In the comments to this recent post, Mike made some great remarks (emphasis mine):
For American Evangelicals, it seems that the journey metaphor is dominant, though not in as much in the sense of an ascent. I don’t know how to articulate this entirely, but it seems as if there is a sense in which people expect “growth†and “sanctification†to include, perhaps not secret knowledge, but maybe, secret feelings or secret insight. People expect change in their spiritual lives. Granted that change is inevitable, but I’m wondering if this has anything to do with the willingness of people to follow fads and change church bodies so readily.
I know exactly what Mike means about “secret feelings or secret insight.” In a lot of ways, throughout my teen years in nondenominational megachurches, this is what it meant for me to be faithful. It was very important that I always be learning something new–without those flashes of light, I felt like I was losing all vitality as a Christian.
I’m glad I don’t see things this way any longer. Learning new stuff is certainly not a bad thing. But keeping a list of our theological insights as a barometer for the work of the Holy Spirit just doesn’t work. In fact, scripture emphasizes time and again that we ought to be fools for Christ. I don’t know all that phrase entails, but I can bet it’s not code for “becoming more insightful.”