Christian vs. American Worldview Part III

For those of you just tuning in, my apologetics professor asked us to briefly answer the four following questions: 1. How do we find happiness? 2. How do we find wholeness? 3. What goals are really worth pursuing? 4. What is life "for"? We had to answer each question twice--once from a Christian worldview and then once from the worldview of the average American. In this post, I have pasted my answer to the question "How do we find wholeness?" from a Christian Worldview. For you picky theologians out there, remember that my answer had to be brief. Feel free to add anything as a comment. Answering questions briefly is very bitter-sweet. I love it and I hate it. I love the challenge and exactitude of being brief, but hate not crossing all my i's and dotting all my t's. This is a good exercise for someone like me though because I tend to be one who really over explains things. For example, if I am not careful this very introduction will be longer than the answer itself. Furthermore, if I am not careful my explanation of how I tend to be overly wordy may be longer than both my answer and the introduction. And even still more--I think you get the point. To my answer we go!

"The antithesis of wholeness is disconnectedness, therefore our pursuit of wholeness ought to start by seeking one who is able to, like Humpty Dumpty, put us back together again. One of the results of the fall was that the core of our being was torn apart. Spiritual death divorced the soul from the body/mind, therefore wholeness can only take place when the soul and the body/mind experience a reunion. This reunion can only begin through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, and only finds its consummation when the soul houses itself in an immortal glorified body. In conclusion, wholeness can only begin to be realized when one experiences the new birth (which can only happen by believing on the Lord Jesus and repenting of your sin)"

What's Wrong With You People!!!

What is up with the majority of people liking Bananas that are "yellow", and "yellow with brown spots"? Disgusting! My rule is this, "No green, No Banana is clean." Ok, so thats not my rule. Thats not the point though. The point is that any banana that loses all it's green luster is not worthy to be eaten and must thrown out. "That's the way I roll."

Christian vs. American Worldview Part II

Yesterday I answered the question "How do we find happiness" from a Christian perspective. Today I will be answering this same question from the perspective of the average American. Remember that I have made my answer as brief as possible. Try and think of how you have seen these things prevalent in the lives of nonbelievers whom you know. Think of how the Gospel may speak to their unique and specific needs. Then go and show them how they can find ultimate happiness. Feel free to add or expound on anything that I said. Also, feel free to give any suggestions on how we are to go about presenting Christ to them in a way that shows them both the depth of their need and the great ability of our Savior to meet that need. After reading this post reread Part I and consider the blessing it is to be a child of God.

How does the average American find happiness?

"To the world, happiness has everything to do with either living a fulfilled earthly life, and/or helping others do the same. Often times we have a tendency to caricature Americans by saying that they have no desire to please anyone but themselves. This is a mistake. Many seek their happiness in giving their kids the best life possible, while others live their lives to meet the needs of the down-and-outs in our world. There are seven main things which Americans mostly consider to be the source of happiness: money, freedom, recognition for charitable deeds, success, sex, comfort, and humor/entertainment. These seven things constitute a happy life. As long as one can say that these things are the trademarks of their life, they must be happy. However, discontentment sets in as soon as any one of these things is amiss. Happiness is attained only when these six things are constantly sought out and acquired. The only problem is that these seven things only bring momentary happiness, and often times after this happiness vanishes it leaves one feeling depressed and hopeless. Ultimately the world cannot offer lasting happiness."

On Christianity, Modernism, and Postmodernism

I read one of the most simple and concise articles on a Christian view of Modernism and Postmodernism. I do not think that it is imperative that all Christians have a super-developed understanding of modernism and postmodernism, however I highly suggest all Christians to have atleast an idea of modernism and postmodernism. This article was written by Don Closson and is entitled "How Do You Spell Truth." I want to warn you before going there that some of the the concepts are a bit difficult, however I believe that taking the effort to learn the cultural climate is invaluable in our evangelistic task. Click here to access the article. Clossons dealing with the issues is one of the most simplified I have found.

The only thing I would have done differently than Closson is spend more time showing the strengths of both modernism and postmodernism. I understand that Closson probably had limited room, but one of the main reasons our culture is so fed up with Christianity is because of a refusal to give credit where credit is due. Of course Christianity is the very source of truth, however we have benefited from both modernism and postmodernism in many ways, and when we don't acknowledge this the world correctly labels us as arrogant. Anyway, that is a freebie.

Christian vs. American Worldview Part I

My apologetics teacher posed four worldview questions: 1. "How do we find happiness," 2. "How do we find wholeness," 3. "What goals are worthy of pursuing," and 4. "What is life 'for.'" We had to give two short answers to each of these questions--The first answer had to be from a Christian/Biblical worlview, and the other had to be how we think the average American would answer the question. I enjoyed answering these questions and will be pasting my answers here one at a time. In this post I will be answering, from a Christian worldview, the question "how do we find happiness?" I have already posted my answer to this a week ago or so, but am posting it again because I want it to be organized (so leave me alone). If you don't want to read it again--too bad! (just kidding) As you read this think of how the average American would answer this question. Think how hopeless life would be without Christ. Think how unhappy life would be if our happiness did not come from Him. Rejoice that you are His. I will post my answer to how the average American would respond to this (probably) tomorrow. Enjoy!

"Our happiness in something is entirely built upon an intellectual understanding of how long the happiness will last. The happiness that drunkenness, money, and sex can provide is often real happiness, but it is not ultimate happiness. In reality, the question is, “how can we find ultimate happiness?” Ultimate happiness can only be found in something that can offer the promise of eternal satisfaction. With this in mind, looking for ultimate happiness on this temporal earth will only lead to despair. Ultimate happiness can only be found in God, because only God can deliver on the promise of eternal satisfaction.

God is the only infinite entity in all of existence. The love, beauty, glory, justice, and happiness of God simply cannot be exhausted, therefore we can be assured that we will never run out of that which makes us happy. The problem is that right now, because of the effects of the fall, even our finding happiness in God can (and does) have physical draw backs (if you disagree, talk to those undergoing persecution for the name of Christ), which can limit our temporal enjoyment of it. How then can Christians defend the thesis that ultimate happiness can be realized when one finds his/her happiness in God? It all has to do with hope.

We live in the already/not yet. Our confidence and surety is that a time is coming when our unabridged enjoyment in Christ will be actualized. We but get a mere taste of it now, but will be wrapped in it for an eternity once Christ welcomes us to our heavenly abode. The mere taste of what we now enjoy (by faith) is much sweeter than what those who are finding their happiness in the temporal satisfactions of the world are tasting, and yet it is not even comparable to the satisfaction of what we will enjoy in heaven."

In The Thick Of It?

Sincerely consider the following questions: How have you been? How hectic is your life right now? Are you in the thick of life? Does life "have you by the horns?"

I have come to know one thing for certain in my 26 short years of life--we live in a fallen world--things are not as they should be. With every blessing comes a curse. We love the sunshine, but it all too often burns our skin and kills our crops. We love the sound of rain, but it all too often floods our towns and fields. We love relationships, but hearts are always being broken.

I was outside sweeping our driveway a few weeks ago. It was one of the most beautiful days of fall. I stopped sweeping for a moment to try and take it all in. I was standing there with my broom saying, "Wow Lord, this earth you created is absolutely beautiful. Thank you letting me enjoy it." Literally, as soon as these words came out of my lips (because I don't pray silently) 2 HUGE bee's attacked me (and they are huge here in NH) and had to run inside to avoid being stung. God never wants us to forget that we live in a fallen world. He is always reminding us of the silliness (think about that word), the silliness, of storing up our treasures here.
Has God been reminding you of the futility of storing up treasures on earth lately? This is never fun, because falleness hurts.

Maybe this will be of help to you in your situation--Whenever I am in the thick of life I always take a moment or two out of my day to merely sit down and prayerfully think of why the Lord might be bringing me through such a depressing trial.

Are you struggling in your marriage? Are you struggling financially? Are you struggling with your kids? Are you struggling with your best friends? Are you struggling with your pastor? Are you struggling with your parents? Are you struggling with your health? Are you struggling with sleep? Are you struggling with school? I am sure that every single person who reads this will answer yes to at least two of these, and if you are not struggling with at least two of these, let me assure you that soon and very soon you will--because we live in a fallen world.

Unbelievable! It is 5:45 am right now and I started writing this post last night right before going to bed. After laying James down to go to sleep Kristal and I were talking. "You know Kristal, this was a good day. It just didn't seem as stressful as it has been. I mean, James was happy, he ate well, we got to play Rummy, and I got a lot of school work done." Kristal looked at me and said, "Yeah, you are right, today was a good day." While this conversation was going on I was praying in my head to the Lord, "O God, please let James sleep all the night through. This has been such a good day and having to get up in the middle of the night is never fun." Kristal prayed for us before going to sleep and she prayed nearly the same thing. Well, guess what! At 2:45 am little Jamesaronious' feet started wiggling, which then led into a little "Eww Eww" action, which then turned into him kicking his feet, which then turned into a no-holes-barred crying fest! Once the crying starts we know we are up for at least an hour, but usually he doesn't like to throw short 1 hour parties, but rather likes to keep his guests for at least an hour and a half. YEP! We were up till 4:00 am. This morning as my alarm went off as usual at 5:00 am I looked at it with a hint of sarcasm and said, "Oh no, we don't live in a fallen world."

I thought you would enjoy that story. How appropriate, It is almost as if the Lord wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to write on something that I haven't already thoroughly experienced.

So anyway, where did I leave off last night before going to bed? Oh yeah, we live in a fallen world! One of the ways I have dealt with the frustration, pain, anger, and depression that this world so often throws at us is by simply taking a few minutes out of my day to answer the question "Why is the Lord bringing me through this trial?"

Why did the Lord decide to get Kristal and I up in the middle of the night last night?
Why is the Lord taking you through struggles in your marriage right now?
Why is the Lord taking you through medical struggles right now?
Why is the Lord taking you throw financial struggles right now?

I am not saying that you should try to come to a complete understanding of why the Lord is taking you through your specific trial, but just that it is helpful to brain storm why He might be doing it. Ultimately, the specific purpose(s) behind our trials is something we will not know until glory. However, it is of utmost help if you simply try and think on these things.

Want me to exemplify what I mean?

-Why did the Lord decide to get Kristal and I up in the middle of the night last night?

Ultimately I am not sure, but I do know that His purposes are good--He only does what is best for His glory and His people. Maybe the Lord got me up in order to remind me that even our best days on earth are contaminated by the fall. Maybe He got me up so that I might be forced to practice Christ-like patience (I struggle with patience the most in the middle of the night--I get short and am often irritable). Maybe the Lord got me up so that I might call upon His name (and I did--I was adamantly praying that He would make James go back to sleep).

Do you see?! This little exercise is so helpful. It gets your mind in the right place. It helps put your trials in perspective. Even though you may not be able to nail down exactly why the Lord is bringing you through your trial, excitement begins to well up knowing that there are a thousand good reasons why he might be taking you through it. Here's the goal--turn your trials (your moments of frustration, pain, anger, and depression) into times of celebration, because you know that God is on your side and that He will not bring you through something "just cuz".

Of course, some trials are much greater than others. Marriage struggles and death are not on par with having to get up for an hour and a half in the middle of the night. However, no horrid situation is above God's loving providence. I don't care how severe your trial is--God is taking you through it for a good reason. This is not to say that the effects of sin and Satan are not real, but it is to say that God works all things together for the good. I am afraid that often times we don't like to think of God's providence because as soon as we do so we are no longer justified in our frustration and anger. Hear me out, pursuing hope is so much more satisfying than pursuing justification to be angry and irritable. This does not mean that we slap a big fat smiley face on our problems and explain them away, but it does mean that we put them in perspective.

Holiday Dinner/Pot Luck Disasters

This morning Kristal and I were talking about the Thanksgiving dinner we know we are going to enjoy later today, and somehow the conversation morphed into a discussion on holiday/pot luck (or for those of you who are more theological than Jesus--pot providence--I can't even believe I stooped to your level) disasters. Now Kristal and I have only known each other for two and a half years, and have only been married for one and a half years and so am sure we wouldn't even know a holiday or pot luck disaster if it hit us in the face.

However, ours happened last fall (around this) time when Kristal was going through the throws of pregnistic (do you like the word--I take the credit for it) nausea. She was bad--literally, as soon as she would get up, she would throw up. We went to church and literally everything at the church pot luck was orange! Everything was orange! Do you want the menu?

-cheese and crackers
-macaroni and cheese
-sweet potatoes
-grilled cheese
-beef and carrot stew
-cantaloupe

Oh, and by the way, the only tasty thing was the cantaloupe and cheese and crackers. Needless to say, as soon as we got home Kristal threw up.

Show us up by telling your worst holiday/pot luck dinner stories. If you have more than one story go ahead and share both. I just have one rule--if your story is about a pot luck you are not welcome to call it a pot providence or a pot blessing.

Interesting Quote

I read an interesting quote in a book by Douglas Groothuis entitled "Truth Decay; Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism."

He was quoting a whole bunch of contemporary modernism-minded scientists and philosophers who were expressing their disgust with the false premises of postmodernism. This section was entirely helpful for me, as I did not realize that Christianity is not the only (and maybe not even the main) enemy of radical postmodern thinking.

Anyway, he ended the section with a helpful reminder that, and I quote, "The enemies of our enemies are not always our friends." He was here saying that modernists are just as off, in many ways, as postmodernists--we can agree with them when they say right things against postmodern speculation, but we must not mistake them for being on our side. After all, modernism poses just as many difficulties for Christianity as does postmodernism (contrary to popular thought).

Ok, so I'm long winded. The whole purpose of this post was to share with you the quote, "the enemies of our enemies are not always our friends." What a brilliant quote.

Also, this Groothuis is a good writer--he has a lot of good things to say. I recommend this book to anyone who is up for thick, yet rich, reading. I recommend all of you to make attempts at understanding our culture. It helps in speaking to people where they are at. I have found that my knowledge of the fabric of our culture has helped me in evangelism to know what people are thinking without them telling me. It has helped me to bring up aspects of Christianity that interest them. It has helped me know what sort of questions probe their interest and curiosity.

Happiness in God

My apologetics teacher posed the question, "How do we find happiness." We had to give a short answer to this question. I enjoyed answering it and have pasted my answer. Enjoy and respond.

"Our happiness in something is entirely built upon an intellectual understanding of how long the happiness will last. The happiness that drunkenness, money, and sex can provide is often real happiness, but it is not ultimate happiness. In reality, the question is, “how can we find ultimate happiness?” Ultimate happiness can only be found in something that can offer the promise of eternal satisfaction. With this in mind, looking for ultimate happiness on this temporal earth will only lead to despair. Ultimate happiness can only be found in God, because only God can deliver on the promise of eternal satisfaction.

God is the only infinite entity in all of existence. The love, beauty, glory, justice, and happiness of God simply cannot be exhausted, therefore we can be assured that we will never run out of that which makes us happy. The problem is that right now, because of the effects of the fall, even our finding happiness in God can (and does) have physical draw backs (if you disagree, talk to those undergoing persecution for the name of Christ), which can limit our temporal enjoyment of it. How then can Christians defend the thesis that ultimate happiness can be realized when one finds his/her happiness in God? It all has to do with hope.

We live in the already/not yet. Our confidence and surety is that a time is coming when our unabridged enjoyment in Christ will be actualized. We but get a mere taste of it now, but will be wrapped in it for an eternity once Christ welcomes us to our heavenly abode. The mere taste of what we now enjoy (by faith) is much sweeter than what those who are finding their happiness in the temporal satisfactions of the world are tasting, and yet it is not even comparable to the satisfaction of what we will enjoy in heaven."

Trinitarian Application

As you all know, the standing on the last poll went as follows
Who is most God?
a. The Father
b. The Son
c. The Spirit
d. they are all equally God
e. none of them are God

Well, I am happy to report that everyone who voted chose d. "they are all equally God." Some may think that the poll was too basic of a question to be asking on a "Christian" blog site, however we need to realize that not everyone has all of these issues nailed down in their heads. The main reason I asked this question is because I have come across quite a few people in the last year or two who have been surprised by the thought that the Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father.
For some reason, although we tend to (in theory) believe that the three persons of the Trinity are all equally God, we do not act like it.

-A practical trinitarian question for my baptistic friends: Do you cherish the work of the Holy Spirit as much as you cherish the work of the Son? Do you live your everyday life as if the Trinity was a mere Duinity? Does the Spirit have anything to do with your everyday life, or is He an active member of the Godhead only in theory? Have you turned the Scriptures into a mere wooden theological book, or are you depending upon and communing with Christ through the Spirit?

-A practical trinitarian question for my Lutheran/liturgy-driven friends, do you cherish the work of the Son and the Spirit as much as you cherish the Holiness of God the Father? Is the ministry of the Son and Spirit a reality in your life?

-A practical trinitarian question for my charismatic friends: Have the Father and Son died? I appreciate the emphasis on the Holy Spirit (much needed), however do you live as if the Father and Son are just as much of a reality as is the Holy Spirit? Have you gotten over forgiveness and now need something new--some new work of the Spirit--to give you what forgiveness can't? Are you always pursuing something new? If so, some practical changes might need to take place.

You see, having a correct view of the Trinity effects our everyday lives. You need more than a correct understanding of the Trinity, you need a correct application of the Trinity. Christianity suffers when any one of the members of the Trinity are forgotten or neglected (not just in teaching, but in practice).

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

A few weeks ago we sang the hymn "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" at our church. I had never heard it before, and was blown away by the content of the song. I encourage you to meditate on it. Don't skip over the refrain, read it each time it comes up. My favorite part is where it says, "Broader than the scope of my transgressions, Greater far than all my sin and shame." It reminds me of 1 Tim 1:12-17 where Paul talks about his life before he was a believer. He describes himself as a "violent aggressor" (1:13) and then calls himself the "worst of sinners" (1:15). Paul definitely was the worst of sinners. So many people try to identify with Paul in this, but to do so would be a mistake. In a sense, Paul is setting himself up not as an example of the power of God's grace and patience, but as the example of God's grace and patience. Let me ask you a question, Have you killed hundreds upon hundreds of men, women, and children because they bear the name of Christ? Have you, like Sadam Huessien and Hitler, filled mass graves of those you have slaughtered? Before you were a believer, were Christians afraid of losing their lives when you came to town? Don't get all doctrinal on me and say, "Total depravity! My heart is just as black as Paul's was." In a theological sense this may be true, but here Paul is not referring to the doctrine of total depravity (sometimes we tend to over theologize passages and end up missing the main message of it). Paul is setting himself up as the "worst of sinners." Paul's rebellion against God went so deep that he was actually torturing and killing Christians by the droves. AND YET! he says, "the grace of our Lord was more than abundant" (1:14). What a wonderful example we have in Paul. God's grace was not merely sufficient to cover his sins, it was "more than abundant." It more than covered his sins. If it more than covered Paul's sins, could it not more than cover your's as well? Surely if God's grace is more than abundant to cover the sins of mass murderer, it is more than abundant to cover your sins as well! What is your response to this news concerning God's abundant grace? Look at how Paul responds to it, "Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen" (1:17).

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost;
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty,
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power, making him God’s dear child.
Purchasing peace and heaven for all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!

REFRAIN: Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All-sufficient grace for even me;
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame;
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise His name!

New Poll

Time for a new poll. This is not as much a poll for fun as it is to see the beliefs of those who frequent here. After the poll is over I will provide a "brief" explanation of why I asked this question, and what the biblical answer is.

An Excellent Post on Earthly Reality

I would recommend all who frequent my blog to read a post entitled "Learn to Live with Pain, Then Go One Better" by Ariel (one of my classmates from Seminary).
Ariel has an amazing gift of communicating real life Christianity. Enjoy the gift God has given him for the building up of the body of Christ. Ariel's writing is consistently insightful, so when you read this post check out some of the other stuff he has written.

R.C. Sproul--The Movie Star!!!

The Lord has graced us by allowing us to live in the day and age of technology. Technology can be both detrimental and useful for the Gospel. Many of our modern day theologians have capitalized on the advantages of technology. R. C. Sproul has particularly made use of technology by parading his beautiful face on his website. That's right, you heard it, you can now see Sproul in his GQ--Kenish beauty heralding the Gospel at www.ligonier.org. I do not agree with everything Sproul says, but anyone who does not cherish the gift God has given us in Sproul is overly picky and in need of a good old fashion piece of humble pie (and a big boy spankin). He is not the Pope, but he is mightily gifted of God. For those of you who are intimidated by theologians--Sproul has the ability to communicate the most complicated truths in simple terms. I seriously encourage all of you who read this to watch as many of his 20 min lessons as you possibly can. Test everything to the Scriptures, but enjoy this gift that God has given you. It will not take you long to come to the realization that, "Hey, I guess I have been wrong all these years, not all theologians are ugly."