NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

Fighting The Good Fight Involves Debate Not Pugilism

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God doesn't have a dog in any fight. Instead, He fights for every dog.

If All We Do
Is Say What’s Already Been Said
We Haven’t Done The Job

It had been several years since I last spoke to this individual. Through others, I had remained aware of what was happening in his life and it became apparent that he was aware of happenings in my life too, but other than exchanging a like or two on Facebook, a distant wave here or there, nothing. So it was a surprise when I got his message that he wanted to FaceTime.

I agreed, of course. We had been acquainted for thirty plus years at that point. I knew him as a kid growing up and I was familiar with the various stages of his development. His story was quite typical.

He grew up in church but, as often happens, his Christianity was mostly superficial. He was a quiet rebel as a youngster: alcohol, drugs and sex. Always nice on the surface. Always pleasant and full of potential but into some serious stuff in the background.

As you might guess, the background issues began taking over and became more apparent as he grew older.

He was loved through it all and, thankfully, came to his senses at a later stage.

And when he did, he was loved just as much at that point as he’d always been. The difference now was that he was also applauded, honored and appreciated for making his way out of an addictive situation. He had apparently become quite dependent on both the alcohol and the drugs. Overcoming in that situation has to be respected. In his case, he did more than just overcome addiction. He also went to university and gained a credible degree. Impressive! [Read more…] about Fighting The Good Fight Involves Debate Not Pugilism

10 Thoughts On Doing Good Works

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Actions are living arguments that intrigue.

Acting Like A Good Person
Is Better Than Claiming To Be One

The idea of doing good works – things that are honorable, useful, dignified, helpful, kind, etc. – often takes a beating and, strangely, the beating comes from the people you’d expect to be doing the most good, Christians. Christians can some times sound anti good works.

There is a reason for that but the reason doesn’t justify the negativity.

Let me explain.

Christians are those claiming born-again status, and the salvation associated with born-again happens completely apart from any good works we can do. In other words, salvation is by faith through grace. It’s made free by the death of Jesus on the cross and is offered purely by God’s grace and kindness. That means you can’t good-works your way into heaven.

I agree with that. If Jesus didn’t pay the price for our sins, there aren’t enough good works in the world to cover that sin but some go a little too far with that idea and suggest that before salvation humans are incapable of doing any good at all. The idea is so senseless it doesn’t deserve a mention much less an argument.

But, for the record, there are too many non-believing individuals in the world doing good things to suggest that a sin nature puts good works beyond reach until after salvation.

Is it a good work for soldiers to defend their country against all enemies foreign and domestic? Are Christians the only ones who defend their country?

Even if you believe that only Christians are capable of doing good works, there’s too little of that happening and too few who encourage it. Some Christians become quite defensive, almost insecure, when anyone suggests we should do good works. They immediately begin chanting grace through faith – all of which is good – but it doesn’t apply. It also doesn’t mirror what the Bible says.

Jesus had some positive things to say about good works. You could take His comments as commands but before we get to that, what exactly qualifies as a good work? [Read more…] about 10 Thoughts On Doing Good Works

Proselytes, Sycophants And Political Extremism

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Sycophantic Tendencies: Make something of nothing, make nothing of something.

Not Every Proselyte
Becomes A Child Of Hell

According to several dictionaries, a proselyte is a newcomer to some version of faith. Since no one is born a believer of any kind, everyone is a proselyte at some point.

Even if one is born into a religious family, becoming an adherent to the family altar, be it Catholic, Baptist, Hindu or whatever, is still a choice and when you make it, you are a proselyte.

Each person’s level of commitment to their chosen belief, however, is not the same. It could be very intense or quite casual. It could also be non existent.

Ronald Reagan Jr. is a good example. His father, President Reagan, was quite religious but Ron Jr. rejected his father’s religion entirely. Instead, he became an atheist and today represents the Freedom From Religion Foundation regularly in TV commercials.

If you’re religious and of the Christian variety, you probably find his commercials offensive.

Obviously, in his case, his dad’s religion didn’t stick but he still qualified as a proselyte. Instead of Christianity, he became a proselyte to atheism. Whenever he came to that conclusion, he was a newcomer to the belief that God doesn’t exist.

But the point to this post is not that you are a proselyte but where has that journey taken you? [Read more…] about Proselytes, Sycophants And Political Extremism

Calvinism Misunderstands Motive

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Circular reasoning engages no discussion, offers no arguments.

Motive Is Determined By Character
Not Condition

The following was a comment on a blog post at Allkirk Network.

The comment made two interesting points which I wanted to explore a bit. One involves what the commenter referred to as a misunderstanding about a sinner’s motive for doing good works. The other involves his use of the word “Holy” which is a bit misleading.

Lutherans believe in Man’s freedom of will. As I understand it, as a Lutheran, man has freedom of will and can choose to do good works; but in our sinful condition our choices to do good are based on selfish reasons, not godly reasons. In this, humans always choose selfishly (sinfully), even though the work may outwardly appear good, they are not pleasing to God. Herein the Work of the Holy Spirit is paramount in changing our nature from sinful to holy. When the Holy Spirit works through us and guides our decisions, only then can we make good choices for God pleasing reasons, and do truly good and holy works. How does Cavlinism/Reformed view this?

To be clear, the post was aimed at settling the record regarding four myths about Lutheranism, apparently perpetrated by Calvinists. The four myths centered on free will, the Lord’s Supper, the use of the law and engaging the surrounding culture.

Those issues are not the focus in my response.

The post was on a Presbyterian website so it is was offered from a Calvinistic perspective. The topics being discussed were interesting but, again, that’s not the focus here.

I’m assuming the commenters understanding of Lutheran theology is correct. If it isn’t, the same idea is floated by other theological systems so addressing it has purpose.

The important thing is, even if he was wrong about Lutheran theology, he made a judgment call on the motives of sinners which can’t be justified. He was wrong and his comment serves as another example of Calvinist’s tendency to argue from the presumed rightness of their position. It’s circular. Calvinism is right so you must be wrong because what you say disagrees with Calvinism. No discussion engaged. No arguments offered. [Read more…] about Calvinism Misunderstands Motive

Review: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

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Truth, like food, is better received when better prepared.

A Clanging Cymbal Expresses Adamance
Not Meaning

Before the Scopes trial, which ultimately was a debate between creation and evolution, William Jennings Bryan famously said, “if evolution wins, Christianity goes.”

He, like many other absolutists before and after him, was wrong. In the end, neither side could claim victory and Christianity hasn’t gone anywhere.

But it makes you wonder. How many other tightly held biblical ideas could be moderated without destroying faith and the Christian community?

The truth is Faith isn’t easily obliterated and science is not static. I believe in a young earth and a seven day creation but I know I can’t prove those ideas any more than evolutionists can conclusively prove the 13.7 billion year history they claim for the earth.

When conflicts like this occur, the only reasonable response is to respect the rights of others to think differently, share in the discussion and keep digging for facts. Both sides keep digging but the sharing part resembles a barrage of artillery shells flying both ways. Everyone is firing and ducking.

Instead of clarifying, the discussion separates and divides. Neither side seems to understand that ideas aren’t weapons and would be better used to stimulate thought than cause injury.

I understand how uncomfortable some ideas can be but I still find it difficult to refuse the discussion.

Before you walk away, remember that religionists are often the unreasonable party. They don’t argue, they dismiss. Religious conservatives, like the Catholics who put Galileo under house arrest for teaching the earth revolved around the sun, accept only compliance and obedience. Arguments, any arguments, are viewed as an offense against God and there is a long history of burning opposing ideas at the stake.

I’m saying that as one who was raised in religious conservatism. I learned the doctrines well and zealously complied but compelling ideas should never be ignored even if those ideas seem to rub faith the wrong way.

We should never be satisfied to ignore those ideas and always be open to new arguments and perspectives.

The question is where do you find those arguments. [Read more…] about Review: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr