our way, and after basically everything we have known to be our faith is not there. What we have at that point is faith. So I ask, if that is faith, with extreme faith being the mark of a "summit," is it possible we need to strip things down and that we truly find the summit, not at the peak, but at the base?
By
Mike Cline, at 2:55 PM
IWU's holiness pietist roots become apparant during summit week. Attendees are told that now is the time to make a public commitment lest it be too late. I fear obviously for the emotional high an experience like Summit brings. At the same time, I cannot doubt the level of genuine consecration and repentence offered by so many students. I think what you're suggesting is that Summit act as a springboard into a deeper faith experience culminating in acts of love pleasing to the Father. Our times of communal worship should not simply be relegated to the PAC but also made manifest in loving kindness displayed on Boots and Gallatin street. Many people need something like Summit to bring them back to a stronger faith. However, unless such an experience is followed up by a change in lifestyle reflecting one's genuine acceptance of faith, I'm not quite sure what to think.
By
Kevin Wright, at 9:12 PM
I have sat through my share of emotional services before...so I understand the fears. I feel like the summit speaker painted a pretty clear picture that this journey is a FIGHT...he carries a sword when he prays...it seems like he has fought battles in his own life. I was saved in one of those "altar call services" and 13 years later I am still following...so there must be some value in these types of events.
As far as the bashing of "religion" ...I think it is OK and healthy to go through that. Ultimately if you are living a surrendered life and seeking God...he will (as he did with me)reveal that no matter how many outer problems that you have with people etc... ultimately it comes down to you...your heart...are you letting yourself be known...are you surrounding yourself with people that will fight with you.
I dont think that the speaker was bashing "Christianity the religion" but just the concepts of legalism and anything that is truly void of a relationship with the Father. That is my two cents for now.
By
Anonymous, at 8:49 PM
"James said that Pure and undefiled religion before God is doing this, Feeding the widdows and orphans and keeping oneself unspotted by the world." -AD
I agree wholeheartedly, and I think some evangelicals get so caught up in "spending time with God" and "good worship" (buzzwords when I was at IWU), that they forget about the practical demonstrations of spirituality. Not that these are wrong, but they are in need of balance.
Here's a thought: Maybe instead of "summit," we should call it "climax."
Don't be a stranger, my fellow heretic.
-Dan Harrison
www.danandtiff.blogspot.com
By
Dan and Tiffany, at 12:11 PM
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