Theolatte
Nothing goes better with a steaming latte than an engaging discussion about theology and philosophy. Sit down with your favorite caffeinated beverage and peruse the thoughts of a pseudo-intellectual.
Author Archive
A Natural Disaster
August 12th, 2010
There are ultimately only two basic views of reality. The first allows for metaphysics and the second is limited to mere physics. Another helpful way of describing these contrasting categories is to call the first a supernatural worldview and the second a natural one. One person believes in the existence of God while another declares it impossible.
The Apostle Paul refers to both categories in Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Paul says that all who invest only in the physical world, only in the flesh, will receive their reward from nature. Those who invest in metaphysics, to the Spirit, will receive their reward from God. Both views represent paths with predetermined destinations. One leads to corruption while the other leads to life.
It is interesting that a purely natural worldview leads to corruption. Even the law of entropy teaches us that this is true. Nature is moving away from something (a beginning) towards an end. One does not have to look far to find scientists who recognize that the earth has both a beginning, as well as, an inevitable end. The earth is not able to indefinitely sustain life. To only invest in this world is most certainly to result in disaster.
Conversely, those who invest to the Spirit will receive life. Jesus posed this truth in the form of a question, “What does is profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” If one rejects the idea of anything immaterial, of any reality of a soul, then to lose it would be of little consequence. It is, after all, already lost – or that is to say it never existed to begin with. However, if man is more than just matter plus environment, if man has a soul, then this would be a great loss indeed.
I don’t wish here to present arguments for the reality of metaphysics based on beauty, morality, or human longing. Neither do I seek to present a theological basis for the exclusivity of Christ as revealed and vindicated by the Spirit. While I believe both are important, I simply want to emphasize the biblical notion of two paths. One is natural leading to corruption. The other is supernatural leading to life.
As Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” On another occasion Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” Jesus made it clear that the natural road is broad and is traveled by the multitudes. The way to life is found only through Christ. Herein the spiritual road is said to be quite narrow and its passengers few.
The real question is which road are you on?
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” – CS Lewis
“We have said we must be fond of this world, even in order to change it. We now add that we must be fond of another world (real or imaginary) in order to have something to change it to.”
-GK Chesterton
Blind Archers
July 26th, 2010
“Like an archer who wounds everyone, is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.”
(Proverbs 26:10)
This verse struck me as unusually humorous as I had my morning devotional time at a local coffee shop. I immediately had the mental image of a person with bow in hand surrounded by a confused and bloody crowd running around with arrow wounds. This could easily be a subtitle to a scene from a Monty Python movie.
The reality is when someone acts foolishly they end up hurting others. Their words and actions are like sharpened arrows shot arbitrarily. Don’t get too close to a blind archer. They might not be aiming at anything in particular, but if you are in their path you will likely get hit.
Like the blind leading the blind are those who flock to leaders who are known for foolish and self-centered behavior. If you are an employer looking to make a hire, or a church looking to call a pastor, whatever you do, don’t hire a blind archer. You’ll get hurt every time.
Confessions of a Coffee House Evangelist
July 23rd, 2010
If I ever stopped drinking coffee I would have to completely rebrand myself. From my blog title to my Twitter updates, coffee is an ever present theme in my life. Ironically, in the providence of God, I have the opportunity to preach the gospel in a coffee shop every week.
Three things I love about preaching in a coffee house:
1.) Preaching in a public setting provides random contacts with people who wouldn’t go to a typical church.
We get to meet a lot of people who wander into the coffee house, since it stays open for business during our worship service. While there are some disadvantages, like the noise generated from the blender while they make iced drinks, I love the interaction with the customers.
2.) Preaching in a public setting keeps you from being preachy.
When you have customers either walking through during our Bible study, sitting and listening in, or even just leaning at the counter trying to figure out what we are doing…it is impossible to “preach to the choir” in a context like this. I once had a young man who was in the back of the coffee shop working at a computer stand up and begin walking towards me as I discussed the fundamental flaws of a naturalistic worldview. At first he seemed potentially aggressive, but later appeared interested. At one point I looked down to read a Bible passage and when I looked back up he had walked out the back. I’ve never been accused of being overly stuffy or academic in my presentation style, but if it were a problem it would certainly be knocked out of me in this context.
3.) Last, and probably least, I get to drink coffee while I preach.
Sometimes I ask questions to initiate dialogue with the audience. Sometimes I ask questions to provide a brief interlude to take a sip of my cappuccino. All kidding aside, there is something fundamental to the idea of food and fellowship. Something magical happens as we sit in a relaxed setting with beverages in hand. The New Testament calls it fellowship. Every Thursday evening we get a foretaste of an eschatological fellowship and a future meal. This public context prevents some of the formalities that often inhibit authentic fellowship.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Know God
July 18th, 2010
He says in his heart,”God doesn’t exist.”
He clenches his teeth and raises his fist.
“God’s an illusion,
Belief – delusion!”
“It’ll be just fine in the end,” he insists.
But what if when coming to his end
Will he wish in life he did spend,
More time to reflect,
Took time to inspect,
The imaginary god he liked to offend?
Today is the day to implore.
His being and truth explore:
Powerful creation,
Disclosed revelation,
Grace, peace and love even more.
For Freedom Christ Set Us Free
July 15th, 2010
Two dead theologians and two living atheists debate free will….at least in my most recent blog book.
Let me explain. Tonight I’m teaching on Galatians 5:1 at the campus church: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
The topics tackled within these twenty words contained in this one verse have puzzled thinking men and women throughout the ages. To better appreciate the concept that Christ has set us free, one must first understand the biblical context of Gentile believers who were being influenced by the Judaizers. Additionally, I think it is crucial to have a historical context for the debate surrounding human freedom. Both the initial context and the historical context present a powerful picture of reality of freedom in Christ as an exclusive truth.
The idea of human freedom has been subjected to philosophies that purport that nature is all there is. Therefore, any sense of true freedom is impossible. However, this notion has been baptized in secular humanism in an effort to attain values and significance apart from any external absolutes. Yet, in all of this, it is only in the person of Christ where true freedom can be found.
Freedom can be defined as the possession of the ability, opportunity and desire to do what would bring one the most joy. John Piper describes it as, “Full freedom is what you have when no lack of opportunity, no lack of ability, and no lack of desire prevents you from doing what will make you the happiest in a thousand years.” True freedom is absolutely contingent on the existence of a loving Creator who is both Transcendent and Imminent. Without God we are forced to serve as our highest goal, our only measure, and our final hope.
The last paragraph of the humanist manifesto from 1933 states:
“So stand the theses of religious humanism. Though we consider the religious forms and ideas of our fathers no longer adequate, the quest for the good life is still the central task for mankind. Man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievement. He must set intelligence and will to the task.”
The late Francis Schaeffer aptly stated, “Humanists have both feet firmly planted in midair.” Without God there is no basis for values, significance or free will. In stark contrast, Jesus, the Incarnate Word, has stepped into our reality to offer us the ability, opportunity and desire to choose a life that our fallen world could never offer in a million years.
Check out my most recent blog book “For Freedom Christ Set Us Free” to read a brief summary of a hypothetical conversation between G.K. Chesterton, Bernard Iddings Bell, Will Provine and Richard Dawkins.
