A Great Discussion

Just finished up a great conversation with my wonderful friend Steve via Facebook messaging. Steve and i have a history of arguments that can get a tad nasty, but i think we've learned that we really are good to keep each other in check when we both try to act like we know what we're talking about. I really enjoy the discussions we have when we both seek to find the Truth in what the Lord is teaching us both, and it's great because we rarely agree fully.

This most recent discussion stemmed from a letter by C.S. Lewis that discussed just war from a Christian standpoint. Our discussion then dives into issues of just war, pacifism, authority, and the relationship of the Church and the State. You can view our discussion in its entirety here. I would recommend taking a look at it. I like it, anyways. I love talking about this stuff, it can get me all riled up, so feel free to add to the discussion!

Eyes on the Prize

“Man was created to this end: that he should praise God, Our Lord, and reverence and serve Him, and by doing these things, should save his soul. And all the other things on the face of the earth were created for man, to help him in attaining the end for which he was created. Whence it follows that man must use these things only in so far as they help him towards his end, and must withdraw himself from them in so far as they are obstacles to his attaining his end…Wherefore it is necessary that we make ourselves indifferent to all created things, in so far as it is permitted to our free will…in such a way that, as far as we are concerned, we should not desire health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honor rather than ignominy, a long life rather than a short life, and so on, desiring and choosing only these things which more efficaciously lead us to the end for which we were created.”
--Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain, p. 269


I think i'm beginning to gain greater perspective on just how much the reality of God must infect everything that i am and do. My life must be so focused on my end goal--the Kingdom of God in Christ--that i understand that everything else in the world can only serve to help me attain this goal or distract me from it. Anything that doesn't affect that end must be met simply with indifference, because it does not matter. Our Lord says to us, rather than worry about what we will eat or wear or do, we should seek first the Kingdom of God and righteousness, and then all else that we need will be given to us (Matt. 6:33). Seek the end goal. All the rest can only be the means to the end or nothing at all. That quote above blew my mind. Sickness, health, poverty, wealth, honor, shame--they mean nothing in themselves unless they are serving as a means to the end of gaining Christ (Phil. 3:8). If sickness will help you gain Christ or draw more into His Kingdom, desire sickness. If your shame brings honor to the Kingdom of God, desire shame. The desire for the end goal must be so powerfully present within us that the importance of everything else is only measured by how much it helps or detracts from achieving it. Therefore, all hardships, all circumstances, all the crappy things that life throws our way--they don't matter. We must keep pushing through them, or use them to attain our goal. "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). God is blowing my mind with this, and i'm having trouble expressing it in words. I hope that He will rock you as i have been rocked with this, regardless of my limitations.

My New Hero

This is Lionel Tiger. DR. Lionel Tiger. Go ahead, say his name out loud. And say it again. Do you feel the awesomeness pumping through your veins yet? Did you feel a shiver down your spine at the mere mention of it? He has, hands-down, the coolest name i have ever heard of in my entire life. He is all that is man. And beast. He is a cultural anthropologist, and he is the originator of the term "male bonding." Anyone who does research into male bonding HAS to be the manliest man of all time. I want to be Lionel Tiger when i grow up. Or at least name any kids i might have after him.

Merton on Wars and God's Mercy

People seem to think that it is in some way a proof that no merciful God exists, if we have so many wars. On the contrary, consider how in spite of centuries of sin and greed and lust and cruelty and hatred and avarice and oppression and injustice, spawned and bred by the free wills of men, the human race can still recover, each time, and can still produce men and women who overcome evil with good, hatred with love, greed with charity, lust and cruelty with sanctity. How could all this be possible without the merciful love of God, pouring out His grace upon us?

Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain, p. 128

What a Terrible Idea...

The American Patriot's Bible is a new hot product right now. This bible (in NKJV) claims that it "shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world." The Patriot's Bible comes with accompanying articles that show how the Bible supports the American (religious right) cause and gives a call to action for true American Christians to stand up for their beloved country that is so very blessed by God. In it, George Washington (debated whether or not he was a Deist) is hailed as the "American Moses," and many of its points are taken far out of context. It is a bible for people who love America AND God. I feel like you'd have to love them in that order if this bible is appealing to you. Here's a promo video for the Patriot's Bible, which claims that its readers will "experience spiritual growth, and an enhanced sense of American patriotism."

This is idolatry. This is the religious right combining their worship of America with worship of God. God did not tolerate this kind of religious syncretism with Israel, and I doubt He'll tolerate it now. Here and here are critiques (a softened term for it--he rips it apart) by theologian-pastor Greg Boyd, the author of The Myth of a Christian Nation. The truth is, America is NOT a Christian nation. Many of the founding fathers were Deists, which is pretty much an anti-Christian psuedo-religion borne out of the Enlightenment. I feel like the religious right in America is beginning to try too hard, because they see their downfall coming soon, and in desperation, they've transitioned to idolatry. Sadly, i think many people will be quite taken by this. Any other thoughts?

A Leader of Leaders

This is why i love reading Perry Noble. His blog is probably my favorite one to read, and i read a lot of them. He's a pastor in North Carolina, and he's got a ton of passion to go along with a strong biblical foundation and good common sense. He is a leader's leader, and i appreciate his stuff a lot. You should go check out the link on why and how leaders need to have "humble confidence."

The Early Church vs. The American Church: A New Perspective.

Here's a great post from Larry Osborne on the future of the Church in America. In it, he uses a really awesomely unique perspective from the book of Acts. This post really convicted me. I think i (and many others in my generation) tend to be very critical of the Church in America, and i love to point out problems, but never offer any solutions. Sometimes i tend to hold up the early Church in the New Testament as what we should aim for and the model we should pursue. But, as Larry points out, the early Church was far from perfect, too. They had just as many flaws as we do in the Church today, just not in the same ways most of the time. So go read that. It'll be well worth your time.

Some Individualistic, Narcissitic Thoughts

No, this is not a "25 Things" blog. Please no. I still refuse to do one of those.

But i think i've been learning a lot of things about myself recently, and they have come to my attention, so i figured i'd write them down.

I prefer to listen rather than talk most of the time. When i'm talking and trying to make a point, i much prefer succinctness over talking for a long time. I have friends that are very good talkers, and they can go on and on about a point, elaborating and elaborating more. Not that that's bad, but it's not my style. I'll try to say it short and say it well. I've especially been noticing this in prayer. Sometimes it almost bothers me when people are praying and they're just going on and on about nothing, and a lot of times it feels like they've said this stuff a thousand times over and they're just saying it to say it. I just like to say what needs to be said and be done with it. That turned into a hyper-critical rant, and i'm sorry about that. Am i disproving my own point? Hmm....

I don't like to form an opinion unless i'm forced to. I find that it works best for me to keep an open mind about most situations when they don't directly apply to me. So that leaves me ambivalent about most things, and I'm okay with that. This applies politically, theologically, philosophically, and relationally. I'll often try to look at the options as objectively as i can and not pick sides until there's comes a point when i have to. I'm not sure yet if this is a good quality or not, but i kind of like it. It makes life and relationships and discussions easier.

My life and my relationship with the LORD improve dramatically when i am doing well at being disciplined, whether it's physically, spiritually, mentally, whatever. But still i don't do well with discipline, regardless of how it affects me. That's dumb.

Sometimes i just like to rebel against the status quo and against popular opinion for the fun of it.

Regardless of that last statement, i've found myself gravitating more and more this past semester back toward the traditional Church practices. There is so much richness and value in those, and it makes me wonder how much other churches are missing out on when they refuse to do traditional stuff.

I like my introverted-ness, but sometimes i wish i was better at conversations with people.

I thought i had more than that, but i guess not. Maybe if i think of more, i'll edit later.

Goodnight!