Love this book. First one that helped my to atriculate all of the Truths I believed. It is probably the first book I suggest to people for a good read, or for apologetics. So GET IT
* The name Christians was first given to Antioch (Acts 11:26) to 'the disciples', to those who accepted the teaching of the apostles. {Can we please start using this in the proper sense? No more of this "I'm a Christian because I go to Church with my parents" and "I hate those Christians we do this in that" when those things aren't of Christian doctrine.}
Lewis starts from a completely objective point of view, and addresses some of the questions we wrestle with as humans. He helps to show, from each of these questions presented, what the actual truth is.
Most of the time, these truths leads to other questions, but there is now a foundation to work with. He logically builds truth on top of truth. He presents the answers that Christianity offers, as well as speaking from the other points of view of what else is offered. He helps us to see the contradictions and empty arguments.
Now when I say truth, I am of course referring to an absolute truth, which I think it sad that the distinction should be made. Be definition, a truth is an absolute truth, anything not absolute is merely a perspective. There is no "my truth verses your truth"
I have found that some approach Christianity, is if it were on a list of religions to choose from. This idea that there is no absolute truth, and as long as you choose (and I would argue "not-choosing" is choosing a religion in and of itself, more on this later) one of them, who is to say you're wrong?
A simple quote from his book which I love "... as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature."
What are your thoughts? Does this resonate with you?
Thursday
Knowledge
"Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge"
Psalm 19:2
"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding"
Proverbs 2:6
"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge"
Proverbs 18:15
"And it is my prayer that your love may about more and more, with knowledge and all discernment"
Philippians 1:9
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"
Hosea 4:6
Kony 2012
A more current example regarding Kony where " the United States took that kind of action because the people demanded it. Not for self defence, but because it was right."
KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
This isn't finished. "In order for him to be arrested this year, the Ugandan military has to find him. For this to happen, the Us Govenment has deployed advisors to help with the use of technology that will assist in finding him. However, if they do not believe that we care about arresting Kony, the mission will be cancelled. In order to care, they have to know."
Their has been some controversy over this video... that "the notion that a group of young Americans utterly disconnected from Uganda, save through the giving of small sums and a general feeling of sentimentality toward Africa, can stop a war there is laughable" (Jake Meador, A Failure of Storytelling: Kony 2012 and the Social Imagination).
There have been some other good points raised, that this would be an unconstitutional use of the US. Military, and that it would be economically irresponsible. Can we really afford to invest in this conflict, and is this the most responsible thing we can do?
Ugandan Leader Norbert Mao on KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
I do not have the whole answer, but I can draw off of what I do know. God has called us to care for the "least of these" Matthew 25 31-46 . I know that to sit and do nothing is not acceptable. We may not have the best answer, but with Prayer I would hope we would be given discernment and wisodm.
As Matthew Anderson of Mere Othodoxy says, "their video...challenges young people to get involved in something bigger than themselves, and seeks justice for the top international criminal in the world. That is something we should be proud of"
**For more reading and a great reference, A Brief Kony Reading List
What are your thoughts?
KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
This isn't finished. "In order for him to be arrested this year, the Ugandan military has to find him. For this to happen, the Us Govenment has deployed advisors to help with the use of technology that will assist in finding him. However, if they do not believe that we care about arresting Kony, the mission will be cancelled. In order to care, they have to know."
Their has been some controversy over this video... that "the notion that a group of young Americans utterly disconnected from Uganda, save through the giving of small sums and a general feeling of sentimentality toward Africa, can stop a war there is laughable" (Jake Meador, A Failure of Storytelling: Kony 2012 and the Social Imagination).
There have been some other good points raised, that this would be an unconstitutional use of the US. Military, and that it would be economically irresponsible. Can we really afford to invest in this conflict, and is this the most responsible thing we can do?
Ugandan Leader Norbert Mao on KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
I do not have the whole answer, but I can draw off of what I do know. God has called us to care for the "least of these" Matthew 25 31-46 . I know that to sit and do nothing is not acceptable. We may not have the best answer, but with Prayer I would hope we would be given discernment and wisodm.
As Matthew Anderson of Mere Othodoxy says, "their video...challenges young people to get involved in something bigger than themselves, and seeks justice for the top international criminal in the world. That is something we should be proud of"
**For more reading and a great reference, A Brief Kony Reading List
What are your thoughts?
Wednesday
Is neutrality an option?
It has been said that the University platform is often more influential that the Church pulpit... and that if we are not investing in the future, people with alternative worldviews will.
Blasphemy has been defined as 1) denying of God what is true 2) ascribing to God what is false. This is in essence idolatry, which the Bible takes very seriously. In Exodus 20:3, God gave Moses the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me."
There is a term called FALLACY OF EQUIVOCATION, which occurs when a word is used in two different contexts and is assumed to have the same meaning in both contexts, when distinct meanings ought to be preferred.
[ As a little experiment, I have ask the question "was President Clinton impeached?" to people my age or older who were very familiar with this particular piece of history. Most said "No, he served his full two terms." I reply "I realize that, but that was not my question. I asked if he was impeached" to which they give me a blank stare. To impeach means to bring an accusation against. I do not think anyone is denying that President Clinton has accusations brought against him.]
Pseudo Christians, or what some refer to as cults, often "use Christian vocabulary, but not a biblical dictionary." (Kevin Bywater). This is sometimes done intentionally, which Paul talked about in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15. However, how many people are deceived and led astray unknowingly?
This brings me to 2 Timothy 2: 23-26,
So, the title of the post: is neutrality really even an option? Can we really just sit back with our ticket to Heaven?
In a time where our world was in need of some serious reconciliation, William Wilberforce was a social reformer. His epitaph as follows:
Blasphemy has been defined as 1) denying of God what is true 2) ascribing to God what is false. This is in essence idolatry, which the Bible takes very seriously. In Exodus 20:3, God gave Moses the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me."
There is a term called FALLACY OF EQUIVOCATION, which occurs when a word is used in two different contexts and is assumed to have the same meaning in both contexts, when distinct meanings ought to be preferred.
[ As a little experiment, I have ask the question "was President Clinton impeached?" to people my age or older who were very familiar with this particular piece of history. Most said "No, he served his full two terms." I reply "I realize that, but that was not my question. I asked if he was impeached" to which they give me a blank stare. To impeach means to bring an accusation against. I do not think anyone is denying that President Clinton has accusations brought against him.]
Pseudo Christians, or what some refer to as cults, often "use Christian vocabulary, but not a biblical dictionary." (Kevin Bywater). This is sometimes done intentionally, which Paul talked about in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15. However, how many people are deceived and led astray unknowingly?
This brings me to 2 Timothy 2: 23-26,
"But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will"
Because I just got a new Study Bible , I'll just go ahead and point out "able to teach" means "convict and encourage godliness". This goes hand in hand with emphasizing gentleness and patience. We are not teaching for the sake of being right, but rather to help our brothers and sisters "come to their senses".
Some (let's be honest, everyone) have questioned, why Evangelism is important if God is Sovereign? (Good news, J. I. Packer read your mind and wrote Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God)
Now I whole-heartedly believe in the Sovereignty of God, but what if he wants to use us (by showing them the truth) in order that they may have that Peace sooner than later? ["if" being the key word here, this is just my personal thought] What would this look like? How could this potentially change our world? Not by our power/strength/plan, but because God is granting them repentance and we're right there waiting to show them the scriptures - encouraging them to see the true attributes of Yahweh. (The alternative, being to allow deceitful teachers come in and teach them false attributes and therefore point them to a false god.)
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
[ "Reconciliation" katallosso = catalyst: an agent that creates a reaction. "World" kosmos = cosmos: the order of all things. "Ambassador" presbeuo = elder: A person who brings maturity and balance into an immature and chaotic situation ]
In a time where our world was in need of some serious reconciliation, William Wilberforce was a social reformer. His epitaph as follows:
"In an age and county fertile, In great and good man,
He was among the foremost of those who fixed the character of their times,
because to high and various talents, to warm benevolene, and to universal candour,
he added the abiding eloquence of a Christian life."
In the world but not of the world
A few years ago, my wonderful mother was convicted to glorify God with her mind, not only her heart soul and strength (Matthew 22:37) I discovered a love for reading and learning as she passed books/studies/ideas along to me, while at the same time discovering many questions.
The questions came from unproven ideas I had always accepted as Truth. In hindsight, I thank God for the Peace that I had, keeping these issues from compromising my Faith. However, I knew the argument of "Jesus told me in my heart" could only go so far when pointing others to Truth.
"We must live both piously and competently" says Jeff Ventrella of the Alliance Defense Fund. We are not called to argue, are not to expect others to put their Faith in the Lord based solely on appologetics. However, as 2 Timothy 2:22-26 [which is completely rocking my world right now] points out, we are to humble correct those in opposition, so that they may know they truth. God is the one granting repentance to them.
As Jeff says, "we can give enough apologetics to clear the path, then get back to the Gospel."
The questions came from unproven ideas I had always accepted as Truth. In hindsight, I thank God for the Peace that I had, keeping these issues from compromising my Faith. However, I knew the argument of "Jesus told me in my heart" could only go so far when pointing others to Truth.
"We must live both piously and competently" says Jeff Ventrella of the Alliance Defense Fund. We are not called to argue, are not to expect others to put their Faith in the Lord based solely on appologetics. However, as 2 Timothy 2:22-26 [which is completely rocking my world right now] points out, we are to humble correct those in opposition, so that they may know they truth. God is the one granting repentance to them.
As Jeff says, "we can give enough apologetics to clear the path, then get back to the Gospel."
The Church
"To be a part of the church of Jesus Christ, as Jesus defined it, is to be a part of a spiritual legislative body tasked to enact heaven's viewpoint in hell's society"- Dr. Tony Evans
Sound a little harsh?
The Revelation of the Church is found in Matthew 16:18 - "And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and on the rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
"Peter" (Petros = small stone)
"Rock" (petra = foundation boulder)
"the gates of Hades" (Literal location in Caesarea Philippi (sin city) where shrines were built to other gods)
Jesus had taken his disciples on a 32 mile walk to have this talk. They are now standing in front of the center of worship to false gods. Is Jesus showing showing them where he wanted them to build His Church? In locations where God is not even known? In locations where worship to other gods is happening?
Where are these locations God is calling us to build or engage in His Church? The Church is a representative body, and therefore by it's very nature should be engaging in society. The Kingdom of God is powerful and will affect every aspect of society.
Sound a little harsh?
The Revelation of the Church is found in Matthew 16:18 - "And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and on the rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
"Peter" (Petros = small stone)
"Rock" (petra = foundation boulder)
"the gates of Hades" (Literal location in Caesarea Philippi (sin city) where shrines were built to other gods)
Jesus had taken his disciples on a 32 mile walk to have this talk. They are now standing in front of the center of worship to false gods. Is Jesus showing showing them where he wanted them to build His Church? In locations where God is not even known? In locations where worship to other gods is happening?
Where are these locations God is calling us to build or engage in His Church? The Church is a representative body, and therefore by it's very nature should be engaging in society. The Kingdom of God is powerful and will affect every aspect of society.
Tuesday
On Bonhoeffer
For the sake a organizing, remembering, and capping...I'll be filling the next few posts with regards to the Conference with Summit Ministries in Colorado Springs, at Glen Eyrie.
Our first speaker was Eric Metaxas , author of Bonhoeffer and Amazing Grace ... I also learned out about Socrates in the City which I cannot wait to get my hands on.
Some of my favorite quotes from the famous German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
“I'm still discovering, right up to this moment, that it is only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. I mean living unreservedly in life's duties, problems, successes and failures, experiences and perplexities. In so doing, we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God.”
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
I don't want to ruin it for you, so check out the video below...
An Evening with Eric Metaxas from Woodmen Valley Chapel on Vimeo.
A few weeks earlier, Eric had a chance to speak at the Nation Prayer Breakfast, in front of all of our political leaders. Check it out here.
Our first speaker was Eric Metaxas , author of Bonhoeffer and Amazing Grace ... I also learned out about Socrates in the City which I cannot wait to get my hands on.
Some of my favorite quotes from the famous German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
“I'm still discovering, right up to this moment, that it is only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. I mean living unreservedly in life's duties, problems, successes and failures, experiences and perplexities. In so doing, we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God.”
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
I don't want to ruin it for you, so check out the video below...
An Evening with Eric Metaxas from Woodmen Valley Chapel on Vimeo.
A few weeks earlier, Eric had a chance to speak at the Nation Prayer Breakfast, in front of all of our political leaders. Check it out here.
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