Intelligent Christianity

One concept I can't grasp is that we all supposedly have a choice to follow God or not, and if not, you go to hell for denying him. But as much as I would like to believe that there is God that loves me, a purpose for my life and an afterlife where I will live for eternity with all of my loved ones, I can't bring myself to believe it. I didn't wake up one morning and decide to be atheist, it's just the way I think. It sounds like the whole concept is flawed, that I would go to hell by default.

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:57:48 -0500

Is God unjust for sending people to hell?

In Christian philosophy, He is not. The idea of a just God who has no choice but to punish sin is not hard to understand in itself, but it is difficult to accept.

If there is a just God, a ruler of the universe, He cannot let those who break His law get away scot-free. To do so would cause God to stop being God, because He would no longer be perfectly just. God is also merciful, so while he cannot deny His own nature and accept sinners into His presence, He did find a way to allow a creation in rebellion to be reconciled with Him.

Selfish? Perhaps to the human mind. But realize this: Jesus was God Himself. God did not send an angel or a man to appease His righteous wrath. He sent Himself. God Himself died. He died for you. He died because He wants you to be reunited with Him. He took the punishment. He paid the price.

So yes, man by default is on the way to Hell. Blame this on whomever you want, but do not blame it on God. Mankind as a whole is in rebellion against Him, and you as an individual are as well. God has gone to great lengths to save you. You are to blame, not God. It is you that are flawed, mankind that is flawed, not God’s righteousness.

Hard to accept, yes, because it requires us to confess that we are wrong and accept a gift we don’t want to admit we need.

No one can force you to humble yourself to that point but yourself.

That I May Know Him (Part 1/4)

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:59:00 -0500

So, do you know Christ? I’m not talking about salvation, although you certainly need to know Christ that way. Have you moved beyond that initial knowledge, that first meeting? Do you really know Christ, intimately and personally?

This is not a formal exposition of Philippians 3:8-10. First of all, I’m writing this on my phone, which limits me somewhat. Also, I have so many thoughts on this passage that to convey them all would require multiple chapters of a book not yet written. Think of this as a casual heart-to-heart challenge.

The dictionary defines knowing someone as “having developed a relationship with them, through talking to and spending time with them.” What if you were to insert your own and Christ’s name into that definition? Have you “developed a relationship with Christ , through talking to and spending time with Him?”

Before you answer yes, look at Philippians 3. Paul, the author of Philippians, writes,

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him,

Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

- Philippians 3:8-10

Paul is passionate here. How can I tell? He uses descriptive and detailed words to describe superlative concepts. Surpassing worth. Rubbish. The loss of ALL things. This is not your average David and Goliath Sunday school lesson. When Paul says surpassing worth, he means unbelievable value. When he says rubbish, he means that what you’re living for right now is literal trash.

Then he says,

“That I may know him.”

Implying that he doesn’t already know Him.

Oh sure, Paul knew Christ. He knew Christ better than any of us ever will. And that’s the scary thing. Paul had a greater knowledge of Christ than the best of us. I can’t imagine being as close to Christ as Paul was. And yet even at that level of knowledge, Paul still didn’t fully know Christ! Paul said “I haven’t even started getting to know Christ!” Paul still yearned and strived to know Christ even better.

He says in verse 12,

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

No one can fully know Christ, not in this life, at least. What distinguishes Paul from the rest of us? How did Paul manage to know Christ as much as he did? Simple. He purposefully strove to get to know Christ. Knowing Christ will not happen accidentally. Paul knew this and he made a decision to commit himself to the discipline of knowing Christ. Paul had his priorities straight. He chose to put getting to know Christ above all else.

So, do you know Christ? Are you willing to commit yourself to the discipline of getting to know Him?

God: “Would you say that a person who watches 20 minutes of television a week worships the TV?”

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:45:00 -0500

God: “Would you say that a person who watches 20 minutes of television a week worships the TV?”

Us: “Probably not.”

God: “Then why would you say that someone who worships me 20 minutes a week is a worshipper of God?”

"The Bible has a way of not remaining hostage to a culture or ideology. Its revelatory focus on..."

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 13:00:15 -0400

“The Bible has a way of not remaining hostage to a culture or ideology. Its revelatory focus on liberation, justice, reconciliation and inclusion has a way of liberating it from repressive cultural assumptions that some try to use it to reinforce. When young people ask me whether the Bible doesn’t oppress women and gay people, I advise them to read it thoroughly, deeply and thoughtfully… and with a newspaper in their other hand. The Bible itself, studied with open minds and hearts, is more trustworthy than many of us who quote it.”

- Rev. Dean Snyder

That last line… woah.

(via conformingtotheson)

"Philosophy and science have not always been friendly toward the idea of God, the reason being they..."

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:15:11 -0400

“Philosophy and science have not always been friendly toward the idea of God, the reason being they are dedicated to the task of accounting for things and are impatient with anything that refuses to give an account of itself. The philosopher and the scientist will admit that there is much that they do not know; but that is quite another thing from admitting there is something which they can never know, which indeed they have no technique for discovering.”

- A.W. Tozer

"In a universe governed by God there are no chance events. Indeed, there is no such thing as chance...."

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:13:55 -0400

““In a universe governed by God there are no chance events. Indeed, there is no such thing as chance. Chance does not exist. It is merely a word we use to describe mathematical possibilities. But chance itself has no power because it has no being. Chance is not an entity that can influence reality. Chance is not a thing. It is nothing.””

- R.C. Sproul

God in a Box

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:29:00 -0400

We’ve all seen a lion before. We see them in the zoo, pacing or sleeping, oblivious to the crowd that sifts past. We walk up, see the lion, and walk away. We have the lion at a convenient distance, well under control, and we have no obligation to stay longer than we wish. We don’t wish to stay long because, to be honest, we find the lion boring. But it is so infamous we have to just “see” it.

This is what we usually think about when we hear the word “lion”. When I hear the word “lion”, I think of a story told by a missionary to Tanzania.

The missionary and a native friend were camping on the Serengeti during migration season. When he asked the friend why he had chosen that time of year, his friend replied, “Oh, I was hoping the migrating wildebeests might distract the lions.” Slightly perturbed by this revelation, the missionary nonetheless helped his friend set up their tiny tent. As dark fell and the two in the tent tried to sleep, all the noises of the night floated over them. One in particular was unsettling. A lion approached, growling softly. It was then that the terrified missionary realized that all that separated him from this dangerous animal were three millimeters of thin plastic. He was totally defenseless, naked to the whims of the animal. While the story ended happily, the experience was imprinted in the missionary’s memory forever.

So who really saw the lion? The thousands of tourists who paid the fee, took a picture, and moved on? Or the missionary whose life was altered by his encounter with an animal with the power to end his existence?

Most of us experience God like the tourists experience the lion at the zoo. We experience Him at a comfortable distance, well under control, and we have no obligation to stay longer than we wish. We put God in a box, a box of convenience. He is pulled out when we need Him, but he never interferes with our daily lives. We actually find Him boring. And we wonder why our spiritual walk is empty! We are worshiping a domesticated God, a God of our own invention, an idol. We are no better than the Israelites and their constant regression to Baal worship.

How many of us experience God in the wild, the God with the power to utterly and completely annihilate? You are at the whim of God! You are exposed, naked. Your sins and shortcomings are painfully obvious. God could smite you and still be righteous. Prostrate yourself in fear, and marvel at the grace and mercy that allows you to experience such a great God and live.

Power and Wisdom

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:15 -0400

“The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still.” - A.W. Tozer

There’s a saying that knowledge is power. That may be true, but power can be used for good and evil. As Christians, we should certainly arm ourselves with knowledge, but we should also pray for wisdom to use that knowledge. How much of the Bible do you know? How much do you have memorized? Can you explain your beliefs easily? No? Then no amount of wisdom will help you, just like an effective weapon is useless without ammunition. The Bible says,

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12

If the Word of God is our weapon, we should be armed to the teeth against the attacks of the enemy. If we are well-equipped, what then? How can we use this power? Only with wisdom. If we try to use this power selfishly, we will only hurt others.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” - James 1:5

If we remember to use God’s Word wisely, we can be effective for Him.

"It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:52:08 -0400

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”

- Lamentations 3:22

"The devil is a better theologian than any of us, and is a devil still. - A. W. Tozer"

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:02:58 -0400

“The devil is a better theologian than any of us, and is a devil still. - A. W. Tozer”

"Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and he volunteered for it."

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:18:24 -0400

“Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and he volunteered for it.”

- RC Sproul (via sketchmedesire)

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self- control.” - 2...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:33:00 -0400

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self- control.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

6 Ways to Bring Civility Online

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:52:38 -0400

6 Ways to Bring Civility Online:

This was too good not to share. Great post from The Art of Manliness blog.

1. Remember that there are real people on the other side of the computer.

This is so easy to forget. We see only our screen and our empty apartment; the faces of folks out there who will be reading what we write seem unreal and nebulous. But they are out there. And your words can truly wound them. So when writing something, keep this rule in mind:

2. Never say something to someone online that you wouldn’t say to the person’s face.

Perhaps the most important rule for online interactions. People level the kind of vitriol online they would assuredly never say to someone’s face. I know a website owner that sometimes figures out the phone numbers of those who leave extremely rude comments and calls them up to ask what made them say something like that. Inevitably, the confronted person, hearing the voice of a real human being, is reduced to a stammering, apologetic mess.

3. Use your real name.

This is simple: if you’re not proud enough of something to have it associated with your real name, then why are you writing it?

Yes, there are caveats to this rule–legitimate reasons for anonymity. But when typing in an alias, ask yourself why you’re doing it. Do you have a valid reason for doing so, or do you simply wish to avoid ownership of your words because they are rude?

"Nothing is more precious or valuable than the blood of a sinless Man."

Tue, 24 May 2011 13:54:43 -0400

“Nothing is more precious or valuable than the blood of a sinless Man.”

- R. C. Sproul (via conformingtotheson)

"The anvil is not afraid of the hammer."

Fri, 20 May 2011 16:05:18 -0400

“The anvil is not afraid of the hammer.”

- C.H. Spurgeon

"[On Lord of the Rings] Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron. Here is a..."

Sun, 15 May 2011 21:00:51 -0400

““[On Lord of the Rings] Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron. Here is a book which will break your heart.””

- C. S. Lewis (via theclivestaples)

"Logic! Why don’t they teach logic at these schools?"

Thu, 12 May 2011 17:55:48 -0400

““Logic! Why don’t they teach logic at these schools?””

- C.S. Lewis - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

"Atheism is a disease of the mind caused by eating underdone philosophy."

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:23:16 -0400

“Atheism is a disease of the mind caused by eating underdone philosophy.”

- AUSTIN O’MALLEY, Keystones of Thought

Philippians 3:10

Sat, 07 May 2011 16:19:38 -0400

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. - ESV

"You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body."

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:02:45 -0500

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”

- C.S. Lewis