Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Troubling Thoughts

So I often feel like I spend more time thinking about the seeming inconsistencies with the tenets of Biblical philosophy than I do about all the happy good things about being a Christian. Every time I run into one of these troubling questions I write it down, think about it, and usually let it simmer. Nevertheless, I frequently go back and see how my viewpoint has changed. While I normally am able to reconcile to at least a passable extent most of the initial disconnect I encounter, there are two questions which I feel have plagued my thoughts more frequently than others:

Hebrews 12:7 states that we must "endure hardship as discipline. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons." We can only interpret this, as far as I can see, in one of two ways. The first implies that the father causes this hardship in the same way that the father causes discipline. If this were so, then how can we say hardships (that is discouragement, depression, anger etc.) are not then caused by God but by Satan? Who is then the father? The other interpretation is that God allows hardship as a matter of necessity so through hardship, we may be disciplined and become "true sons." Although this interpretation seems to be more in line with conventional credo, it is not any more comforting. The crux of this interpretation stands on the fact that hardship, like discipline, is absolutely essential. If we are to believe that all hardship is born of Satan, then are we to say that Satan is essential? Does there need to be a BAD for every GOOD or is BAD only the absence of GOOD? If there is no hardship, then there is no discipline, and thus no true sonship. How then does hardship not come from God for, without it, we could not be called "sons of God"?

And even more troubling in my mind:

Opponents of atheism claim that atheism inherently diminishes the value of human life. The claim of absolute nihility of God and therefore of meaning or purpose in life certainly supports this accusation. After all, if the forces-that-be orchestrated matter to, by an infinite series of coin flips, give one species on one planet in one galaxy to possess an itching need to know why it has been given such a gift and the search ultimately come up fruitless, then indeed life is rather pointless. Nevertheless, the question then is doesn't Christianity trivialize the human life even more? Doesn't scripture say that "you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes"? If our ultimate goal is reunion with God and that reunion is only achieved by corporal death, are we not then diminishing the value of human life? The mothers on the news who intentionally kill their young children are seen, rightfully, so as abominations of society. However what can be said about the mother who, rather than risking her children growing up and turning away from God, children who will stumble in the righteous race and are very likely to be sucked in by the world, pays the ultimate sacrifice by ensuring her children's salvation while sacrificing her own?

These thoughts have been bothering me a lot. The second one is largely from this man's refutation of Lee Strobel's A Case for Faith (http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/paul_doland/strobel.html#obj4).

Any input would be appreciated!

Leaving your Mark vs. Leaving a Bruise

When I stop & think, I recall times that I've laid people to waste. No, I wasn't a great football player. No... I mean with my words. Honestly, I don't remember hurting people when I was young. Maybe I just don't remember my youth with clarity and honesty. Unfortunately, most of the pain I remember inflicting has come more recently. Perhaps this is because my words now weigh more than they once did because of the much greater intensity of relationship I now experience. Perhaps I'm worse, less thoughtful, less holy, than I once was. Perhaps my eyes are being opened more clearly to what I say and how I say it. I'm not sure. But I feel like I've been leaving a lot of bruises lately.

When I stop & think, it is easier to pick out the times that I think I've left a positive mark. I remember a study partner who confided her pain with hometown churches. Just discussing those hard times and giving comfort was worth the time. I remember first comforting my (then future) wife regarding fearful revelations being made to her. And there are other moments I've honestly and openly attempted to encourage and uplift. I've even been told of a moment I gave loving correction, which was rejected by the receiver and reported to another, who properly took those painful words (about him) with humility as an exhortation, and urged him on to reconcile with God. He's still God's child.

Do you easily forget leaving bruises? And easily remember leaving your mark? I do. Why is that? Is it extraordinary pride? Or is it God's grace, his free offer to remove guilt? I honestly don't know.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Super Blogger, Patrick Mead

I've now seen several mentions of a blogger named Patrick Mead, and every one has been that he is an extraordinary blogger. So here's my plug...yeah, he's good. And he got a sub-blog where he answers particular questions about God called Tentpegs. Now that is good stuff.

Enjoy.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Encouragement

On another blog, I attempted to answer a question about abortion.
One question: Did I encourage or discourage Jen?

Thanks for any feedback,
Craig
Jen Says:

I would like to ask a question. Please don’t attack me violently, because I promise I struggle and internally debate this issue. I’m not taking a side, just asking a question.

Several of you have set forth the idea of, “Abortion is wrong - we can’t kill innocents. The end.” Where does this mandate come from? I know the places in the Bible used to suggest this idea (”Before you knew me in the womb,” the passage about hitting a pregnant woman and killing the Bible), etc. However, I’ve talked to lots of people with lots of different interpretations of all those scriptures.

Can we really be 100% sure abortion is the same to God as murder?

----------
Jen,
It is good to ask your question. Please know that many ask it, but you have the guts to voice it. It's admirable to honestly question. The Bereans in Acts were honored for it.

Most of the controversy from both the pro-life and pro-choice camps surround the following passage:
Exodus 21:22-25
"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."

3 questions to ask regarding this passage:
1) Is there a reason to think that the child born is dead?
2) Just reading the above, what would imply that the child has died?
3) Ancient Hebrew has a specific word (actually 2) for "miscarriage", so why wouldn't it have been used here?

An article specifically about this passage, which I picked up these question from, can be found here on a site called Stand To Reason. It seems to be a good apology of why many people believe the Bible condemns abortion.

Also, several early church fathers, like Turtullian, have addressed abortion specifically. But looking at just 1, I'd choose one from the Didache, which means "Teaching". It was probably codified initially around the early 2nd century (~135 ACE), and holds this passage addressing abortion:
"The second commandment of the teaching: You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not seduce boys. You shall not commit fornication. You shall not steal. You shall not practice magic. You shall not use potions. You shall not procure [an] abortion, nor destroy a newborn child" (Didache 2:1–2 [A.D. 70]).

Anyway, I hope I've been an encouragement to you. You've asked a good question and it's worthy of thought and investigation.

Grace and peace,
Craig

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Christian Orthodoxy: The Standard vs. The Norm

What's normal for you? Do you feel satisfied with your life? Is that contentment (or lack thereof) based on the Father's prompting? Here's a couple of stories Chuck Colson told that challenged me.
Irreducible and Non-Negotiable
Christian Orthodoxy

February 4, 2008

What is the Christian faith all about? Two stories, 18 centuries apart, provide a clue.

Across an ancient Roman city, a deadly plague was spreading. The wealthy, including the doctors, all fled to their country estates, abandoning the poor. Paganism, you see, did not teach that human life is sacred.

But the growing number of Christians in Rome at that time believed that humans are made in the image of a loving God. They stayed and cared for the sick, sacrificing themselves for others.

Imagine a young Roman Christian—let's call him Fortunus—pulling a hand-drawn cart toward the fountain at the city's center, where the sick were going for water once their families had abandoned them. Today Fortunus finds 20 plague victims, loads them up, and takes them to a make-shift hospital for care.

Fortunus and his fellow Christians know they are risking their own lives. But paradoxically, their compassion did not deplete Christian ranks in the long term—quite the reverse. Tending to the sick increased the disease survival rate by as much as two-thirds—and this witness of Christian sacrifice attracted many new converts. The Church grew.

By acting on the teachings of Christ, without regard to their own welfare, these Christians progressed from being a small sect to the dominant cultural group.

Flash forward 18 centuries, to October 5, 2006, Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. Charles Roberts burst into an Amish school house and shot 10 girls at point-blank range, killing five. He then shot himself.

But what happened next astonished the world. Amish families attended Robert's funeral, for the Bible says to mourn with those who mourn. As money poured in to pay for the wounded girls' medical bills, Amish leaders insisted that funds also be set aside to care for the killer's family.

Many were amazed at the love the Amish showed the family of their children's murderer—but it was the same love that every Christian ought to practice. It is nothing but the Gospel, although admittedly an all-too-rare instance of its full practice. But why don't Christianity's critics understand that the practice of love and forgiveness are hallmarks of Christianity—real Christianity?...

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=7500

Personally, I need motivation, but I also know some of you need encouragement because you are already pursuing those God-given objectives and it's terribly long, slow, patience-building work. Or it's not going quite in the direction you thought. Or the problems you're facing aren't the "right" problems. Remember, He's in the business of building your character, and the circumstances surrounding you...well, honestly, He's not as concerned with. He loves you and is excited about making you the best you can be.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow..." Matt 6:33-34a