I have recently been reading from St. Justin Martyr's The First Apology -- it is what its title suggests: a defense of the faith. I picked up the book because of the striking similarities I have seen between Roman culture and 21st century America in hopes that I might find some insight in terms of 21st century apologetics.

I was amazed at the power of even the first paragraph, so I share it here:

"Reason dictates that those who are truly pious and philosophers should honor and love only the truth, declining to follow the opinions of the ancients, if they are worthless. For not only does sound reason dictate that one should not follow those who do or teach unjust things, but the lover of truth should choose by all means, and even before his own life, even though death should remove him, to speak and do righteous things. So you, then, since you are called pious and philosophers and guardians of justice and lovers of culture, listen in every way; and it will be shown if you are such. For we have come into your company not to flatter you by this writing, nor please you by our address, but to ask that you give judgment, after an exact and searching enquiry, not moved by prejudice or by a wish to please superstitious people, nor by irrational impulse or long prevalent rumors, so as to give a decision which will prove to be against yourselves. For we indeed reckon that no evil can be done to us, unless we are proved to be evildoers, or shown to be wicked. You are able to kill us, but not to hurt us."


Soli Deo Gloria

Missed Opportunities

I am saddened by the realization that the more comfortable our lives become, the fewer opportunities we have for heroism.

Soli Deo Gloria

The Value of Human Life

From where is the value of human life derived?

Virtually all rational people, both Christian and non-Christian, assert that there is dignity in the human spirit, that wasting a human life is a tragedy, that we ought to strive towards preserving and not destroying life. We really do value human life. And, for good reason.

But what is our explanation for doing so? Why ought we to value human life? There are hundred of thousands of "living" organisms on this planet--in the sense that they are capable of growing, reproducing, etc. From plants to animals to humans. Yet, apart from card-carrying PETA members, we do not pause to end the life of a tree or a cow. I point this out not for the purpose of suggesting that we should be more morally conscious of killing such things as trees and cows, but to show that there really is a difference between human life and all other life.

Only a Christian worldview correctly supports this understanding. Darwinism explains humanity as only that of a higher life form, but it does not distinguish between man and animal except that man is more advanced. We are only further along in the progression, or so the argument goes. In fact, we are "classified" as part of the kingdom Animalia (Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Primates, Family: Hominidae, Genus: Homo, Species: Homo Sapiens, Sub-Species: Homo Sapiens Sapiens (the other "known subspecies" is Homo Sapiens Idaltu, which is extinct)). Thus, Darwinism does not furnish an explanation for why humanity should be valued while other life-forms do not receive such value.

Christianity, however, asserts that man was made in the image of God. Thus, Christianity affords an explanation for why mankind has value, while other members of the "Animalia kingdom" do not.

Many non-Christians hold the assumption that a human life has worth, that it has value. This assumption is derived from the truths of Christianity.

One has to wonder, though, if non-Christians hold Christian assumptions, what about our assumptions as Christians? What non-Christian assumption do we hold that need to be picked up, dusted off, and replaced with truth?


Soli Deo Gloria

Number 1

Yahweh

Yahweh occurs approximately 6500 times in the Old Testament. Yahweh is first used in Genesis 2:4.

The correct pronunciation of this name of God is unknown to our modern ears. Depending upon which scholar is invoked, this name stopped being spoken in as early as the second century B.C. or as late as the second century A.D out of fear of breaking the commandment found in Exodus 20:7. So, Yahweh is an assumed or probable pronunciation of the Hebrew consonants YHWY or YHVY (יהוה), or "Tetragrammaton" (meaning "The Four Letters"). The vowels ("a" and "e") are added for the purposes of aiding pronunciation. The pronunciation, however, is not imperative for our purposes.

Simply stated, Yahweh means "He who is." This is, perhaps, the most fundamental presupposition of Christianity. "He who is" implies eternality. See Exodus 3:13-16; cf. Exodus 6:3. The entire notion of truth requires an eternal source, and only an eternal being can provide such a source. "He who is" also implies independence from space and time. As its Creator, God transcends such boundaries and, thus, He is omnipotent. The concept of Yahweh also brings comfort, as we can be confident that "He who is" is in control of the events of history, and that He has an active role in shaping and directing human events (history) including present and future events.

Everything we know and love, apart from God Himself, must have a source (although not necessarily a beginning). God, then, being the only eternal One, is the source of all that is good and true.

Ultimately, it is the concept of "He who is" that makes God most worthy of admiration, emulation, and worship. Thus, Yahweh tops my list of words.


Soli Deo Gloria

Number 2

Elohim

This is the name for God that is first used in the Scriptures. (Gen. 1:1) Elohim is usually translated as "strong one." The name Elohim is unique to the Hebrews, as it is found in no other ancient Semitic language.

Elohim is also unique for the concept that it embodies. In Hebrew, the plural of a noun is formed by adding the sound of m (similar to the way of adding s in the English language). So, in English we would say one cherub and several cherubs, but in Hebrew we would say one cherub and several cherubim.

Elohim, then, is the masculine plural form of El. Thus, Elohim is a plural noun. Yet, Elohim does not mean "gods." Elohim is always used with a singular verb, adjective, and/or pronoun. See, e.g., Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 45:18; Psalm 109:1.

Here is Jeremiah 32:27: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?"

If Elohim was representative of multiple gods, as opposed to One God, then the proper grammatical structure would be as follows: "Behold, we are the lords, the gods of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for us?" Yet, the plural Elohim is treated grammatically as though it was singular. So, we have a plural concept that is singular in function. This, of course, is in accordance with our theology of the trinity.

Thus, we have the concept of the trinity -- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- contained in the pages of the Old Testament long before the incarnation of Christ and the pouring out of the spirit at Pentecost. This little nugget of truth is why I included God's name of Elohim as our number two word.


Soli Deo Gloria

Number 3

Emmanuel

For the last three words, I have chosen three names of God.

In our society, whether right or wrong, a person's name is little more than a means of identifing him or her. That is, we give a child a name so that we will have something to call him or her by, not because the meaning of the name is representative of the personality of the child, or "who the child is." Nicknames are a bit more revealing of a person, but even this is not always the case.

With God, however, His various names reveal various aspects of His nature. This is particularly true in instances where God has revealed His name unto us, as opposed to us simply naming God. See, e.g., Exodus 3:14-15; 34:5. Hence, a study of His names is, at the same time, a study of God.

Emmanuel literally means "God is with us." It is found in Matt. 1:23 and Isaiah 7:14.

This particular name is important for a couple of reasons. First, "God is with us" embodies the incarnation of God--Jesus Christ. As we are approaching the day when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the name Emmanuel is never more evident.

In addition to serving as a name for Christ, the concept of Emmanuel is an important truth of Christianity. Namely, a divine promise to all those who believe, the promise being that God will never forsake us, that He will walk amongst us, indeed, even lead us, through life's journey.

Thus, Emmanuel captures the loving nature of God: that He would send His Son as a propitiation for our sins (the ultimate act of love) and as a pledge of divine assistance.







Soli Deo Gloria

Number 4

WORLDVIEW

We all have one, even if we do not realize what it is. Worldview is defined as "The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world." And "A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual." It is derived from the German word Weltanschauung.

Simply stated, a worldview is one's set of eyeglasses for viewing the world. I have poor vision. When I put on my glasses, all the data that I perceive through my prescriptive lenses is altered, albeit it clearer. Note, the information itself is not altered. Rather, it is the way I perceive the information that is altered.

As is true with one's worldview, I often forget that I am wearing glasses. It is not until I stop and look around that recognize that I am wearing glasses--either I actually see the frames or I see my glasses in a mirror. Hence, it is crucial that we take the time to consciously evaluate our basic assumptions about life, as these basic assumptions greatly influence the way we think and react in life.

For example, take the basic assumption of where mankind finds its origin. The two prominent views are that of Darwinian Evolution or a Creator. Your answers to many questions will stem in part from which of these two basic assumptions you have adopted (whether consciously or sub-consciously) as true. Many who take a pro-abortion stance also hold a Darwinian explanation for the existence of man (although admittedly not all do). My point, though, is that how we resolve a particular issue is largely governed by our basic assumptions about life--one's worldview.

This is why it is so important that we constantly seek to analyze what we hold as true, in order to insure that it in fact is true.

Soli Deo Gloria

Number 5

Captivate

I am convinced that this is a concept that is lost in modern society, and we are all the worse as a result.

We live in a "gotta have it" and "if I can't have it now, I don't want it" society. In the age of instant headlines, instantaneous communication, fast food, and the information super highway, we have fashioned our attention span to that of a four year old. There are numerous "things" that grab our attention, but few if any are able to hold it longer than a commercial break. It is our spiritual lives, I'm afraid, that suffer the most from this virus.

Definition: "To attract and hold the attention or interest of, as by beauty or excellence."

Christ, ultimately, is the One that ought to captivate us the most. He is, without a doubt, beautiful--His saving grace, mercy, undying love, His entire being embodies beauty. His excellence goes without saying.

Yet there is also something lost by not being captivated by our husbands and wives, and our children. We worship at the alter of the youth, forsaking the experience and wisdom of those that have gone before us.

Often, when we fail to be captivated, we place the blame on the one that we feel ought to be captivating us. Perhaps we ought to consider whether we, the listeners, are responsible for the failure to be captivated.

Here is a new song by the Christian music group Delirious about being captivated:






Soli Deo Gloria

Number 6

Conscience

A conscience, or its accompanying convictions, is one thing that is commonly shared amongst all mankind. Believer or unbeliever, we all recognize its power over our actions and behavior. There are two distinct explanations given for the reality of the conscience. Below are two definitions that represent its respective ideology/worldview.

"The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego." (Merrian Webster's Medical Dictionary 2002)

versus

"That faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall (John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as 'defiled' (Titus 1:15), and 'seared' (1 Tim. 4:2). A 'conscience void of offence' is to be sought and cultivated (Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 1 Pet. 3:21)." (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)

The latter definition, in its understanding of conscience, recognizes an inherent right and wrong, to which the conscience directs towards right conduct. Whereas, the former simply recognizes that the conscience directs conduct without recognizing that it is doing so on the basis of a right/wrong system of behavior.

The second definition rests on an assumption that God instilled in man an inherent recognition of the right and wrong, good and evil. This recognition has been distorted, no doubt, as a result of the fall. Even still, though, it is not completely non-existant, as is seen in the recognition of even small children.

The first definition rests on an assumption that the directives of the "superego" are premised upon social norms, which have no inherent right or wrongness. It is completely devoid of the notion of a Creator God from which the right and wrong that the conscience convicts and directs is derived from. Ultimately, these two definitions are representative of the city of God and the city of Man.


"There is nothing evil save that which perverts the mind and shackles the conscience." -- Saint Ambrose

"Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise that he who acts against his conscience always sins." -- Thomas Aquinas

"Avoid lawsuits beyond all things; they pervert your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property." -- Jean de la Bruyere

"The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul." -- John Calvin

"It was expected of me that I was to bow to the name of Andrew Jackson... even at the expense of my conscience and judgement. such a thing was new to me, and a total stranger to my principles." -- Davy Crockett

"I believe that global warming is a myth. And so, therefore, I have no conscience problems at all and I'm going to buy a Suburban next time." -- Jerry Falwell

"A good conscience is a continual Christmas." -- Benjamin Franklin

"A clear and innocent conscience fears nothing." -- Elizabeth I

"He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure." -- Thomas Kempis

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." -- Thomas Jefferson

"Justice is a temporary thing that must at last come to an end; but the conscience is eternal and will never die." -- Martin Luther

"One who breaks an unjust law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

"When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society." -- Pope John Paul II

"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." -- Leonardo da Vinci






Soli Deo Gloria

Number 7

Intangible

In describing a great leader or a star athlete, it is often said that the "intangibles" of the person are what set he or she apart from the rest of the crowd. It seems a bit oxymoronic to give a precise definition of "intangible," but I include it on the list because I believe it captures an aspect of the nature of God that is often overlooked.

1. Difficult or impossible to define or understand.

2. Of a value not precisely measurable.

3. Incapable of being perceived by the senses.

The third definition I do not believe is altogether applicable in describing the nature of God. For, although we cannot readily see Him, through His Holy Spirit, and other means, I am confident He is capable of being "perceived." Also, we have the physical incarnation through Christ, which many obviously perceived and we will one day perceive.

It is the first two definitions we should contemplate when reflecting upon the nature of God. The first definition is often applicable when we speak of the "will" of God for our lives. Yet it also equally applies to such matter as, for example, God' love for mankind. Why would God choose to love--ever so faithfully, fervently, and fully--those that have utterly turned their backs on Him (all of us as a result of the fall)? He certainly does not "need" us. Yet, He loves. This is difficult, or perhaps even impossible, for us to understand.

As for the second definition, it accurately describes the "worth" or "value" of God. We simply cannot place one on Him. Any such attempt would be absurd and scurrilous. This definition is also an important reminder of the blessedness that we enjoy by being honored to have a relationship with Him.

Ultimately, both definitions are helpful reminders for remaining humble.


Soli Deo Gloria

Number 8

Virtue

The concept of virtue is one that countless generations over countless ages have understood. The classical authors wrote much on this subject. Yet it is one that few have sucessfully obtained--by living a virtuous life--undoubtedly due to the fall of mankind. Yet, it is one that all Christians should strive to obtain and, ultimately, it is one that only the power of Christ makes obtainable.

The word virtue is associated with the seven cardinal virtues that are divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). The word has also been used to describe the orders of angels in medieval angelology, being the fifth of the nine. But here are some defintions that should be considered in seeking to live a virtous life:

1. moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.

2. conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.

3. the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong.


Some quotes worth pondering:

"Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge." -- Dante Alighieri

"Faith is our life as it joins us to God. But it is also an act of life because it is a virtue and our duty towards God." -- William Ames

"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will." --
Saint Thomas Aquinas

"All virtue is summed up in dealing justly." -- Aristotle

"Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance." -- Saint Augustine

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." -- Marcus Aurelius

"What the statesman is most anxious to produce is a certain moral character in his fellow citizens, namely a disposition to virtue and the performance of virtuous actions." -- Aristotle

"Judges ought to be more leaned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue." -- Francis Bacon

"Every day confirms my opinion on the superiority of a vicious life - and if Virtue is not its own reward I don't know any other stipend annexed to it." -- Lord Byron

"There is a good ear, in some men, that draws supplies to virtue out of very indifferent nutriment." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." -- George Washington


Soli Deo Gloria

Number 9

Gratitude

It is defined as "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful" and "the state of being grateful; thankfulness."

Gratitude is more than mere thankfulness. Undoubtedly, it is important to be thankful, but we ought to strive to ensure that "gratitude" is more than a mere emotional state. Rather, it should become a "state of being" or "quality." In other words, gratitude should become an aspect of one's personality. As Christians, gratitude should be one aspect of "who we are."

The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratus, which literally means "thankful, pleasing." It would seem, then, that by making gratitude an aspect of one's personality, then he or she is acting in a manner that is pleasing to God.

In accords with this understanding, perhaps by making gratitude an aspect of who we are, we are in essence carrying out Paul's admonition to continually be thankful. See 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:17-20.

Some good Scriptural examples of gratitude include Colossians 3:15-17, Psalm 30:11-12, and, when time permits, read David's psalm of thanks as found in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36.

Some quotes worth pondering considering this word:

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." -- G. K. Chesterton

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts."
-- Henri Frederic Amiel

"I am most thankful to Almighty Providence for mercies received, and determined still to press the case into public notice as a token of gratitude."
-- William Banting

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude." -- Karl Barth

"When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." -- G. K. Chesterton

"Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect."
-- Jean Jacques Rousseau

"Christ himself wrote nothing, but furnished endless material for books and songs of gratitude and praise." -- Philip Schaff

Oh, and by the way, a cheesy dance doesn't quite capture it, but it might be worth trying:





Soli Deo Gloria

Number 10

FEAR

The word takes on a number of connotations, but there are two related definitions of this word that we ought to consider.

1. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

2. Regard with reverence and awe.

The first definition is generally what we associate with the word fear. Psalm 23 and 1 John 4 are good examples of this kind of fear. Whereas Proverbs 9 is a good example of the latter definition.

At first blush, I wanted to ignore the first definition and only explore the second. The second is relatively straight forward in terms of "fearing the Lord." Yet the first is equally important. For, after all, when we speak of God we are speaking of an Almighty Being.

This understanding of fear is often lost in translation to the American church. I have often heard God described as a big, fluffy teddy bear. While God is certainly a comforter, the comforter, He is certainly capable of wrath and anger--as is seen from the accounts of the Israelites--that ought to cause fear in anyone that takes Him seriously.

Some quotes worth pondering concerning this word:

"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law." -- Aristotle

"It is not the rich man you should properly call happy, but him who knows how to use with wisdom the blessings of the gods, to endure hard poverty, and who fears dishonor worse than death, and is not afraid to die for cherished friends or fatherland." -- Horace

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."
-- William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar

"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." -- Bertrand Russell

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139: 14


Soli Deo Gloria

The Power of Words

We often forget about the importance of words. After all, "words mean stuff." Accordingly, my next 10 posts will cover 10 words--one word per post--that we ought to consider the meaning of more carefully, model our lives more accurately after, or otherwise merit mentioning.

As we proceed, feel free to add other words that you feel are worth contemplating.

An illustration of what happens when words break down:




Soli Deo Gloria

Amazing Grace

The film Amazing Grace is being released today on DVD. It was in theatres this past spring. This film is, without the need for much speculation, the best movie I have seen in recent memory. At the risk of admitting embarrassment, I watched this movie in the theaters five or six times (all except one was at a local dollar theater). This is the only movie I have ever seen more than once on the big screen. So, this alone should stand witness to the level of esteem for which I hold this film.

It centers around William Wilberforce and his fight to help end the slave trade in England. I admire the film for a number of reasons. This movie has resurged interest in an otherwise forgotten, yet important historical Christian figure (Wilberforce). In addition, the way the director unfolds the story invites the audience to take part in Wilberforce’s struggles. There are also a number of quotes worth pondering. And perhaps the reason why I enjoy the film the most is that, although not a story about Christ per se, this film is unabashedly about a Christian man and his struggle to shape and improve the world. It is a reminder that Christians can play an important role in government.

If your budget so allows, I would recommend that you purchase this movie. It can be found at Family Christian Book Stores and Amazon, as well as many other places. If you do not purchase it, at a minimum you should find a place to rent this movie. It is being released this week at Blockbuster and Netflix is also carrying it. So, I imagine every major movie rental business will carry it.

Below are a couple of clips from the movie. You can also visit the website for the movie here.

Trailer:

Clip 1:

Clip 2:

Soli Deo Gloria

Obsessed, Obstinate, & Oblivious

The fan craze hit the Phoenix valley this past weekend. The current phenomena: Hannah Montana. The young teenager performed before a packed house this past weekend. Certain ticket areas were rumored to go in excess of $1,000 per person. Her name was splashed amongst the headlines of the local media, all awaiting the triumphant entry of this princess-esque young girl.

What did she bring? Entertainment? Escape? A portrait of how our young women should look and act?

My point is not to "bash" the young girl referred to as "Hannah Montana." Rather, it is to observe a troubling tendency amongst our culture. Namely, it astounds me that we are so willing to pay homage to a young girl and yet we are so cursory in our attitudes towards an Almighty God. This tendency, of course, transcends the current Hannah Montana fad. It can be found anywhere there is a fan base.

We flock to the secular stadium, but we flee from the spiritual sphere. Who is most worthy of our adoration? An entertainer or the eternal, everlasting Elohim? The answer is obvious, but our actions would not always suggest so. I am reminded of Romans 7: 14-25.


Soli Deo Gloria

Clive Staples Lewis

C.S. Lewis is considered by many to be one of the most influential Christian authors of the 20th century. I myself am amazed at his gift with the pen--ranging from the polar opposites of philosophical/theological to the other end of the spectrum in the form of children's stories.

I have recently been re-reading through his 1940 work, The Problem of Pain. In it, Lewis puts for a good, and largely successful effort, to reconcile the age old paradox of a loving and omnipotent God with the existence of pain in our world. Yet it is some of Lewis' presuppositions that were the most surprising to me as I was thinking through Lewis' arguments.

Lewis seems to buy into a form of the Darwinian philosophy that mankind has evolved from lower forms of life. Although I have heard such accusations from other sources, it never ceases to surprise me, given the level of admiration I hold for a man that could effectively challenge the mainstream culture in such an honest manner.

But even now, I do not write these words for the purpose of "bashing" Mr. Lewis. While I believe his presuppositions concerning Darwinism (if he in fact did hold this view) are undoubtedly incorrect, it is his tendency or capability of incorrectness that should grab our attention.

As mentioned above, Lewis is celebrated for his intellectual abilities. Yet, he still managed to miss the mark in certain areas. Lewis himself would be the first person to admit to such faults, as is evident in the prefaces of many of his theological type works. If Lewis, then, as a man who is regarded as a giant of the 20th century can hold false assumptions and incorrect views, what then does this mean for the common man such as myself?

There are a couple of things that can be gleaned from Lewis' shortcomings. First, is humbleness. It is easier to be a play-by-play analyst than be the man in the arena. So, as a reader of his works, to suggest that I am incapable of such errors is pure folly. The humbleness, then, is achieved by recognizing that I am a man of lesser talents and abilities and, hence, I am more prone to such errors in my own presuppositions about the world.

Second, and equally important, is a desire to improve. Once we are willing to recognize that we do have shortcomings, false assumptions, and error in our judgments, we understand that we need help in order to alleviate and overcome such things. This, of course, is yet another reason to seek refuge in our Savior.

So, instead of burning Lewis at the stake, we should recognize him for what he was--a man. In so doing, we should be cognizant that we are but his fellow men and women, plagued with the same inadequacies of which only Christ can heal.


Soli Deo Gloria

Motivate Me

I have been thinking as of late on the topic of motivation. The idea of understanding what motivates a person has always interested me.

If the means are equally important as the ends, then it is important to understand why we do what we do.

At the risk of over simplifying the complexities of what motivates a human being, there appears to be a chasm in realm of motivation: on the one hand, there is the motivation to serve the self; and on the other, there is the motivation to serve others (the second greatest commandment) and the motivation to serve God (the greatest commandment). See Matthew 22:35-40.

For example, why do I like to put ketchup on my french fries? What motivates me to do so? It is the taste that I so enjoy as a result of the wedding of deep-fried potato pieces with a tomato-based miracle recipe. The point being, though, that I use ketchup for me. The fact that the answer is me and not others or God is not necessarily bad. But understanding why I do a particular thing helps me better evaluate whether I should be doing such a thing.

It seems that the answer from the motivational question is really an answer from the heart, if we are indeed capable of answering it honestly. This is, perhaps, why this question is particularly insightful.

Why do I love? Why do I smile? Why do I watch a particular television show? Why am I cordial with others? Why should I seek to become educated? Why do I do...?

It seems that the eternal, and most meaningful answers, involve a desire to serve God or others. Whereas, the temporal answers involve oneself--because ketchup sure tastes good, at least until I run out of french fries.


Soli Deo Gloria

Prayer & Privacy

Privacy. The word has taken on many connotations in our society, and to a certain extent, we even have a right to it based upon the "penumbras" of the 14th Amendment, or so we are told. Yet privacy is vital to a healthy prayer life.

Christ made a point of withdrawing from the crowds and even his disciples in order that he could seek and commune with the Father in privacy. See, e.g., Luke 5:16 ("But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."); Mark 1:35 ("Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."); Matthew 14:23 ("After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone"). In fact, Christ was quite direct on this point:

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matt. 6:5-6.

The obviousness that a private area affords is quietness and minimum distractions. A private area given to prayer also serves as a means of preparing one's mind, spirit, and soul with direct communication with the Almighty--who is worthy of all reverence. A private area also affords one the best opportunity to clear one's mind, to free one's thoughts from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Yet, it is the solitude of a private prayer setting that provides one with the greatest opportunity of all. Namely, the opportunity to listen. Not to speak aloud, but to listen. It is this aspect of a spiritual walk, the willingness to listen, that makes privacy a must in one's prayer life.

Christ took very seriously His pursuit of the Father's will. In order to do so, He at times was forced to withdraw to settings of solitude. We, mere creations of His, ought to seriously consider doing the same.


Soli Deo Gloria

Pray? Why?

Prayer is an integral part of our spiritual journey. But, one must ask, why? If you were to stop and analyze your recent prayers and do a survey of your specific requests, could you answer the question of why prayer is so vital for our spiritual well being?

I ask the question only because a review of my own recent prayers reveal a troubling tendency. My prayers, more often than not, take the form of petitions. Asking for specific needs and desires, of course, is an important part of praying. See, e.g., Matt. 7:7-12. But praying encompasses far more than mere petitions or requests. For, if praying was solely concerned with such things, it would be difficult to discern why praying is so crucial (after all, God knows what we need before we even ask. See Matt. 6:7-9.). It is interesting to note that the only time in the Scriptures (that I can tell) that Christ prays for His own desires, and not for someone else or to seek the Father, His prayer was not directly granted. See Matt. 26:38-39, 42.

It seems, then, that spiritually nourishing prayers encompass much more. The essence of prayer, its purpose, is to draw the individual nearer to God. Praying is a time for us to listen; to express our true thoughts and emotions; to seek the face of God; a time to carry out the second greatest commandment by praying for others; a time to better understand one's self, one's short comings, and how they might be overcome. Ultimately, prayer allows us to spend intimate and quiet moments with God. As with any living being, the amount of quality time that you spend together is directly proportionate to the quality of your relationship.

If you have ever spent any amount of time around a young child walking through the toy aisle crying "I want, I want, I want" then you understand how tiresome such moments can be. I hope that our prayer life is not similar. There is a time for expressing our wants and needs. But, in looking back on your own recent prayers, can you answer the question why?


Soli Deo Gloria

Prayer & The Mystery of Setting

As much as we don't like to admit it, our surroundings have an affect on us--for better or worse. With this in mind, it is interesting to note that Christ regularly withdrew into His creation, typically into nearby mountains, for the purpose of spending time alone in prayer with the Father. See, e.g., Luke 6:12 ("One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God"); Mark 6:46 ("After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray."); Matt. 14:23(a) ("After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.").

Christ certainly did not have to go into the wilderness in order to be alone with the Father. He could have simply withdrew into a back room and instructed His disciples that He did not want to be disturbed. Yet, this is not what Christ did. It should cause us to wonder, then, what it is about God's creation that caused Christ to withdraw there in order to seriously pursue the Father's will.

While it serves as the greatest conceivable canvas, the creation afforded Christ with more than mere aesthetics. There is something about the pure splendor and majesty--the wildness--of creation that affords mankind the opportunity to draw closer to God. Whether it is a cabin tucked in the blooming meadows of a mountainside, or a shoeless stroll across the cool sand of an enduring beach, or a hike through the delicate desert, this undisturbed tranquility provides us not with the opportunity to speak louder, but the privilege of listening more attentively.

I recognize that the practicality of the hustle and bustle of modern life is not always conducive to taking such trips into the wilderness to seek the face of God. Yet, even a half an hour at a nearby park, lake, or walking/hiking trail can do wonders. When we reach our boiling point from the demands of everyday life, spending time alone with God in His creation can do wonders for revitalizing us and giving us a renewed sense of purpose for our existence.

Simply stated, spending time in God's creation rejuvenates our spirit and soul unlike any other setting known to man.


Soli Deo Gloria

A Few Posts on Prayer

The topic of prayer has been heavily brewing in my mind lately. So, in the next few posts, we will broach the subject of prayer. We will discuss a few interesting aspects of prayer as well as a troubling tendency concerning the theme of our prayers. As always, your feedback is welcomed in either the comments section or in e-mails.

Soli Deo Gloria

Stop & Evaluate

How often do we really stop and evaluate the current path we find ourselves traveling?

Too often, I come across people that are, more or less, zombies. There is a distant look in their eyes, devoid of any meaning or purpose. I cannot help but wonder what is the source of hope these people have in their lives. I see them leading a life, the fruit of which is non-existent.

I, of course, am not immune from this syndrome. As a safeguard, I make a conscious effort to periodically evaluate my life--my habits, tendencies, reactions, judgments, beliefs, passions, my vocation, as well as those things I love and desire. Essentially, I attempt to evaluate all of the "things" that comprise the person I am and, especially, those things that shape the person I am becoming.

If you know at the end of your life you will look back and value certain things, then these are the things that should become your priorities in the present.


Soli Deo Gloria.

Post-Christian Era

I have seen a number of references lately describing our current era as "post-Christian." I have to admit that I find this label a bit troubling. Although most such references have been in academia, I have seen a few in popular culture as well.

I can live with the notion that a majority of our populace no longer embrace Christ as the Truth. Although this makes me uncomfortable--as a long-term rejection of Christ cannot lead to good consequences--it is not what I find to be troubling. After all, we can work towards altering the hearts and minds of the people.

The troubling aspect of this label is the mockery it gives with respect to the truth-value of Christianity. Implicit in this label is the idea that we have "evolved" in our thinking. That is, mankind has come to a point in our understanding where we have moved past the truth-claims of Christianity. We no longer need to live by the bonds and superstitions of Christianity. We, after all, are living in the post-Christian era, or so the argument goes.

He Who Is transcends all generations, as does His truths. To suggest that we have reached a point in our "understanding" where we no longer need the faith is what I find troubling. It is because of its basic assumptions that I refuse to adopt the label post-Christian as it applies to this era or any other.


Soli Deo Gloria

The Power of Music

Music is a phenomena that we do not entirely understand or appreciate. The sound of a song can bring back a myriad of memories. Music also has the ability to alter our current state of emotions--from melancholy to joyful or, if we are not careful, to a state of depression or even anger. It also has the power to alter our current thought process, sending us down a path of contemplation that we may not have otherwise ventured.

There is something about music that seems to reach into the inner recesses of the human soul. We certainly see this in the lives of Saul and David: "And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him." I Samuel 16:23 (or you can read the whole chapter here)

Each time David played the music from his harp for Saul, the spirit sent by God to cause Saul distress would depart. Now, the reason why God would send a distressing spirit upon Saul is, perhaps, for another blog entry. But one cannot help but see the affect that the playing of music had on Saul's spirit.

It is this phenomena that should cause us to pause and reconsider the types of lyrics and melodies we are subjecting ourselves to. I am always a bit troubled when I hear the justification echoed that "well, I am not listening to the words, I just like the way it sounds." It is incorrect to assume that we can separate the words from the music. In any event, such a state of mind ignores the affect that music has on the listener.

I hope we will pause to consider the type of music that we subscribe to and, in so doing, I hope we will take note of the influence that such music has upon us.


Soli Deo Gloria

True Beauty Revisted

Over the weekend, while engaged in serious pursuit of rising rainbow trout, I had a bit of an epiphany if you will.

It occurred to me that our celebration of beauty in others is misplaced. Instead of celebrating the beauty of another, it is the beauty of God's design and, ultimately, God Himself that is worthy of celebration. For it is in the creation, the design if you will, that reveals true beauty--the Creator.

Perhaps this explains my hesitation in labeling the artificial as beautiful. The tanning and highlighting and such things alter and distort God's intended design and creation.

Soli Deo Gloria.

True Beauty

What are our standards by which we judge whether or not something or someone is beautiful? The answer to this question, at least the one that our culture would suggest, is a bit troubling. Let us take the beauty of a woman as an illustration.

By what standards do we use to determine whether a particular woman is beautiful? Is it as simple as her waist size, cup size, and the color of her hair? In fact, these days it is difficult to find a woman that does not have highlights in her hair--usually in the form of blond highlights. I do not raise this to chastise such women, but to ask the question of why does a woman feel compelled to die her hair an unnatural color in order to feel beautiful? And why do men find unnatural hair color attractive?

I see the hair dying phenomena stemming from a much deeper problem--our standards of beauty. Women feel compelled to conform themselves to an image of beauty that is unnatural and, in most cases, simply unattainable. Men are not much better, as we have adopted these standards of beauty and, as a consequence, we expect our wives to look as such or we are more attracted to women that do.

So, then, what is true beauty? In terms of physical characteristics, true beauty passes on a parallel track with design. That is, God created men and women with varying shapes, sizes, and figures--and he did so for a particular purpose. To assert that one must attain an artificial color by means of tanning or an artificial hair style by means of dying is a distortion of beauty as God intended it--true beauty. To adopt such standards is a tragedy, both for ourselves and our loved ones that we are holding to such standards.

Physical characteristics aside, the most important aspect of a beautiful woman is a sincere heart for the Lord. By this I mean that there is something about a woman truly loving God and desiring to serve Him that is simply beautiful. It cannot be matched by any other characteristic.

Perhaps we should revisit our assumptions and pre-suppositions concerning what makes a thing (or person) beautiful, all the while seeking to recognize the design that permeates the world we live in.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Jonah's Anger, Our Insight

It is often in moments of anger that we allow ourselves to freely express our true thoughts and feelings--often, however, to our own demise or shame. For the prophet Jonah, his pronouncement out of anger painted an insightful portrait into the character and nature of God:

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Jonah 4: 1-3.

Jonah, a well known prophet and man of the Lord, knew the true heart of the Lord--gracious, merciful, abundant in lovingkindness. Because of this, he refused (at first) to minister unto the Ninevites because he knew that God would show mercy unto them--a nation Jonah did not want mercy shown unto. The Lord in fact did show mercy unto the Ninevites, which angered Jonah.

It took a moment of anger for Jonah to finally confess why he did not want to go to Nineveh. The Lord, of course, knew all along. Even though it provided us, the readers, with insight into the character and nature of God, I hope that we will not wait until moments of anger or frustration before we come to grips with our true thoughts and intentions.

Soli Deo Gloria.

At Least To Me

Such and such is true, at least to me or I believe such and such is true. The retreat takes many forms, but these are the most common utterances that one hears. A person makes a proposition or assertion of truth, and then tags it with these phrases or something similar. Surprisingly, such phrases come up frequently in conversations of varying topics.

Generally, an assertion is tagged for one of two reasons. First, the above phraseology is generally used as a defense mechanism. That is, if someone challenges me in my asserted proposition, then I can always find comfort in the notion that, "well, at least that's what I believe" and the challenger then generally backs off (to do otherwise would be social taboo, or so we are told).

Second--and really an answer to the question of why the first reason above is such a successful tactic in our culture--is that the phrase "at least to me" truly embodies the relativistic mindset. Such and such may be true absolutely; but, even if it is not, then it is certainly true to me--and you have no standing to challenge the claim that it is true to me. Who am I to challenge the truth value of the views that one personally holds? Or so the argument goes. This mindset rejects the authority and existence of absolute truth. What we are left with, then, are competing claims of "truth," none of which are objectively verifiable. The consequence of such a scenario is, ultimately, an unfortunate power struggle.

I have made a concerted effort to prune this line of phraseology from my vocabulary--both because I want to be able to defend my positions without resorting to such a tactic and, more importantly, because of the dangers of a relativistic mindset. I hope you will do the same.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Gamaliel

Gamaliel is NOT a character from Lord of the Rings, although the name sounds as though he should be. Rather, he is a man that lived during the time of the apostles. (If you have never read the story of Gamaliel, then I encourage you do so. You can find it in Acts 5: 33-39 or by clicking here. If you would like to read the story of Gamaliel in context, click here.)

Gamaliel was a well respected Pharisee, "honored by all the people." The gospels are rife with instances where the Pharisees stood in direct opposition to the message of Christ, as well as their attempts to have Christ killed. So, one would hardly expect a Pharisee to speak objectively and persuade a group of fellow Pharisees to refrain from putting the apostles to death, especially when the apostles acted contrary to the Pharisee's "strict orders." Yet, this is precisely what Gamaliel did.

Gamaliel urged his fellow Pharisees to wait to see if the apostles' message withstood the test of time: if it did, then it was of God; if it did not, then it was of man and would die on its own accord. Two-thousand years removed, we can now see that the apostles' message of forgiveness was in fact of God. However, Gamaliel did not have the advantage of hind-sight. Rather, he stood up amidst his peers to echo a voice of reason that was contrary to the will of the mob.

I have always admired this man for his ability to step back from a heated situation and critically analyze what would be the right thing to do. The ability to think objectively, critically, and independently is one we should all strive to master. It made a difference in the apostles' lives, and I'm confident we would benefit as well.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Let The Means Be Just

Let the ends be just and the means calculated to achieve the ends be equally just. Fewer things are more revealing of a person's true character than the means that one is willing to use to achieve a desired end. The question of means is, perhaps, one of the more troubling questions that we encounter in our lives. Of course, by the term "means", I am referring to the method by which one uses to achieve a particular thing; it is the road or route, if you will, by which one travels upon in reaching a particular destination.

The question of means is often a difficult one. Either we fail to ask the question altogether--whether the means are just, i.e., in line with truth--or when we do ask the question we ignore the answer. The latter is more troubling, although both lead to undesirable consequences. The latter situation is more troubling because it serves as a glimpse into one's soul.

This situation often arises when we answer the question in the negative, hence implying that either our desired end is unjust to begin with or that we must take the road least traveled to achieve our end, a route we seldom prefer. Yet, instead of choosing an alternate set of means that are just, we prefer the means that are convenient, notwithstanding their compromising nature. We rest our choice based upon the assumption that, since our end is good, we are somehow justified despite the use of unjust means. As one can see, this is a troubling routine.

We must adopt the habit of analyzing both the end and the means and whether they are in line with truth. In analyzing the particular ways that we may achieve our desired end, if we are only able to culminate methods that are unjust and contradictory of truth, then perhaps we ought to re-evaluate whether our desired end is just in the first place. Being able to do so consistently, however, requires a person of great integrity and intellectual honesty, the type of person I hope we all strive to be.

Soli Deo Gloria.

To What End?

To what end? A question of enormous import, yet one that often goes unasked and, consequently, unanswered. It applies to all issues of life--from the mundane to the life-altering. Yet we seldom pause to ask it.

The question is an important one to ask, as the answer will serve as the rutter of one's life. To what end do I exist? Perhaps this is the most fundamental of all questions that we are faced with. Since we are concerned with truth, we are obligated to answer the question as follows: To love and serve the Lord. A failure to answer as such leads to devastating consequences, and any other answer serves only as a distraction.

To what end do I work? To what end do I urge the importance of education? To what end do I attend church? To what end do I urge participation in sports? To what end do I date/marry? The list literally goes on.

We should also pause to note that our answers to these and the many other questions must be in align with our principles, with truth. In other words, if in asking the question "to what end?" with respect to a particular course of action the answer is one that would contravene our ultimate end or would cause us to act contrary to what is right and true, then we ought not pursue such a path. We must always analyze whether our end is just and true. This is an exercise that we must make a conscious effort to complete. When we fail to even ask the question, it becomes increasingly difficult to even ascertain whether our end is right and true.

In our next post we will address the importance of a means analysis and, hopefully, the importance of connecting means and ends.

But for now, I ask you, to what end?

"The great end of life is not knowledge but action." -- Sir Francis Bacon.

Soli Deo Gloria.

The Faith of One Man

"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left." II Chronicles 34: 1-2.

Chapter 34 marks the beginning of King Josiah's reign. The passages leading up to chapter 34, however, describe the decadence of the people of Israel and, in particular, how their kings had lead them astray. The nation of Israel, a chosen people, had forgotten the Lord and all that He had done for them. Then, beginning in verse 1 of chapter 34, like a breath of fresh air, the young king commits himself to following the Lord.

As a result, the entire nation of Israel, during the generation of King Josiah's regin, turned again to following and worshiping the Lord. "As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their fathers." II Chronicles 34: 33b.

It is simply amazing that the faith of one person, in this case a young man even, can alter an entire generation and cause an entire nation to again turn to the Truth. Of course, what is not contained in the Scriptures is the many struggles and hardships the young king had to endure in order to remain steadfast in following the Lord. But the struggles are not alltogether important. Rather, it is the testament to the power of a holy God moving through the faith of a single person. An illustration we should all pause to consider.

"Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD." II Chronicles 34: 27.

Soli Deo Gloria.

This Blog's Purpose

Unus Veritas. Latin for "one truth." Implicit in this succinct phrase is the notion of objective truth. A simple phrase, yet it produces profound implications for its subscribers. Unus Veritas is a basic assumption that will undergird the majority--if not all--of the posts on this blog.

The purpose of this blog is to challenge the author, its readers and commenter's to a better understanding of Truth. However, in order for this aim to come to fruition, truth must exist and it must be knowable. This, then, brings us to the second assumption of this blog; viz., truth exists and we are capable of knowing it. This may seem obvious, indeed I hope that it does. However, many modern thinkers would disagree.

It is important that we pause to note that objective truth necessarily implies the existence of truth outside of one's own being. That is, truth exists outside of one's own perspective or frame of reference. Hence, truth is not contingent upon one's own cultural upbringing--a particular proposition that is true today is just as true 1000 years ago. Thus, any claims to truth made herein should not be contingent upon you understanding my personal perspective. Rather, such claims should be contingent upon whether or not they are actually true. This subtle difference has important consequences. For, one could not claim authoritatively that a particular proposition is absolutely true if all truth was relative to the particular speaker. Thus, we arrive at a third assumption, or perhaps better classified as a corollary to the first, that truth is not relative to the speaker, but finds its existence outside him or her.

Lastly, we must address our fourth and final assumption. This assumption will serve as the foundation for all posts that will appear in this blog. Namely, that because truth is objective and it finds its existence outside of one's self, it must have its source in someone or something. My presupposition concerning this matter is that truth finds its existence in the Creator. All truth flows from and stems from the Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, the triune God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. I do not believe that truth exists outside of God. Rather, that truth is an intrinsic part of His nature. Everything that is good and true flows from His nature. As Christ so boldly stated all those centuries ago: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.

I hope that this blog will contain thought provoking words and ideas. I welcome your comments.

Soli Deo Gloria.