The theological study of salvation, known as soteriology, is a hotly debated topic within Christian circles. While orthodox Christians argue over many important things within soteriology, there are also many truths that are widely accepted among almost all evangelicals. First, virtually all Christians believe that there is a heaven and a hell. It is believed that humanity is sinful and corrupted, and there is need for a savior in order for us to go to heaven. Orthodox Christians hold to the belief that it is through God’s grace that one is saved. This contradicts the 5th century theologian Pelagius. He held to the belief that has become known as Pelagianism, which states humanity after the fall is not at all marred by Adam’s original sin, making it possible to live a sinless life here on earth. Pelagianism goes on to say that God’s grace can help us live holy and pure lives, but it is not upon his grace that our salvation should be based. Evangelicalism, on the other hand, believes that Jesus died a necessary sacrificial death, and that it is through him and him alone that anyone can become “saved” (John 14:6; John 15:5; Romans 6:23).
A ‘Dogma’ is a belief that is central to Christianity. Such a belief should have firmly grounded roots in ones theology. The idea that there is heaven, for example, is a Christian dogma. Other traditional Christian dogmas would include ideas such as Jesus being fully God and fully human, all scripture being God breathed, and all humans are stained by sin. When looking at dogmas relating to salvation, there are a few that stick out in particular. The ideas of predestination and election are central Christian dogmas. Both predestination and election show up consistently throughout scripture. The very fact that Israel is God’s ‘chosen’ people supports the idea that God does indeed elect people: “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession,” (Deuteronomy 7:6). It is also evident throughout the New Testament that God chooses certain people to do certain things: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified,” (Romans 8:29-30). These dogmas are not put into question when it comes to the debate on salvation. “However, when it comes to the questions of how election works and on what basis God predestines people, evangelicals exhibit a diversity of opinions,” (Spectrum, 146). There are two main camps when it comes to debating how election and predestination work. The two views, Calvinism and Arminianism, go beyond the issues of election and predestination, ultimately becoming two different scopes in which one shapes their entire theology.
The roots of Calvinism trace all the way back to the early church. In the 5th century Augustine developed this view while he was interpreting Paul’s epistles. This view has been adopted by many famous reformers and influential evangelical Christians such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and John Piper. One of the main things Calvinists emphasize is the sovereignty of God; His wisdom is beyond human comprehension. Calvinists have come up with an acronym to describe the five points in which their theology is based around. The acronym, TULIP, stands for total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.
Total depravity, according to Calvinist tradition, explains that as a fallen humanity, we cannot respond positively to God. Humanity is caught up in the brokenness and ugliness of its sin. This goes all the way back to Adam and Eve’s ‘original sin’ in the Garden of Eden. God desired to have relationship with us in the purest form, but humanity messed it up and has lost its way. As a result of the fall, humans are no longer capable of choosing to have relationship with God because he is holy and we are rebellious, fallen beings. The only way in which we can get back to the garden, in a sense, is if God changes our very nature, for we are “by nature deserving of wrath,” (Ephesians 2:3b). This is where God provides grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This grace actually transforms believers into a new humanity. One that is no longer in bondage to sin, but is freed through Christ. Total depravity marks humans as completely incapable of recognizing their need for God.
Unconditional election builds further upon the idea of total depravity. Since humans cannot choose God, that means that God has to choose humans. This is why the New Testament it refers to believers as ‘God’s elect’ (Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). Nothing about anyone’s broken and sinful life provides a reason for God to choose them over anyone else. God chooses believers for his good purpose: “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” (2 Timothy 1:9). God’s election is unconditional because nothing that we have done, or can do, will have any effect on God’s election of the saints.
Limited atonement addresses the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus made the perfect sacrifice, which was sufficient for all the sin of humanity. This sacrifice, however, was only intended for God’s elect. Those people whom are not of the elect would have no need for atonement, since they are eternally damned. Jesus supports the idea that only the elect can receive the grace found in his sacrifice: “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them,” (John 6:65). Jesus dying for the sins of those who are not elect would be like someone making peanut butter cookies for someone who is allergic to peanut butter. There is no need for it. Someone who is allergic to peanut butter is just not meant to receive the goodness and perfectness of the gift of peanut butter cookies. In the same way, someone who is not elect is just not meant to receive grace, making it pointless for Christ to atone for their sins.
Irresistible Grace is the idea that humans are not saved by their own will, but rather they are saved by God’s will. If not for God, humans would live their lives of rebellion and worldly pleasure without a second thought. God’s grace is the only thing that changes the will of the elect. God’s election “Depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy,” (Romans 9:16). God’s grace is irresistible because becoming ‘saved’ is not up to the individual at all. If God provides his mercy, it is undoubtedly accepted.
Perseverance of the saints is in reference to one’s eternal security. When a person is elected by God, they cannot fall away. God provides an irresistible grace that cannot be turned from. There will be struggles along the way, and maybe even doubt, but in the end all of the elected believers will persevere until they receive the prize at the end of the race, their eternal reward. This can be comparable to a pawn in a game of chess. A pawn can only move forward. The way may become blocked, or it may move to the right or left a little, but a pawn is always making progress toward the opposite end of the board where it will receive its ‘prize’. In the same way believers can get stuck, move side to side, but in the end they are always lead back to Christ and their ultimate reward.
Arminianism also finds its roots back in the early church. During the 5th century, a monk named John Cassian stepped forward and challenged Augustine’s interpretations. Cassian’s work was further developed (and eventually named after) the 17th century theologian Jacob Arminius. Other well known evangelicals to hold to the Arminian tradition are Erasmus, John Wesley, Clark Pinnock, and C.S. Lewis. Arminianism focuses on humanities free choice when it comes to accepting God’s gift of salvation. They are in agreement with Calvinists by saying that it is only through God’s grace that we are saved yet they differ on how that grace is portrayed and shown through humanity. Grace is viewed as a gift to be accepted or rejected by individuals. Arminians also tend to put more emphasis on having a love relationship with Christ. The Arminian system is based upon four main ideas. They believe that God loves all people; they believe that people have a choice to accept or reject this love; they believe that God influences, but does not force people to love him; and they believe that Christians need to maintain their faith and relationship with God in order to assure their salvation.
God is the picture of perfect love. He loves humanity with an unquenchable love. A God of such love cannot possibly only want to save a certain few. God loves everyone and desires to be in relationship with everyone. If God is truly perfect love, he could not create anyone specifically for the purpose of going to hell. In fact, it is evident throughout scripture that God does not show favoritism toward anyone (Job 34:19; Romans 2:11). The bible also clearly shows that God wants to be in relationship with his creation. This is apparent in the covenantal relationship he has with Israel throughout the Old Testament, and even with the new covenant Jesus made in the Gospels. There are patterns of believers committing to God, falling away, repenting, and recommitting throughout the bible (Israel, David, prodigal son); throughout these examples there is one thing that remains constant—God’s desire to be in a perfect love relationship.
To have true love, there needs to be choice. One cannot truly love someone unless they have the option to not love them. Throughout scripture it says that God desires us to love him and be in relationship with him. He would not desire these things unless there is also the possibility of the opposite. This ensures that those who choose to be in relationship with him truly love him. Also, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). If this is how God describes love in his scripture, then wouldn’t this be how he loves? God is always hoping that we choose him, but cannot ‘make’ us love him.
God definitely has influence in our lives. He directs the general flow of history just as he directs the heavenly host in the spiritual realm. God still performs miracles; God is very much active and alive throughout history and in people’s lives. Despite being active, God is not coercive in the way he interacts with his creation: “In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.” (Isaiah 63:9-10). God can plead with humanity, and humanity can still have hardened hearts toward the Lord.
The Arminian tradition also believes that one must remain faithful and be in relationship with God in order to ensure salvation. This is supported clearly in scripture in Psalms 69:28 as well as Revelation 3:5. If God gives us free choice to accept his precious gift, then he also must give us the choice to reject it. If someone accepts Christ and then decides that he would rather serve the world, he no longer will receive salvation. Paul seemed to think that this is what was happening in the church of Galatia as they seemed to have “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). This is why Christ claimed that “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13). Those who fall away from the faith can lose their salvation.
When weighing Calvinism and Arminianism, I find that both views provide enticing evidence. I like the Calvinistic ideas of being eternally secure, and unconditionally elected. Knowing that no matter what I do from now on, I can rest in the fact that I have been elected and am going to spend eternity with God is a very comforting thought. On the other hand, Arminians raise a great point in that God loves everyone and would not condemn people to hell. I also like how the Arminian tradition leaves room for free choice.
In the end I have decided that I agree more with the Arminian point of view. I cannot imagine that God would create anyone in his image just to send him to hell. I believe that there is just too much scriptural evidence that God desires to be in relationship with everyone and sent his son to die for the world’s sin. I have seen many people love God with all of their heart and then turn their back on him for the world. I do not believe that they will receive salvation after living their lives in such a rebellious manner. I have also seen my Grandpa struggle with belief in on his death bed after living an atheistic life. I refuse to accept the idea that my Grandpa was simply not part of the elect until perhaps the last few minutes of his life.
I have seen divine intervention during my life. God is definitely active and doing miracles still today. Nevertheless I do not believe that God controls every decision that we make. We are not all parts of a play directed by God in which there is no freedom to do what we choose. This does not reflect the loving nature of God. I believe that God loves us perfectly and longs for us to love him back with every fiber of his being, but he restrains himself from making the decision for us so that we can come to the knowledge of the truth and fully love him on our own. Regardless of how God works through predestination and election, evangelicals can still agree on the truth’s that set us free in the end. God’s word is ultimate authority, God’s nature is perfect, and God desires to be in relationship with his children.
Behold he comes! Riding on the clouds!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
I am so Blessed
God you have given me so much. You have given me a loving family, caring friends, hope in the everlasting, and strength through your word. You have given me many talents and gifts that are so often unappreciated and undeserved. You have given me God-fearing roommates who can affirm and encourage me. You have bestowed upon me an unbelievable number of blessings, and I just wanted to say thanks God.
Your beauty is incomparable
Your glory is unfathomable
Your love is overpowering
Your word is irrefutable
Your might is unmatched
Your wisdom is undeniable
Yet you choose to love me. You choose to impart blessing after blessing upon me. You see my faults and love me anyway. You see the ugliness of my sin and choose to wrap me in your arms regardless. You see me take your word and twist it to mean what I want, questioning your power, your wisdom, your perfection, and your excellence, yet you sent your son all the same. I may not be able to understand the perfectness of your nature or the flawlessness of your ways, but I can say thank you.
Your beauty is incomparable
Your glory is unfathomable
Your love is overpowering
Your word is irrefutable
Your might is unmatched
Your wisdom is undeniable
Yet you choose to love me. You choose to impart blessing after blessing upon me. You see my faults and love me anyway. You see the ugliness of my sin and choose to wrap me in your arms regardless. You see me take your word and twist it to mean what I want, questioning your power, your wisdom, your perfection, and your excellence, yet you sent your son all the same. I may not be able to understand the perfectness of your nature or the flawlessness of your ways, but I can say thank you.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Change
Lately when I look at my spiritual life I see many different things. I see a man who goes before the Lord in prayer regularly. I see a man who enjoys having deep conversations, especially when they lead to new ways to look at things or a theological revelation. I see a man who tries to do the right thing most of the time; one who usually does his best to avoid evil and to cling to what is good. I also see a man who genuinely cares for people. These are good things, and the devil hates them all.
Some other things that I see in myself, however, are not so good. I see someone who turns to his own knowledge and thoughts rather than turning to God’s word. I see someone who still struggles with pride, selfishness, lust, insecurities, and laziness (among many other things). In fact I believe that I had myself pretty much figured out last year when I told my roommate Stephen, “I think I have perfected the art of not under achieving, but achieving exactly what is expected of me and nothing more.” I believe this not only describes me in my schoolwork, but also in my spiritual life. That, brothers and sisters, is not a healthy spiritual life.
In reality I am not even achieving what is expected of me spiritually. Maybe I am good emphasizing the things that I do well so others will see me as a ‘solid’ Christian. Maybe I can throw a nugget of wisdom out there from time to time that God uses to challenge or help someone. In the end, however, I am not achieving what Christ has been calling me to achieve all along. I am not pursuing him the way I would pursue the best birthday present ever, or even an attractive female. I get close enough to God to say “I’m on the right path” and that is about it. Jesus doesn’t call us to be moderate Christians. He doesn’t have a little goal sheet that we can complete while we are down here on earth. Rather he has called us to daily submit ourselves to him and his purpose in order to understand his love more fully. It is a race that will never be finished until we meet our father face to face.
My lukewarm living has been eating away at me lately. I just thought I would share and see if anyone can relate with me.
Love you!
Some other things that I see in myself, however, are not so good. I see someone who turns to his own knowledge and thoughts rather than turning to God’s word. I see someone who still struggles with pride, selfishness, lust, insecurities, and laziness (among many other things). In fact I believe that I had myself pretty much figured out last year when I told my roommate Stephen, “I think I have perfected the art of not under achieving, but achieving exactly what is expected of me and nothing more.” I believe this not only describes me in my schoolwork, but also in my spiritual life. That, brothers and sisters, is not a healthy spiritual life.
In reality I am not even achieving what is expected of me spiritually. Maybe I am good emphasizing the things that I do well so others will see me as a ‘solid’ Christian. Maybe I can throw a nugget of wisdom out there from time to time that God uses to challenge or help someone. In the end, however, I am not achieving what Christ has been calling me to achieve all along. I am not pursuing him the way I would pursue the best birthday present ever, or even an attractive female. I get close enough to God to say “I’m on the right path” and that is about it. Jesus doesn’t call us to be moderate Christians. He doesn’t have a little goal sheet that we can complete while we are down here on earth. Rather he has called us to daily submit ourselves to him and his purpose in order to understand his love more fully. It is a race that will never be finished until we meet our father face to face.
My lukewarm living has been eating away at me lately. I just thought I would share and see if anyone can relate with me.
Love you!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Late night thoughts...
God has recently been showing me how broken I am. I have come to realize that much of what I do, even if the results are good or holy, are out of my selfish motives. Many times I do things that I know will have a good result simply in order for others to see me and have a higher opinion of me. I believe that I am struggling with a very dangerous form of pride-- one in which even things that I do for the kingdom or for others I am really doing for personal gain. I am a people-pleaser to the max. Sure I'll take the backseat of the car, or the smaller brownie, but my motivation isn't for the other person's comfort or enjoyment of the brownie, but rather my motivation is for them to recognize my 'servants heart' or even just for more respect.
Maybe I shouldn't be so worried about my motivation as long as the good things are being done right? I believe the kingdom can be expanded and glorified even by people with bad intentions, but that is not who I want to be. When reading Philippians 2 this week (one of my favorite chapters), I read verse 7 (He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.) in a very different way. Christ was made in human likeness. This human likeness took the very nature of a servant. If we are to look at Christ as the ultimate example, then in the same way should be taking on the very nature of a servant. Because that is what Christ did. Because that is what humanity was meant to look like.
Christianity always seems to turn things upside down by claiming first shall be last, the least shall be the greatest and so on. I have always taken that as just that-- Christ establishing a new kingdom in which all the pretenses of power and wealth become meaningless. When I look at it in light of Philippians 2, however, I see that Christ was saying this not only because it gives people the warm fuzzies when they help someone out, but because when we are living a life of self-sacrifice and service we are truly living out what it means to be human.
I am writing this really late at night and I don't know if it really makes sense, but that is what is going through my head right now so I am writing it down. Thanks for reading it despite my ramblings and nonsensical sentences.
Maybe I shouldn't be so worried about my motivation as long as the good things are being done right? I believe the kingdom can be expanded and glorified even by people with bad intentions, but that is not who I want to be. When reading Philippians 2 this week (one of my favorite chapters), I read verse 7 (He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.) in a very different way. Christ was made in human likeness. This human likeness took the very nature of a servant. If we are to look at Christ as the ultimate example, then in the same way should be taking on the very nature of a servant. Because that is what Christ did. Because that is what humanity was meant to look like.
Christianity always seems to turn things upside down by claiming first shall be last, the least shall be the greatest and so on. I have always taken that as just that-- Christ establishing a new kingdom in which all the pretenses of power and wealth become meaningless. When I look at it in light of Philippians 2, however, I see that Christ was saying this not only because it gives people the warm fuzzies when they help someone out, but because when we are living a life of self-sacrifice and service we are truly living out what it means to be human.
I am writing this really late at night and I don't know if it really makes sense, but that is what is going through my head right now so I am writing it down. Thanks for reading it despite my ramblings and nonsensical sentences.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Love is Power
God,
Your love is power. As I sit here in stillness and submission, your love envelopes me. Your blood washes over me replacing all my fear and failure with hope and renewal. I cast my worries upon you out of frustration and despair—and you gather them up, freeing me and instilling peace beyond my comprehension. You take my life full of guilt, and leave me with the gift of salvation. O yes God! Your love is power!
So make me your servant. I am your vessel to do with as you wish. Help me do nothing out of my own selfish ambition, but rather let me be humble and lift others above myself. I wish to be a light on a hill—not hidden from anything, but rather proclaiming truth to all who will hear. Let me be your hands and feet. Help me mourn for those in sorrow, care for the weak and feeble, and love the unlovable. Help me listen to the meek, and calm the conflicted.
Lord I want to pursue all that is holy. I will flee from temptation and love all that is good. I will stand up for the persecuted, fight against injustices, and pray for those who prey on the innocent. I want to be unshakable and immovable. God give me wisdom, strength, and love so that I may become the man of God that you have intended for me to be. Show me where to go and I will go bearing you love O God.
Amen.
Your love is power. As I sit here in stillness and submission, your love envelopes me. Your blood washes over me replacing all my fear and failure with hope and renewal. I cast my worries upon you out of frustration and despair—and you gather them up, freeing me and instilling peace beyond my comprehension. You take my life full of guilt, and leave me with the gift of salvation. O yes God! Your love is power!
So make me your servant. I am your vessel to do with as you wish. Help me do nothing out of my own selfish ambition, but rather let me be humble and lift others above myself. I wish to be a light on a hill—not hidden from anything, but rather proclaiming truth to all who will hear. Let me be your hands and feet. Help me mourn for those in sorrow, care for the weak and feeble, and love the unlovable. Help me listen to the meek, and calm the conflicted.
Lord I want to pursue all that is holy. I will flee from temptation and love all that is good. I will stand up for the persecuted, fight against injustices, and pray for those who prey on the innocent. I want to be unshakable and immovable. God give me wisdom, strength, and love so that I may become the man of God that you have intended for me to be. Show me where to go and I will go bearing you love O God.
Amen.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Save Me
I am torn
Sin has ravaged my life
You are no longer reflected through me
Darkness has enveloped me without hope of dawn
he is here
he is here to kill and destroy
his lying tongue pleasures my ears
he infuses my heart with satisfaction
masquerading his attempt to destroy
Yet I come
I lie prone, still in Your presence
offering nothing, yet still receiving Your love
In the stillness You meet me
My eyes transform from slivers to full moons--
at just a glimpse of Your glory
You whisper my name
overflowing my heart
You reach out to me
sending shivers of joy down my spine
You kiss me
claiming me as yours
You die for me
Freeing me from bondage
You rise for me
Ensuring my salvation
Sin has ravaged my life
You are no longer reflected through me
Darkness has enveloped me without hope of dawn
he is here
he is here to kill and destroy
his lying tongue pleasures my ears
he infuses my heart with satisfaction
masquerading his attempt to destroy
Yet I come
I lie prone, still in Your presence
offering nothing, yet still receiving Your love
In the stillness You meet me
My eyes transform from slivers to full moons--
at just a glimpse of Your glory
You whisper my name
overflowing my heart
You reach out to me
sending shivers of joy down my spine
You kiss me
claiming me as yours
You die for me
Freeing me from bondage
You rise for me
Ensuring my salvation
Monday, March 8, 2010
Redemption
Many times when I come before God I spend my time clearing my conscience, asking for favors, or thanking him for the blessings he has already given me. Tonight however I decided to listen. I have heard many sermons telling me to listen, and usually right after I hear them I go home and try it out. Sometimes God speaks to me, sometimes I get distracted and give up. Tonight, however, God spoke to me. He didn't reveal my future, nor did He pull the wool from my eyes on any great theological issue. In fact, the thing He taught me was something that I have known about for a long time; I have just never taken the time to notice how incredible and challenging it is. God taught me what redemption through Christ means and looks like.
If someone confronted me and asked me what Jesus came to earth for, I would most likely give the standard answer-- that he came to earth to sacrifice himself, freeing us from our sins so that we can live eternally with him. In this redemptive plan, I would call 'us' humanity as a whole. If this person questioned me further and asked if this included terrorists, murderers, rapists, prostitutes, and others who lived lives fully submersed in sin, I would say yes. But do I really believe that?
I cannot even count the number of times that I have been walking and seen someone whose outward appearance suggests they have a rough life, and I immediately judge them. In reality, however, they can experience God's grace just as I have, and in many cases even more ways than I have. I think of when Jesus met the woman at the well. He forgave her and accepted her. Not only was this woman's life changed, but she went on to tell her entire village about the forgiveness she had received.
Anyone can enter into the Kingdom of God, they just need to want to. As Christians, we need to realize this. There are times in my life when I have had a friend that in the back of my mind I thought that there was no hope that they would ever find Jesus. I need to completely rethink the way I think of the lost. The gospel provides people with hope and fulfillment. We are meant to be in relationship with God. Those that don't have one are looking for one. Why do we act ashamed of the fact that we have that relationship, when in reality it is the greatest thing that anyone could ever have? Because of this, we can go into the world and confidently proclaim the word of God and the salvation He provides. I love when Matthew says we should be lights on a hill for the whole world to see. This doesn't leave out anyone.
It is not our job to change people's lives. It is our job to show love and grace to those we meet. God will change their hearts. While I might not be able to understand the amount of shame and guilt a rapist might feel, I can show them love and forgiveness while God meets them where they are. Only when we get past our preconceived ideas of people will we be able to be able to show them the fullness of God's mercies. We need to get to the point where there are no longer terrorists, murderers, rapists, and prostitutes, but rather lost children of God.
Let's work on that.
If someone confronted me and asked me what Jesus came to earth for, I would most likely give the standard answer-- that he came to earth to sacrifice himself, freeing us from our sins so that we can live eternally with him. In this redemptive plan, I would call 'us' humanity as a whole. If this person questioned me further and asked if this included terrorists, murderers, rapists, prostitutes, and others who lived lives fully submersed in sin, I would say yes. But do I really believe that?
I cannot even count the number of times that I have been walking and seen someone whose outward appearance suggests they have a rough life, and I immediately judge them. In reality, however, they can experience God's grace just as I have, and in many cases even more ways than I have. I think of when Jesus met the woman at the well. He forgave her and accepted her. Not only was this woman's life changed, but she went on to tell her entire village about the forgiveness she had received.
Anyone can enter into the Kingdom of God, they just need to want to. As Christians, we need to realize this. There are times in my life when I have had a friend that in the back of my mind I thought that there was no hope that they would ever find Jesus. I need to completely rethink the way I think of the lost. The gospel provides people with hope and fulfillment. We are meant to be in relationship with God. Those that don't have one are looking for one. Why do we act ashamed of the fact that we have that relationship, when in reality it is the greatest thing that anyone could ever have? Because of this, we can go into the world and confidently proclaim the word of God and the salvation He provides. I love when Matthew says we should be lights on a hill for the whole world to see. This doesn't leave out anyone.
It is not our job to change people's lives. It is our job to show love and grace to those we meet. God will change their hearts. While I might not be able to understand the amount of shame and guilt a rapist might feel, I can show them love and forgiveness while God meets them where they are. Only when we get past our preconceived ideas of people will we be able to be able to show them the fullness of God's mercies. We need to get to the point where there are no longer terrorists, murderers, rapists, and prostitutes, but rather lost children of God.
Let's work on that.
Monday, February 22, 2010
In the beginning...
This is a paper I wrote my senior year. It may be a little lengthy for a blog, but that is the beauty of it-- it is my blog and I get to choose what to put on it. If you have time to read it I think you could learn something.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Wait. Is that truth? Or is it just a religious book that was made to give people a sense of security? The question of how mankind came into being has been a mainstay in the minds of many scientists ever since they have been able to grasp the abstract concepts of human existence and the relevance of time. While the scientific world cannot come to a conclusion, a great deal of evidence supports the idea that an all-powerful, omnipresent God is responsible for creating the universe and everything in it, even time itself.
The “big bang” theory has been the most popular theory countering the creationist worldview. Debates have been heavy and vicious, but they have not been conclusive in finding one dominate theory. It does not really matter how much these two theories are debated, because ultimately they will remain just that—theories. Since humans were not there at the time of earth’s conception, it is impossible to know the absolute truth. However, there are several details that support and negate both of the main theories. According to Jeffrey Tlumak, the professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University, “Everything that exists has a cause or reason. Natural causes are temporally prior to their effects, so nothing is a natural cause of itself.” This idea contradicts the big bang theory. The big bang theory claims that the universe exploded from an infinitely small point into an infinitely large point, creating life through the large transfusion of energy that occurred at the time of the explosion. However, energy is needed for an explosion. Where did this energy come from? It could not have just appeared. There would have to be a cause for the energy to be in effect, which in turn would point to either a former universe or an almighty God. Also, one must take into account entropy—“The inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society,” (American Heritage Dictionary). When things explode, they deteriorate. Conversely, the big bang theory insists the explosion helped in the formation of life. That contradicts reason.
While an explosion that created the universe seems unlikely, an omnipresent, omnipotent God does not seem to be any more realistic. Human imagination can hardly begin to fathom the idea that God has been around forever. The thought that something is infinite just does not seem to connect with the finite human mind. One of the common views about the origin of Christianity is that the stories of Jesus were just another mythological legend such as Zeus or Heracles. “Early Christians knew that the stories of the miraculous birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus paralleled already existing soteriological (Greek for savior or deliverer) fiction,” (Callahan). This is important in understanding how Christianity may have come into being. It seems logical that people suffering under Roman law would create an elaborate story about a redeeming figure. Before writing Christianity off as a myth, however, it needs to be examined a little deeper. First, none of the other mythological stories are considered to be true. Second, “Christianity is flourishing approximately two millennia since Jesus walked the earth—the implication being that divine agency was the reason Christianity defeated its rivals,” (Callahan). Also, people died for the sake of Jesus: “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," (Acts 7:59). Generally, people do not choose to die because of a fairy tale or a mythological story. All of this evidence points toward the reality that there is a God.
Another way scientists attempt to disprove Christianity is by relying upon the evidence supporting evolution. Evolution, which is regularly taught in schools, is a theory of how humans came into being. The most common faction of evolution states that human ancestors are apes. Christianity has adopted the creationism theory. “Creation science includes the sudden creation of the world, with the development of all creatures, separate ancestry for apes and humans, and a worldwide flood which was a catastrophe causing many of today’s fossils,” (Scott). Unfortunately, due to its close ties to biblical accounts, this theory is not taught in public schools. When examining the theories, one will find that animals have many similarities that could easily be a result of natural selection as a part of major evolutionary change. That would explain why whales have hip bones and flying fish have wings to glide with. However, to refute major evolutionary change, the creationists draw to attention the lack of proof of the transitional phases of many animals and plants. Questions such as, “Why did the major groups of animals suddenly appear in the fossil record? And why have no major groups of plants and animals have no transitional forms in the fossil record?” can simply not be directly answered by evolutionists (Scott). Evolution is a very complex theory that comes down to one major factor: chance. In the analogous words of the English theologian William Paley: “If you find a watch on the ground, you naturally conclude not that it assembled itself by chance, but that a watchmaker made it. Similarly, the intricacy of nature must be the work of an omniscient designer, the God of the Bible.”
If the universe came down to chance, humans would be in trouble. “Natural selection of random adaptation cannot be a sufficient explanation for the complexity of living things,” (Scott). There is just too many ‘what ifs’ for evolution to be the best theory. Similarly, creationism has its pitfalls. One of the main issues with the creationist theory is the belief that the creation of the world and everything as in it was created suddenly. This would be considered a miracle. “Miracles defy the laws of nature,” (Connally). In order to believe in the creationist theory, one must believe in miracles. Russell Stannard, a nuclear physicist, claims “The miracles of the bible are not intrinsically impossible.” This is imperative to know. The belief in miracles is not irrational. And if the belief in miracles is rational, then creationism is also rational. If one can believe in creationism, then the belief in God is certainly not irrational.
Science cannot prove many things. Science’s lack of proof that “Big Foot” is a legend, or that the “Loch Ness Monster” does not exist hardly sways the majority from forming their opinions. In the same way, “There is no credible, refereed scientific journal that concludes that the existence of God is impossible,” (Fletcher). In fact, Theodore Drange, the professor of philosophy at West Virginia University, set out to refute the twelve main arguments for God—“Within limits, he is successful,” (Bowser). But the limits are there. He could disprove Christianity down to the faith factor. It comes down to whether or not the individual believes in God. His success, however, is similar to the success many Christian scientists have in disproving evolution. Again, the final factor it comes down to is belief. So if it boils down to the same factor, why are scientists so hesitant to acknowledge a living God? It is partly due to the separation of church and state, and also largely due to the fact that most people do not want to give credit to something they cannot fully understand. Stannard makes a logical suggestion when he proposes—“All scientists should approach new evidence for both sides with humility and an open mind.” Whether one believes in the random chance of the big bang and evolution, or has faith in the almighty God, there needs to be openness to new information. The main difference between the belief of God and the belief in evolutionary science, however, is that evolutionary science stops as a science. Millions of people around the world put their belief in God not because of science, but because of the fulfillment that a relationship with God provides for them. People help the sick in the name of God. Thousands are brought food in the name of God. And millions of people are changed as a result of the work of God in their lives. If the reason people don’t believe in God is due to the lack of tangible evidence, look around. It is all in plain sight. After one views the panorama of the amazingly complex and beautiful place called earth, it is unimaginable that a grand designer is not responsible.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Wait. Is that truth? Or is it just a religious book that was made to give people a sense of security? The question of how mankind came into being has been a mainstay in the minds of many scientists ever since they have been able to grasp the abstract concepts of human existence and the relevance of time. While the scientific world cannot come to a conclusion, a great deal of evidence supports the idea that an all-powerful, omnipresent God is responsible for creating the universe and everything in it, even time itself.
The “big bang” theory has been the most popular theory countering the creationist worldview. Debates have been heavy and vicious, but they have not been conclusive in finding one dominate theory. It does not really matter how much these two theories are debated, because ultimately they will remain just that—theories. Since humans were not there at the time of earth’s conception, it is impossible to know the absolute truth. However, there are several details that support and negate both of the main theories. According to Jeffrey Tlumak, the professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University, “Everything that exists has a cause or reason. Natural causes are temporally prior to their effects, so nothing is a natural cause of itself.” This idea contradicts the big bang theory. The big bang theory claims that the universe exploded from an infinitely small point into an infinitely large point, creating life through the large transfusion of energy that occurred at the time of the explosion. However, energy is needed for an explosion. Where did this energy come from? It could not have just appeared. There would have to be a cause for the energy to be in effect, which in turn would point to either a former universe or an almighty God. Also, one must take into account entropy—“The inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society,” (American Heritage Dictionary). When things explode, they deteriorate. Conversely, the big bang theory insists the explosion helped in the formation of life. That contradicts reason.
While an explosion that created the universe seems unlikely, an omnipresent, omnipotent God does not seem to be any more realistic. Human imagination can hardly begin to fathom the idea that God has been around forever. The thought that something is infinite just does not seem to connect with the finite human mind. One of the common views about the origin of Christianity is that the stories of Jesus were just another mythological legend such as Zeus or Heracles. “Early Christians knew that the stories of the miraculous birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus paralleled already existing soteriological (Greek for savior or deliverer) fiction,” (Callahan). This is important in understanding how Christianity may have come into being. It seems logical that people suffering under Roman law would create an elaborate story about a redeeming figure. Before writing Christianity off as a myth, however, it needs to be examined a little deeper. First, none of the other mythological stories are considered to be true. Second, “Christianity is flourishing approximately two millennia since Jesus walked the earth—the implication being that divine agency was the reason Christianity defeated its rivals,” (Callahan). Also, people died for the sake of Jesus: “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," (Acts 7:59). Generally, people do not choose to die because of a fairy tale or a mythological story. All of this evidence points toward the reality that there is a God.
Another way scientists attempt to disprove Christianity is by relying upon the evidence supporting evolution. Evolution, which is regularly taught in schools, is a theory of how humans came into being. The most common faction of evolution states that human ancestors are apes. Christianity has adopted the creationism theory. “Creation science includes the sudden creation of the world, with the development of all creatures, separate ancestry for apes and humans, and a worldwide flood which was a catastrophe causing many of today’s fossils,” (Scott). Unfortunately, due to its close ties to biblical accounts, this theory is not taught in public schools. When examining the theories, one will find that animals have many similarities that could easily be a result of natural selection as a part of major evolutionary change. That would explain why whales have hip bones and flying fish have wings to glide with. However, to refute major evolutionary change, the creationists draw to attention the lack of proof of the transitional phases of many animals and plants. Questions such as, “Why did the major groups of animals suddenly appear in the fossil record? And why have no major groups of plants and animals have no transitional forms in the fossil record?” can simply not be directly answered by evolutionists (Scott). Evolution is a very complex theory that comes down to one major factor: chance. In the analogous words of the English theologian William Paley: “If you find a watch on the ground, you naturally conclude not that it assembled itself by chance, but that a watchmaker made it. Similarly, the intricacy of nature must be the work of an omniscient designer, the God of the Bible.”
If the universe came down to chance, humans would be in trouble. “Natural selection of random adaptation cannot be a sufficient explanation for the complexity of living things,” (Scott). There is just too many ‘what ifs’ for evolution to be the best theory. Similarly, creationism has its pitfalls. One of the main issues with the creationist theory is the belief that the creation of the world and everything as in it was created suddenly. This would be considered a miracle. “Miracles defy the laws of nature,” (Connally). In order to believe in the creationist theory, one must believe in miracles. Russell Stannard, a nuclear physicist, claims “The miracles of the bible are not intrinsically impossible.” This is imperative to know. The belief in miracles is not irrational. And if the belief in miracles is rational, then creationism is also rational. If one can believe in creationism, then the belief in God is certainly not irrational.
Science cannot prove many things. Science’s lack of proof that “Big Foot” is a legend, or that the “Loch Ness Monster” does not exist hardly sways the majority from forming their opinions. In the same way, “There is no credible, refereed scientific journal that concludes that the existence of God is impossible,” (Fletcher). In fact, Theodore Drange, the professor of philosophy at West Virginia University, set out to refute the twelve main arguments for God—“Within limits, he is successful,” (Bowser). But the limits are there. He could disprove Christianity down to the faith factor. It comes down to whether or not the individual believes in God. His success, however, is similar to the success many Christian scientists have in disproving evolution. Again, the final factor it comes down to is belief. So if it boils down to the same factor, why are scientists so hesitant to acknowledge a living God? It is partly due to the separation of church and state, and also largely due to the fact that most people do not want to give credit to something they cannot fully understand. Stannard makes a logical suggestion when he proposes—“All scientists should approach new evidence for both sides with humility and an open mind.” Whether one believes in the random chance of the big bang and evolution, or has faith in the almighty God, there needs to be openness to new information. The main difference between the belief of God and the belief in evolutionary science, however, is that evolutionary science stops as a science. Millions of people around the world put their belief in God not because of science, but because of the fulfillment that a relationship with God provides for them. People help the sick in the name of God. Thousands are brought food in the name of God. And millions of people are changed as a result of the work of God in their lives. If the reason people don’t believe in God is due to the lack of tangible evidence, look around. It is all in plain sight. After one views the panorama of the amazingly complex and beautiful place called earth, it is unimaginable that a grand designer is not responsible.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
This Is My Prayer
God,
Your glory drives me. Your beauty encourages me. Your majesty humbles me. Your patience inspires me. Your forgiveness restores me. Your love sustains me. Your wisdom gives me rest.
God I need you. I need you. You are the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path. You turn my weakness into strength. You are my counselor, my comforter, my teacher, my king, and my redeemer-- you are my everything. You see beyond my pretenses. You see into my heart. You know my needs and wants before I even conceive them. O God I am yours and yours alone.
So Lord take my life. I offer my body as a living sacrifice for you. Let my attitude be the same as that of Jesus. Let my life reflect humility, patience, grace, and love. Let my thoughts be pure and noble. Let my yes be yes and my no be no. Let me uphold the truth. Lord show yourself to me, so in turn I can show you to the world.
Amen
Your glory drives me. Your beauty encourages me. Your majesty humbles me. Your patience inspires me. Your forgiveness restores me. Your love sustains me. Your wisdom gives me rest.
God I need you. I need you. You are the lamp unto my feet and the light unto my path. You turn my weakness into strength. You are my counselor, my comforter, my teacher, my king, and my redeemer-- you are my everything. You see beyond my pretenses. You see into my heart. You know my needs and wants before I even conceive them. O God I am yours and yours alone.
So Lord take my life. I offer my body as a living sacrifice for you. Let my attitude be the same as that of Jesus. Let my life reflect humility, patience, grace, and love. Let my thoughts be pure and noble. Let my yes be yes and my no be no. Let me uphold the truth. Lord show yourself to me, so in turn I can show you to the world.
Amen
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Love
Love. a simple, four letter word. Yet this simple word holds an incredible amount of meaning. In 1 Chorinthians 13, the bible describes love as patient, kind, trusting, protective, and humble. Love, as in the bible, is an amazing gift that God has blessed us with.
Like many things, however, our world messed it up. We have turned love into an emotion; misplacing loving people for loving things. We love how we look, we love our accomplishments, we love movies, sports, music, and food. We abuse the word love, and because of this abuse we have begun to forget how to actually love. I know I am not very experienced in the art of love myself. Yes, I truly love my family and sometimes my friends, and I make my best effort to love God and his plans for me, but that is where my experience with love comes to an end.
Our world has become a place of impure love. Whether it be a physically impure relationship, impure motives, or simply not following God's description of love, it seems as though our culture has turned our back on true love almost altogether. A phrase comes to mind: I want to be your lover. This statement is immediately associated with sexual desire and fulfillment. When I see that phrase though, I see so much more potential. I want to be God's lover. I want to be able to change my motives from loving myself to being a lover of others. I believe that if we start loving each other as we are designed to, it will help us better understand the love God has for us and expects from us.
I have always been one that wants to marry early. And I have explained to many people that there is a certain love one has for his family, another that he has for his friend, another for God, and still another for a wife. I have had a good experience with those first three so I want to be able to extend my love to a woman. While I still have the desire to marry early, I have begun to realize that I do not need to be married to extend my love. I can start practicing loving my future family by loving people with a biblical perspective in mind. Greeting people with a holy kiss might be a little weird to most, but I can make appropriate changes to the way I love people in a way that reflects a biblical love. maybe I'm rambling...
I have just been thinking a lot of how relationships work in our culture. For the most part I'm not impressed. I believe people need to stop acting on their emotions, and start loving people because God loves them.
Here is a great quote from a really good author, Dallas Willard:
"A great part of the disaster of contemporary life lies in the fact that it is organized around feelings. People nearly always act on their feelings, and think it only right. The will(which is one of the topics of his book, renovation of the heart) is left at the mercy of circumstances that evoke feelings."
I'm working on loving you,
Burke
Like many things, however, our world messed it up. We have turned love into an emotion; misplacing loving people for loving things. We love how we look, we love our accomplishments, we love movies, sports, music, and food. We abuse the word love, and because of this abuse we have begun to forget how to actually love. I know I am not very experienced in the art of love myself. Yes, I truly love my family and sometimes my friends, and I make my best effort to love God and his plans for me, but that is where my experience with love comes to an end.
Our world has become a place of impure love. Whether it be a physically impure relationship, impure motives, or simply not following God's description of love, it seems as though our culture has turned our back on true love almost altogether. A phrase comes to mind: I want to be your lover. This statement is immediately associated with sexual desire and fulfillment. When I see that phrase though, I see so much more potential. I want to be God's lover. I want to be able to change my motives from loving myself to being a lover of others. I believe that if we start loving each other as we are designed to, it will help us better understand the love God has for us and expects from us.
I have always been one that wants to marry early. And I have explained to many people that there is a certain love one has for his family, another that he has for his friend, another for God, and still another for a wife. I have had a good experience with those first three so I want to be able to extend my love to a woman. While I still have the desire to marry early, I have begun to realize that I do not need to be married to extend my love. I can start practicing loving my future family by loving people with a biblical perspective in mind. Greeting people with a holy kiss might be a little weird to most, but I can make appropriate changes to the way I love people in a way that reflects a biblical love. maybe I'm rambling...
I have just been thinking a lot of how relationships work in our culture. For the most part I'm not impressed. I believe people need to stop acting on their emotions, and start loving people because God loves them.
Here is a great quote from a really good author, Dallas Willard:
"A great part of the disaster of contemporary life lies in the fact that it is organized around feelings. People nearly always act on their feelings, and think it only right. The will(which is one of the topics of his book, renovation of the heart) is left at the mercy of circumstances that evoke feelings."
I'm working on loving you,
Burke
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Faith and Family
This is a pretty big topic, but I thought that I would write my first real post based on the things that are most important to me. These two words are often put together as part of a cheesy sermon title or some event for little kids. In my life, however, I have learned that they have had a much closer bond…
My first example comes from the moment I first professed my faith in Jesus. I was four years old, riding around on my favorite BigWheel. After one of my laps around the driveway, I went up to my mom and asked how to become a Christian. I hardly knew what that meant, to be honest I was only asking because I knew that Jesus was something my parents and brothers had that I didn’t. My need to be like my family spurred my desire to follow Christ. While the majority of Christians were not on their big wheel when making this decision, I have heard soo many people say that they had similar motives when becoming a Christ follower. Who says this innate desire to be like those we love changes? Or maybe it doesn’t. Maybe the turning point in one’s faith comes at the moment in which we love God more than our family. Is this when our faith becomes our own? When our mentality shifts from pursuing a lifestyle that is like someone(we love or respect) who follows Christ, to a lifestyle that is pursuing God himself?
I can only give more examples from my life. Seventh grade was the first time I really started to read the bible and pray on a consistent basis. Again, however, my motivation came from someone I looked up to—my youth pastor. He seemed like a Godly man, and I wanted to impress him and model my life after him, so I did what he suggested and had some quiet time every day. This continued through junior high and even into my sophomore year of high school. At this point, I was even in a position in which I was to teach others about God and expect them to understand what a relationship with Christ looks like. I even got the privilege to lead a few kids through some of the formalities of becoming saved. I knew then and continue to be thankful now that despite my small understanding of God, and their even smaller understanding, their names as well as mine are written in the lamb’s book of life forever.
I never really realized how much I modeled my faith after my brothers. We grew up doing everything together. This included growing in our faith. This was great in the fact that we could talk about our struggles and our victories almost daily. However, this also hindered me because I found myself not taking chances and missing many ministry opportunities just because I wanted to do what my brothers did.
Sophomore year my family moved from Kansas to Minnesota. We left both my brothers behind at college, I started in a new school, we lived in a new town, my dad had a new job, and my grandpa died all in the same year. Ya, it was a little stressful. It was the first time I couldn’t look to my brothers to boost my faith. My parents were grieving the loss of my grandfather while adjusting to a new town, and needed much more support than they could give at the time. The first couple weeks were hard. But very soon after the move, I realized that I didn’t need to feel broken or lonely. I had God. That sounds really cheesy and elementary, but God honestly took away any grief and loneliness I was feeling. It was the first time that I had felt God comforting me, and it was unlike anything that I could imagine. God gave me the strength to support my parents through their grief. Also, I was able to be there for my little sister when she was swimming in all the activity around her. I believe that during this time, I finally was able to say that I loved God not because my family loved him or because I had always been taught to do so, but because he is all that is love, all that is holy, and all that I need.
I still love talking with my family about Christ and how he is working in all of our lives. And I still ask them for advice on many of the things I do. I am so grateful to grow up in a Christian home. They provided me a place to nurture my faith until I realized that my relationship with God was only between him and me.
My first example comes from the moment I first professed my faith in Jesus. I was four years old, riding around on my favorite BigWheel. After one of my laps around the driveway, I went up to my mom and asked how to become a Christian. I hardly knew what that meant, to be honest I was only asking because I knew that Jesus was something my parents and brothers had that I didn’t. My need to be like my family spurred my desire to follow Christ. While the majority of Christians were not on their big wheel when making this decision, I have heard soo many people say that they had similar motives when becoming a Christ follower. Who says this innate desire to be like those we love changes? Or maybe it doesn’t. Maybe the turning point in one’s faith comes at the moment in which we love God more than our family. Is this when our faith becomes our own? When our mentality shifts from pursuing a lifestyle that is like someone(we love or respect) who follows Christ, to a lifestyle that is pursuing God himself?
I can only give more examples from my life. Seventh grade was the first time I really started to read the bible and pray on a consistent basis. Again, however, my motivation came from someone I looked up to—my youth pastor. He seemed like a Godly man, and I wanted to impress him and model my life after him, so I did what he suggested and had some quiet time every day. This continued through junior high and even into my sophomore year of high school. At this point, I was even in a position in which I was to teach others about God and expect them to understand what a relationship with Christ looks like. I even got the privilege to lead a few kids through some of the formalities of becoming saved. I knew then and continue to be thankful now that despite my small understanding of God, and their even smaller understanding, their names as well as mine are written in the lamb’s book of life forever.
I never really realized how much I modeled my faith after my brothers. We grew up doing everything together. This included growing in our faith. This was great in the fact that we could talk about our struggles and our victories almost daily. However, this also hindered me because I found myself not taking chances and missing many ministry opportunities just because I wanted to do what my brothers did.
Sophomore year my family moved from Kansas to Minnesota. We left both my brothers behind at college, I started in a new school, we lived in a new town, my dad had a new job, and my grandpa died all in the same year. Ya, it was a little stressful. It was the first time I couldn’t look to my brothers to boost my faith. My parents were grieving the loss of my grandfather while adjusting to a new town, and needed much more support than they could give at the time. The first couple weeks were hard. But very soon after the move, I realized that I didn’t need to feel broken or lonely. I had God. That sounds really cheesy and elementary, but God honestly took away any grief and loneliness I was feeling. It was the first time that I had felt God comforting me, and it was unlike anything that I could imagine. God gave me the strength to support my parents through their grief. Also, I was able to be there for my little sister when she was swimming in all the activity around her. I believe that during this time, I finally was able to say that I loved God not because my family loved him or because I had always been taught to do so, but because he is all that is love, all that is holy, and all that I need.
I still love talking with my family about Christ and how he is working in all of our lives. And I still ask them for advice on many of the things I do. I am so grateful to grow up in a Christian home. They provided me a place to nurture my faith until I realized that my relationship with God was only between him and me.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
First One
Well here it goes. I talked to a few people about blogging, and realized that I will probably like it. So here goes nothing!
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