Valuing the Views: The Mark of a Healthy Society

Tolerance for opposing points of view is important for maintaining any healthy society. In fact, such a society should relish disagreement as the only true way forward. If all agree, there is nothing more to discover, nothing to drive us onward, which, arguably, is a significant part of what makes us who we are. However, the way in which we handle those differences is what will ultimately define us. It is more valuable to have a unified community possessing divergent views than one of uniformity and enforced presumptions.

Grammar Devil

I don't know why I came up with this today, it kind of just happened. For what it's worth, I think it's pretty clever.

Dr. John Goldingay on Israel and Palestine

This is a brilliant statement of crucial importance:

“Does God still protect Israel? Well, God still protects the Jewish people. In our time we have to make a distinction between the state of Israel, which is a state like any other and the Jewish people, most of whom live outside the state of Israel. And declaring that God is committed to the Jewish people does not mean that you reckon that God is committed to the state of Israel, particularly over against the Palestinians. But it’s hard, I think, for Christians to make those distinctions.” 

Dr. John Goldingay

Intolerance

Here is a quote from Mahatma Gandhi. In a simple and profound way, he pinpoints yet another underlying attitude prevalent throughout some forms of Christendom today: 

"Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause." 

Unfortunately, the downward trend is anything goes, but it never should become a point of hatred or ostracism. Of all people, Christians should be the ones who can deal with situations and handle those who do not believe quite like them. So what has happened? Have Christians lost faith in their own cause and leader, having traded it for a bunch of worthless doctrines and traditions? It's repugnant, that's what it is.

"In the Right"

"It is ecclesiology (membership in God’s people) as the advance sign of soteriology (being saved on the last day). It is 'justification' in the present, anticipating the verdict of the future. God will declare on the last day that certain people are 'in the right,' by raising them from the dead; and that verdict has been brought forward into the present, visibly and community-formingly."

N.T. Wright, Justification: God's Plan & Paul's Vision, 146-7

Bliss-less Ignorance

With all I have learned and continue to discover, it is - at times - overwhelming, not in a negative sense, but perhaps more along the lines of how Sir Isaac Newton described:

"To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me." 

It seems as though the more informed I become, I am increasingly aware of how little I know.

Compassion

Feeling compassion for those who despise us is not natural, but embracing that which is not our nature is to welcome something much greater than ourselves and participate in a work that only God can do. 

~ S. Edwin Rufener

Are Christians Like Their Christ?

Christians who claim to be followers of Jesus are frequently heard belting phrases like 

"I want to be like Jesus more than anything else." 

Unfortunately, the track record for Christendom as a whole speaks for itself and is found to be far from exemplifying this. While many Christians pontificate their genuineness and faith, the real declaration being communicated is seen and heard when others are treated with contempt, spite and ostracism due to ethnicity, religion, doctrine, politics or sexuality etc.  

Those who bear the title "Christian" on their lapels, yet flagrantly act in this manner toward fellow humanity reveal themselves to be liars beyond the pale. It is they who drag the name of "Christ" through the mud and cause the mention of "Christian" to be abhorred among the nations. Perhaps Gandhi nailed it perfectly when remarking, 

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

Great Quotes

Here are a couple recent great quotes:

The first is from J. R. D. Kirk, 

"We all read with an interpretive grid that allows some interpretations and disallows others."

The second is from something James McGrath shared on his blog:

"Many Evangelicals fear engaging in scholarship precisely because, when done honestly, it can lead to conclusions that one set out hoping to avoid drawing."

How a Nicene Bishop Stole Saturnalia

In keeping with the season and good holiday cheer, 

Here's something I've written for Saturnalia this year.

It may contain elements you never have heard,

But they were not fashioned by me, however absurd.

No need to trust me, you can click on this link, 

Then in the comments below let me know what you think.

So without further delay I offer this poem, 

Not like my usual long-winded tome.

How a Nicene Bishop Stole Saturnalia

Twas’ a time long ago, in a place known as Nice, 

Where some councilmen penned a cold, yet heated device. 

From abroad these leaders came and drafted a creed, 

Which for years from then onward the Church would mislead. 

One attendee present refused to agree, 

To this idea of God they labeled “Trinity.” 

Such an act of defiance caused a stir that was quick, 

And up with a flash jumped a saint later called Nick. 

He waved his fist, shouted and called him a name, 

Saying God’s persons were separate, yet still all the same. 

To suggest Christ was a creature did such anger incite, 

And caused the charitable Bishop to resort to a fight. 

This man from Myra himself did abase, 

By striking poor Arius right in the face. 

Why was the Alexandrian struck so hard on the cheek, 

When as a presbyter wasn’t even permitted to speak? 

It just goes to show one's view will be counted as rot, 

If it’s sang of the son, “there was a time when he was not.” 

Thus began an age of heretic hunting and barbarian acts, 

When many were slain rejecting these Trinitarian “facts.” 

Reformation again was still yet to come, 

Resulting in more unneeded martyrdom. 

This was not of the Christ, nor of his God, 

But rather a sham, a Christian façade. 

I will end this small tale which is in many ways tall: 

When your stockings are hung neatly up on your wall, 

And the soft, gentle snowflakes have started to fall, 

If you’re waiting for Santa be ready to brawl.

For he may come slinking or sneaking about, 

If he’s heard that Jesus’ homoousios you doubt. 

Don’t worry or panic, merely cover your chin, 

If you’re a Socinian or Arian Unitarian.

Question an Answer to Answer a Question

Can questioning answers lead to answers of questions? 

Some answers raise questions, some questions give answers. 

If answering questions is all that you do, 

I have a really good question for you. 

If you’ve never questioned an answer that’s always been there, 

are you fit as an answer giver, unbiased and fair? 

If a question is good and the answer is true, 

then the question has answered a riddle for you. 

If the question is good but the answer unsound, 

Make a quest for the answer until the truth has been found. 

If the question is wrong, and you may just not know, 

It's all part of life, how we learn, mature and we grow. 

So question the answers you always have heard, 

no matter how eloquent, official or absurd. 

For some of the things you probably were taught,

Turned out to be false when better answers were sought.

The one who searches out truth from the fable,

has only to question an answer and he’s able. 

For every false answer will eventually fall apart,

when the seekers of answers make their questioning start.

It doesn't take long for a whole kingdom to fall,

When good men question nothing, nothing at all.

Off the Map

I find that people are afraid of questioning, afraid of those who question, and ultimately, afraid of the truth. No one wants to be excluded, or be the "radical" one. Following God in the pattern of Deut. 6 (sh'ma) requires following at all costs. That cost is greater for some than others. For some, they would rather retain the approval and good standing with their fellow traditionalists. We have price tags on our "truth". We don't want "that" truth. God is perfectly comfortable in contradicting our belief systems, and often times our understanding about Him and His governing dynamics. If we truly seek His truth, we will find the doors will be opened. We just have to be willing to open the flap, step outside the box and go "off the map".

Reasonable

Since the time of the enlightenment, western thinkers (in the tradition of the Greeks) have tended toward the assumption that certain ways of reasoning are universal in scope. Among Christian laity, often when hearing a scholar speak of cultural context, development of dogmatism or other such interpretation related necessities, some could assume the scholar is undermining the text or claiming it to be somehow false or insufficient. What fails to be understood is what we consider “reasonable” is influenced by our own worldviews, which have been shaped by our historical understanding, culture, economics, traditions, denomination and/or religions affiliations. Our perception of the world and derivation of what constitutes “reasonable” is radically different than someone on the other side of the world, who could take the same words or data and arrive at an opposite conclusion. For example, a British individual when expressing excitement regarding his accommodations or apartment may say, “I’m mad about my flat”, while an American would take that to mean, he got stuck somewhere due to lack of sufficient tire air pressure on an automobile. We cannot interpret the Bible with a modern set of cultural paradigms, axioms or personal idealism. Translation is by nature interpretation; interpretation is often biased.

We the People

When a government no longer attempts to protect its people from itself, it is a government with masters far greater than its citizens.

Dishonor

The sad reality of our day is that we are seeing a surge not unlike that of the French Revolution. The past generation has given rise to feminism, equalitarianism and many other such pernicious isms which vigorously seek to destroy familism and right relationships that ought to permeate the hearts of God’s people. We have quickly become a youth and individual centric culture; an iCulture. As people of God, we have evolved in a culture that thrives on dishonor in many guises and have not only learned to tolerate it, but actively participate. The young rise against the old, the wife against her husband and the children against parents. This spirit of our age is a destructive nemesis and God’s people have willingly invited him in and accepted his cultural aesthetics.

Complacency and stagnation are enemies of a faith journey with whom all pilgrims must wage war.

Go with God

This year may truth be a stranger you meet on the road, welcome into your home and with whom you make strong bonds of affection. May you subsequently seek out his travel companions, wisdom, prudence and meekness until you have thoroughly exhausted yourself in doing so. May the sh’ma be ever on your lips and the love of God fill your heart. May your heart groan over the abominations of the earth, and your hands rise to defeat the chaos and meet needs of our world in God’s Name. May your mouth be slow at speaking, and when it does, cause good and not evil. May your ears be open and quick to listen, and not for that which feeds their own desire. Let the words of your mouth and the deepest desires of your heart be pleasing to your God. May you walk so closely behind the Rabbi and Messiah Yeshua, that the dust from his sandals clings to you as an ornament from your head to your feet.

'Y'varekh'kha ADONAI v'yishmerekha. [The LORD bless you, and protect you]

Ya'er ADONAI panav eleikha vichunekka. [The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you]

Yissa ADONAI panav eleikha v'yasem l'kha shalom. [The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.']' Numbers 6:24-26

Cognitive Dissonance

In various aspects of life, but especially true in matters pertaining to religion, doctrine and theology, most people would rather foster a cognitive dissonance, than face truth. There are documented and clinically proven reasons as to why this is the "case". In the end, all are faced with an ultimatum, and unfortunately for some, truth gets in the way of a preferred worldview, outlook and perspective on reality, including God's. We as people, tend towards loving a reassuring lie, rather an inconvenient or uncomfortable truth. When someone comes along who challenges that in which we take comfort, we direct the anger, rage, resentment and terror that wells up within us from the prospect of the message being true against the messenger who bears it. We attack the messenger as a person, perhaps using a cliché that we feel will justify our reasons for doing so, such as "conspiracy theorist" or my all time favorite, "heretic". I don't think most who use these stereotypical phrases even truly know what they mean. We will do anything in our power, often resorting to subterfuge, even (or especially) in our "Christian" communities, to protect at all costs the distortion that has begun to be unveiled which we have allowed to provide comfort, security and in some ways define us.

Be Careful

Be careful not to let feelings of disdain for people of differing theological or doctrinal position dictate your actions toward or treatment of them. If God resurrects them and gives them a place in the Age to come, would you want to give up yours because you could not stand to be around them, even though God could? When would you be willing to set your petty differences aside, even though you may consider them to be substantial? We dare not act as judge since we have not been given the authority to do so. There is only One who knows the heart, the definition of perfect justice and whose judgment is made in complete righteousness.

All Things for Good

Situations we encounter through life most times work out in ways that are not what we desired, intended or would have considered to be ideal. What must be remembered in these times is that God is working all things according to His divine purposes. These purposes cannot always be seen by the eyes of those who play a role; none but One have the spectrum of vision and knowledge surrounding the ultimate plan. We, like Abram who did not have the luxury of validation from the start, have to trust by faith in the One whose promises are good and dependable and has called us according to His purpose to lead us into pleasant places of which we cannot at this time imagine. This is not wishful thinking but wise investing. To despair because we feel the events of life are cascading out of control is all the more reason to not give up hope in the One who wields the reign. All will come to fruition in God’s good time, and that is an encouraging thought. The ultimate fulfillment of the Kingdom of God for each of us is never more than one lifetime away. As the Prophet Isaiah described, “Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you’...the ransomed of YHVH will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 35).