A Pilgrim's Progress

Why does man feel so sad in the twentieth century? Why does man feel so bad in the very age when, more than in any other age, he has succeeded in satisfying his needs and making the world over for his own use?
- Walker Percy (Taken from No Place for Truth, Wells)

How is it that today we have more counselors, psychaitrists, marraige counselors, self-help books, and psychiatric drugs; and yet we have a higher divorce rate, more depression, and more anxiety than ever before. Given all these things to help us, shouldn't we be more happy today than ever before?

Maybe God's plan is the best plan after all?

In a book I'm reading by David Wells, No Place for Truth, he describes a small New England town in the 1700's. At the geographic center of the town was the church. All of society flowed from this church: children's education, social gatherings, town business, and all communtiy events. Every part of life revolved around God: education, conversations, thoughts, reading material, and entertainment. There was a strong sense of permanency and contentment. Christian life and belief permeated all aspects of life, unlike today where we generally compartmentalize our Christianity away from the other parts of our life. They were Christians through-and-through, not just believers in Christ. Christ was their life, not just a viewpoint they hold.

Given our secular society today, it is difficult even for the most devout Christian to live a complete life for Christ. But I am becoming ever convinced that it is the only way. Your happiness, peace, contentment, relationships, family, life, death, and lasting relationship with God all depend on it.

A couple of things I've been thinking about.

1) If you have two apples on the table and you set two more apples on the table, how many apples do you have? Four. Isn't that an absolute truth, always all-time?

2) I've been learning lots about criticisms of the Bible . . . especially the Old Testament. There are many good hearted Christian (and other) Thelogians that would like to reduce the Bible in as many ways as possible. They say that they are simply looking for a more accurate historical account. They simply want to know the real truth. They want to unpack reality from myth, and strip away any manmade frosting. I give them credit for their hard work and for their dilligent effort to reduce the Bible to a more reasonable, logical account of things that any reasonable, logical person can believe in through reaon and logic. Unfortunately, I don't think that this was the original Author's intention.

3) Does it matter if the story of Genesis is an actual "historical" account of the beginning of the world or if it is "metaphorical" account of the beginning? Are not both God-breathed truths? Does not either one tell us the ultimate Truth that God is the creator of the universe and He did so in an orderly fashion? Furthermore, could we reasonably expect that something as complicated as creating a universe could be explained in real terms? It may be that God is so far beyond the comprehension of our 2-dimensional thinking that He simply can't give us the actual explaination; a metaphore may have to suffice. Certainly, metaphores and parables (as Jesus spoke) can be a much more powerful Truth than a simple observational account.

4) Why do people keep searching for truth when its already been given to us. Seriously, I don't even want to sound like an evangelical nutcase, but have they read the Bible? Its all there: metaphores, parables, historical narratives, poetry. And its all the God breathed Truth. You don't need to prove it or scientifically validate it, there's no point! If the Bible isn't true than why does it speak such truth? Just Read It! Don't keep looking and searching or your gonna die with a flashlight in your hand and anxiety in your heart!

A General Christian Rambling on the World, Democracy, Free-Markets, and The Church

Last night I laid in bed anxiously praying. Watching news about Iraq, Russia, Florida, and the Presidential Election has really been giving me uneasy feelings. Have you been feeling this way too? What a messed-up, fallen world we live in. How can these situations be resolved? Russia is headed back toward more authoritarian control, and the people of Iraq seem to need more than America can provide.

Government, the economy, and religion have a stunning similarity: none of them can be imposed on a people. The only way that any of them can truly thrive is if the people's hearts and minds are changed; changed hearts fuel change throughout the system. A democracy is only as strong as its people. A democracy is only as moral as its people. A strong democratic government cannot create people of good character; however, people of good character can create a strong democratic government. That is precisely why God’s Word is vital to American Democracy.

That's what Jesus did. He didn't come swooping down through a government or church hierarchy and impose His Way on society. He began alone, empowered 12 disciples, and those disciples empowered people and churches, and those churches spread throughout the world.

What can save our world? Governments? Armies? Social Programs? Technology and efficient production? I am convinced that none of these can ultimately change the course of the human race. With every new discovery comes a new threat. With every new breakthrough comes a new break-out. With every new good comes a new evil? Are people more satisfied with life today than they were 400 years ago? After centuries of modernization has the basic human condition gotten any better?

What will save our world? God will through his people. God’s kingdom on Earth is a place where His people have a loving, persevering, joyous, patient, kind, good, peaceful, humble character. It is a place where people will sacrifice their gain for the good of their brother and their community. This is no social program or new technology; this is no less than an entire rebirth of humanity. This is a complete rennovation of man. Could it be true that God sent his only son to preach His Word, die on a cross, and rise again in order to rebuild His creation from the inside out? Is God's Kingdom not only some future heavenly place, but here now on earth? Are we serving His Kingdom or are we serving ourselves? Are you waiting for something more to happen? Don't wait too long.

This is not a statement of doctrine, but a mere rambling. I don't claim this writing as a truth, but rather barber shop conversation . . . that is, if your barber is Christian, I suppose.

I checked-out a book on Soren Kierkegaard at the library last week. Steve Locke used to talk about Kierkegaard all the time. So I thought to myself if Steve liked him, he must be a cool and interesting guy to read about. And he is.

One cool thing that Keirkegaard said was that the belief in God is nothing that we can come to by our own discernment. In other words, belief cannot be discovered or proved through theological discourse, good argumentation, or laborious study. You can get close to belief, but you can't get all the way there. To quote Karl Jaspers' chapter in the book:

"For the truth of this faith cannot be perceived, cannot be discovered historicaly, cannot be thought speculatively. It does not like human truth slumber within us as a hidden bud which need only be awakened. It is not like human truth communicated from teacher to scholar, where the scholar learnd only incidentally from the teacher what he might well have been able to discover for himself. On the contrary Christian faith develops outside of and in opposition to human truth. It comes to us from elsewhere. God alone gives us the capacity for belief."

I was reminded of this again at the preaching conference this weekend. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18-23
18 For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power. 19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. 20 Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God's wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.

I guess this struck a chord with me because I'm constantly reading books on appologetics trying to find great arguements to prove the faith. I know that this is important and that we are commanded to be prepared to defend our faith to all who ask. But utimately, my arguments and my proofs cannot bring anyone belief in God's Word. Only God can do that. Only God can make the blind see.

I'm not going to stop reading appologetics book, nor will I stop thinking of proofs for God. But my wisdom is foolishness unless it is blessed by God. My conversations are meaningless unless they are guided by God. If I expect to convert an unbeliever (or help anyone with anything), I must spend more words in intercessory prayer for God's revelation for that person.

Well, its official, I'm a seminarian.

The more I learn about seminary and my future studies here, the more confidence I gain in God's call for me. I know that I am in the right place, thank the Lord!

For sure, I went through some doubts before I came to this peaceful day. I had doubts even up to the first morning of student orientation. I walked into the chapel with 700 other new students, just like me, who were all called to seminary. Suddenly, I felt like my 'special call' from God was just a number in a crowd full of special calls. I honestly felt a little disheartened. My selfish desire for importance and individuality was crushed (thank the Lord!)

Thankfully, the Lord began to work on my heart and show me truth of my surroundings.

As I got to know the other students, I understood that God had called us - each one of us - in our own way. We each had our own life story, and we each had a different journey to seminary; yet the same God of the Universe called each of us from wherever we were to serve Him. This is the same God that called Noah, Moses, Paul, and countless others throughout the centuries. Its a comfort to know that God has called all of us to this place at this time. Its a comfort to hear stories of men, just like me, who turned over their life to pursue God's call. We have an inherent bond that runs deep. These are my brothers and sisters. God is good.

"Well, isn't that special!" (ala Church Lady, 1987) I'll let you know if I still have these same goo-goo-la-la feelings half way through the semester when my Greek mid-terms are pressing in. For now, it is wonderful to be bathed in the glory of God's surroundings in my life. I will soak in every minute. Please continue to pray for me and Shanna.

A few months ago, I scratched out a statement for myself to help me remember the truth amidst all the changes we are facing. I lost it in the packing process, but today I randomly found it in the shuffle. I thought that I'd blog it.

I know that things will get expensive.
I know that there will always be loose ends.
I know that the future seems unclear and uncertain.
I know all of this, yet I know that God is greater than all of these. I know he has a plan and will provide a life greater than I ever expected if I trust and follow him.
Constant prayer and study are the tools to build trust in the Lord.
Immerse yourself in his Word, prayer, worship, and fellowship and you will be walking closely with the Lord.
I am worthless on my own. Everything that I have tried on my own has been useles, a failure, or hurtful to others. My existence, by itself, has been and will be completely meaningless.
God has given me every great thing I have. My life through him has been made wonderfull. The work he has done through my life is the only good work I've done.
My future with the Lord is unbounded and perfect. If I walk with the Lord, he will guide and provide a life beyond measure.
Amen.

I just read a blog by Mary that really got me thinking. Mary was talking about recieving email forwards about Jesus and other Christian topics. Many of these emails come with a note that says something like, "Forward this email to everyone in your address book if you want to be a Good Christian!" Like Mary, I feel guilty about not forwarding these and filling my quota. Occasionally, I do forward them to people who I know would like to read the particular message, but mostly I just delete the emails after I've read them.

I wonder how the original sender of the message decided that "everyone in your address book" is sufficient numbers to qualify you as a 'Good Christian'? Why stop there? As long as they have the power to make up quotas, I think the email should include a note that says, "Print 1,000 copies of this email and hand them out to every person that crosses your path - if you want to be a Good Christian!" Better yet, how about a note that says, "Publish this email in an attractive brochure format, print 7.1 million copies, buy a one-way ticket to the Middle-East, develop a team of highly trained street evangelists to pass them out, then - and only then - will you be a Good Christian!" The point that I make is that all quotas for Christianity can be reduced to absurity. We can never do enough, as long as there is more to do.

Along this same topic of quotas, I often find myself judging others based on what they're doing or not doing. Yet, there must be room for Christian accountability somewhere. Should I never say 'Praise you sister for serving the Lord, what a blessed example you are to me!'. Or, should I never say 'Brother, your evil deed is a sin against God!". For the most part, I understand that judgment is placed on the person, whereas accountability is held on the person's actions.

All aside, we are called by God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are called to share this news in many ways, times, places, and formats. We must seek God's Holy Spirit for guidance in these matters, for this is something that we dare not approach on our own. Some people are called to shout the Gospel from a soap-box on the street corners, while others are called to quietly comfort a dying patient. I do beleive that God convicts our hearts when we are not serving his kingdom. We are always called to serve God in greater capacities, but we must seek God's advice on that, not some random emailer. I know a really awsome guy named Jim who prays for opportunities to evangelize. When he prays for this, he finds that he is constantly placed with people and situations eager for the Good News.

Isn't the final answer always 'Pray and seek God's guidance'.