Another blogger and I have been discussing the topic of free will over at Wingin' It, and we've now brought that discussion over here. This post is simply to have a place to continue that discussion.
There are a lot of different thoughts out there. Many different opinions on a myriad of topics ranging from abortion to global warming, religion to health care. I know that within the church, this is no different. Pre-, Post-, or A-millenial? Calvinism or Arminianism? Women pastors or not? Of course, I'm just touching the tip of the iceberg.
Everyone in the church seems to fall on one side or another with many of these issues (well, other than the pan-millenialists :) , of course), but many of those same people will say something along the lines of, "Well, we won't know the answer to (name that issue) until we get to heaven. This has been argued for a couple thousand years by many brilliant people, so I'm sure it won't be settled any time soon." While I agree with the last statement, that these issues won't be settled amongst ourselves any time soon, the statement is usually said to imply that there just isn't enough information to figure it all out. Or it's said because we're finite beings trying to understand an infinite God. And while these things may have a greater or lesser amount of truth to them, I think these are the furthest reasons from the main reason why these issues won't be settled amongst ourselves before we meet Him, and that reason can be summed up in one word...'sin.'
As humans, yes, we are finite, and yes, sometimes we don't have all the information we need to form rock-solid conclusions, but I think those things carry far less weight than the simple fact that we certainly are a sinful lot. Pride definitely will creep in when we bristle at the thought of being wrong, or others telling us we're wrong. We have a hard time having someone tell us that they think we're crazy for coming to some conclusion, even if they say it lovingly and in a way that's not condecending. On the other hand, sometimes we just feel the need to be right and look that way in front of others. We end up approaching many of these issues with our minds set on what we like, or what seems right to us, but not willing to hear someone that's thought about it more than us who would tell us to reconcider our position. And the lengths we will go to protect it! What about all the other things we'd simply rather be doing...I can't tell you how many people act as if they just don't want to exhaust their brain power to know God more. "We're not going to know the answer until we get to heaven, anyway" just becomes and excuse to not take the time to think.
Is it possible to begin looking at these things from a different perpective, one that desires to know God above all else, including our desire for looking good in front of others? Are we willing to be wrong or look wrong in front of people if it means that we'll know God better in the end? Are we willing to put forth the effort required to really think through the issues? I believe that there are answers to the vast majority of our questions/disputes in the church, and that God has given us all the information we need to know and understand the vast majority of them, including the issues that have been discussed for centuries. My only questions is, can we lay ourselves aside long enough to find out the answers?
Everyone in the church seems to fall on one side or another with many of these issues (well, other than the pan-millenialists :) , of course), but many of those same people will say something along the lines of, "Well, we won't know the answer to (name that issue) until we get to heaven. This has been argued for a couple thousand years by many brilliant people, so I'm sure it won't be settled any time soon." While I agree with the last statement, that these issues won't be settled amongst ourselves any time soon, the statement is usually said to imply that there just isn't enough information to figure it all out. Or it's said because we're finite beings trying to understand an infinite God. And while these things may have a greater or lesser amount of truth to them, I think these are the furthest reasons from the main reason why these issues won't be settled amongst ourselves before we meet Him, and that reason can be summed up in one word...'sin.'
As humans, yes, we are finite, and yes, sometimes we don't have all the information we need to form rock-solid conclusions, but I think those things carry far less weight than the simple fact that we certainly are a sinful lot. Pride definitely will creep in when we bristle at the thought of being wrong, or others telling us we're wrong. We have a hard time having someone tell us that they think we're crazy for coming to some conclusion, even if they say it lovingly and in a way that's not condecending. On the other hand, sometimes we just feel the need to be right and look that way in front of others. We end up approaching many of these issues with our minds set on what we like, or what seems right to us, but not willing to hear someone that's thought about it more than us who would tell us to reconcider our position. And the lengths we will go to protect it! What about all the other things we'd simply rather be doing...I can't tell you how many people act as if they just don't want to exhaust their brain power to know God more. "We're not going to know the answer until we get to heaven, anyway" just becomes and excuse to not take the time to think.
Is it possible to begin looking at these things from a different perpective, one that desires to know God above all else, including our desire for looking good in front of others? Are we willing to be wrong or look wrong in front of people if it means that we'll know God better in the end? Are we willing to put forth the effort required to really think through the issues? I believe that there are answers to the vast majority of our questions/disputes in the church, and that God has given us all the information we need to know and understand the vast majority of them, including the issues that have been discussed for centuries. My only questions is, can we lay ourselves aside long enough to find out the answers?
James begins his book to the Jewish believers talking about trials, and counting them joy. Why should we count trials as joy? The reason is because we will increase in patience or perseverance. If I may be so bold, I would say that it will make us more like Christ.
The next part of what he says goes something like this (off the top of my head, and I'm guessing what's on the top of my head is the New King Jimmy version):
For a long time I thought this part was talking about asking for wisdom to get through the trial. If the trial was cancer, asking for wisdom for finding the right doctors, getting the right treatments, etc., to help me through the trial. If I blew a tire, I would ask for wisdom about getting safely to my destination. However, I don't believe this to be what James is saying here.
The point of the trial is not for us to just get through it. The goal is to get through it having learned the lesson God wants us to learn, looking more like Christ in the end. So what wisdom would one need as they go through the trial? Not what they need to do to make it out, but wisdom to decern what it is God is telling them, through the trial, needs to be changed so that they look more like Christ in the end. If God brings cancer, to go back to one of my previous examples, into your life, and His Spirit is leading you to understand that He wants you to learn to trust Him more, but you say, "That can't be, God. I already trust You...a lot!" then it is this one who is doubting, or "double-minded." You ask the Lord what you need to learn through this, but then when it's revealed to you, you insist that can't be it.
A couple months ago, my wife and I lost our twin babies, miscarrying at about 11 weeks. That's a trial. I'm still wanting to know what exactly the Lord wants me to learn through this...certainly waiting on Him is a part of it. I'm so thankful that He's completely in control, that He has reasons and purposes to all He does, and that He would count me worthy to test my faith through such things. I don't want to waste this trial. I'm listening...
The next part of what he says goes something like this (off the top of my head, and I'm guessing what's on the top of my head is the New King Jimmy version):
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the
wind. Let not that man suppose he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
For a long time I thought this part was talking about asking for wisdom to get through the trial. If the trial was cancer, asking for wisdom for finding the right doctors, getting the right treatments, etc., to help me through the trial. If I blew a tire, I would ask for wisdom about getting safely to my destination. However, I don't believe this to be what James is saying here.
The point of the trial is not for us to just get through it. The goal is to get through it having learned the lesson God wants us to learn, looking more like Christ in the end. So what wisdom would one need as they go through the trial? Not what they need to do to make it out, but wisdom to decern what it is God is telling them, through the trial, needs to be changed so that they look more like Christ in the end. If God brings cancer, to go back to one of my previous examples, into your life, and His Spirit is leading you to understand that He wants you to learn to trust Him more, but you say, "That can't be, God. I already trust You...a lot!" then it is this one who is doubting, or "double-minded." You ask the Lord what you need to learn through this, but then when it's revealed to you, you insist that can't be it.
A couple months ago, my wife and I lost our twin babies, miscarrying at about 11 weeks. That's a trial. I'm still wanting to know what exactly the Lord wants me to learn through this...certainly waiting on Him is a part of it. I'm so thankful that He's completely in control, that He has reasons and purposes to all He does, and that He would count me worthy to test my faith through such things. I don't want to waste this trial. I'm listening...
It has been a while since I've last written, and there are a lot of different reasons. This has been a particularly interesting time in my life, these past few months, and though I won't go into detail here, God has been teaching me a lot that hopefully I will be able to share, at least in part, here.
Another reason is that, for a while, I was afraid of this blog becoming something I didn't want, and that was a political commentary. I enjoy politics, and from the election on, there's been so much to comment on that I've wanted to comment on, I felt like this would become something more political than I would like. And not that I'm against talking about it, as I know I will bring things up of that nature from time to time, I just don't want you, the reader, equating the Power of the Towel with political commentary. The main thrust of what I do here is to journal what the Lord has been teaching me so that somehow, someway, He might use it to help and serve others, and hopefully encourage you to help and serve others, as well.
So again, I apologize to my readers out there, and I look forward to doing a better job of this. A new post is forthcoming...
Another reason is that, for a while, I was afraid of this blog becoming something I didn't want, and that was a political commentary. I enjoy politics, and from the election on, there's been so much to comment on that I've wanted to comment on, I felt like this would become something more political than I would like. And not that I'm against talking about it, as I know I will bring things up of that nature from time to time, I just don't want you, the reader, equating the Power of the Towel with political commentary. The main thrust of what I do here is to journal what the Lord has been teaching me so that somehow, someway, He might use it to help and serve others, and hopefully encourage you to help and serve others, as well.
So again, I apologize to my readers out there, and I look forward to doing a better job of this. A new post is forthcoming...
I read this article today that really ruffled my feathers. For those of you not willing to read it, the article informs us that eHarmony, an online dating service for anyone to use, though created by those who claim Christianity (whether they are or not is not the issue to be dealt with here; I'm just trying to share what I do know, and not pretending to know what I don't), is settling a lawsuit that a New Jersey man filed against them because they didn't offer a choice for him, that choice being 'men seeking men.' There are two big problems that I want to address here, and if they're not obvious to you, let me make them clear. I'm not suggesting there aren't other problems, but just two that I want to address.
The first is more political in nature. eHarmony is a business. It seeks to help people find others that they could potentially date and maybe even marry that they may never have met otherwise through the wonders of the internet. They provide this service to its customers at a price, in hopes to turn a profit. Now, I know there are a lot of things that I may not understand about this case in particular, but if I'm wrong here, I wish those presenting us with the news would give more detail, because the lawsuit itself seems utterly ridiculous.
I work for a music store. It's a business, of course, and we provide products and services related to music at a price in hopes to profit, as any business does. But what would you say if I told you that a person walked into our store one day and said, "Do you carry karyoke machines?" Our reply would be "No, sorry, we don't." This sounds like a conversation that would happen fairly often. Maybe not over the exact item, but it happens on a regular basis that we must tell people that we don't carry certain products. But what if the conversation continued with the customer saying, "Well, I guess I'm going to have to sue you for discriminating against karyoke singers. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves...see you in court!" The customer can't do that. Why? Because as a business, we have every right to sell whatever we want. You can't tell us that we have to sell karyoke machines if we don't want to sell karyoke machines. But this is exactly what has happened to eHarmony. There are plenty of other places I'm sure this New Jersey man could have gone to seek men. But instead, he thought he'd sue, and now gets $50,000 and is looking forward to utilizing the new service that will be offered by eHarmony for men seeking men and women seeking women.
This brings me to my second point. In the face of such a ridiculous claim, why is eHarmony the one that is folding (not closing up shop, folding, but compromising, folding)? Again, I don't know any more than this article stated, but not only do they have a right as a business to sell whatever services they want, but as Christians, should they not be standing up for the truth of the Word of God inspite of whatever "punishment" may come their way? I also know it's easy for me to sit here behind my computer and say this, but I pray that I won't compromise the truth of God's Word in the face of persecution.
The first is more political in nature. eHarmony is a business. It seeks to help people find others that they could potentially date and maybe even marry that they may never have met otherwise through the wonders of the internet. They provide this service to its customers at a price, in hopes to turn a profit. Now, I know there are a lot of things that I may not understand about this case in particular, but if I'm wrong here, I wish those presenting us with the news would give more detail, because the lawsuit itself seems utterly ridiculous.
I work for a music store. It's a business, of course, and we provide products and services related to music at a price in hopes to profit, as any business does. But what would you say if I told you that a person walked into our store one day and said, "Do you carry karyoke machines?" Our reply would be "No, sorry, we don't." This sounds like a conversation that would happen fairly often. Maybe not over the exact item, but it happens on a regular basis that we must tell people that we don't carry certain products. But what if the conversation continued with the customer saying, "Well, I guess I'm going to have to sue you for discriminating against karyoke singers. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves...see you in court!" The customer can't do that. Why? Because as a business, we have every right to sell whatever we want. You can't tell us that we have to sell karyoke machines if we don't want to sell karyoke machines. But this is exactly what has happened to eHarmony. There are plenty of other places I'm sure this New Jersey man could have gone to seek men. But instead, he thought he'd sue, and now gets $50,000 and is looking forward to utilizing the new service that will be offered by eHarmony for men seeking men and women seeking women.
This brings me to my second point. In the face of such a ridiculous claim, why is eHarmony the one that is folding (not closing up shop, folding, but compromising, folding)? Again, I don't know any more than this article stated, but not only do they have a right as a business to sell whatever services they want, but as Christians, should they not be standing up for the truth of the Word of God inspite of whatever "punishment" may come their way? I also know it's easy for me to sit here behind my computer and say this, but I pray that I won't compromise the truth of God's Word in the face of persecution.
I'm sitting here with my friend Jarrod watching the presidential election results come in, and it looks like America is leaning towards Mr. Obama. The democratic candidate (and quite probably, president-elect, when you read this) has run on the platform of "change."
Unfortunately, I don't believe he will bring "change we need." All we've heard about is change, change, change, but none of it will make a lasting difference. However, I know of change that does make a lasting difference. In fact, it makes an eternal difference. The only one who can make real, lasting "change we need" is Jesus Christ. Let's continue to pray that the Lord will change hearts and lives in our country, as that's far more important than who the president of this country is.
Unfortunately, I don't believe he will bring "change we need." All we've heard about is change, change, change, but none of it will make a lasting difference. However, I know of change that does make a lasting difference. In fact, it makes an eternal difference. The only one who can make real, lasting "change we need" is Jesus Christ. Let's continue to pray that the Lord will change hearts and lives in our country, as that's far more important than who the president of this country is.
Tonight was the first beggar's night my wife and I had in our new neighborhood. We passed out all sorts of candy and saw all sorts of interesting costumes as the night progressed, but I must say, tonight I saw the scariest costume I've ever seen.
Not only did it scare me, but it made the hair on the back of my neck crawl, sent shivers down my back and almost brought me to tears. It wasn't the witch or the ghost; the goblin or the spider. It was the kid dressed up as...
Barak Obama.
I cringe just thinking about it...come to think of it, I wonder if he made the other kids share their candy with the kid who got the least...you know, spreading the wealth. *shrug* Happy Halloween.
Not only did it scare me, but it made the hair on the back of my neck crawl, sent shivers down my back and almost brought me to tears. It wasn't the witch or the ghost; the goblin or the spider. It was the kid dressed up as...
Barak Obama.
I cringe just thinking about it...come to think of it, I wonder if he made the other kids share their candy with the kid who got the least...you know, spreading the wealth. *shrug* Happy Halloween.
