"The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh." ~ Jonathan Edwards, “The Christian Pilgrim”
I love this quote because Edwards reminds us that we cannot expect that our pilgrimage through this world to be easy. This world hates those who follow Christ (John 15:19) and, as we have seen in the lives of Christ and the apostles, it does not make the journey easy. However, two things God has shown us can encourage us in this. First, we are not alone in our battle for we are promised that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (Phil. 1:6) and "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil. 2:13). Second, there is a great prize at the end (I Cor. 9:24), which is Christ. This prize is so great that to die is gain, as Paul reminds us (Phil. 1:21).
It is hard, but worth it. As Edwards reminds us later, "How can you better employ your strength, use your means, and spend your days, than in traveling the road that leads to the everlasting enjoyment of God: to his glorious presence, to the new Jerusalem, to the heavenly mount Zion, where all your desires will be filled and no danger of ever losing your happiness? — No man is at home in this world, whether he choose heaven or not: here he is but a transient person. Where can you choose your home better than in heaven?"
By His Grace,
Taylor
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
"Tolerance"
"...they have mangled the word 'tolerance' to a degree that is unrecognizable. The first sentence says, 'Americans of every religious stripe are considerably more tolerant of the beliefs of others than most of us might have assumed'. If one were to use the word 'tolerance' correctly it would mean that you would affirm that while you stridently disagree with another person's belief, yet you would defend that person's right to hold that belief, without using some coercive force to change him. It means liberty of conscience. But the way these reporters are using the term makes tolerance itself into a dogma. That is, you HAVE TO believe that all religions are equally right, or you are a bigot." ~ John Hendryx, Evangelical Christians "more tolerant" than Previously Thought (italics mine)
The article that Mr. Hendryx is citing can be found here. I completely agree with the above statement. The word "tolerant" has been twisted to dogmatically mean "you have to believe that none of your beliefs are exclusively true or you are a bigot." How is this "tolerant"? Really this is just doctrine of convincing yourself that there are no doctrines and everyone should be just like you. This is really a very intolerant view, for those who hold it are saying that everyone should be just like them (which usually means dogmatically believing that those who hold to dogmas strongly are bigots), while pretending to be neutral. It is not, however, neutral but it just as exclusive as Christianity, if not more. Under this new definition of tolerance you must exclusively believe that all religions are right to be "tolerant". It is a dogma wrapped in lip service to neutrality.
I agree with Mr. Hendryx, to be truly tolerant one would have beliefs that they hold (as strongly as they wish to hold them), yet also defend the right of another person to disagree with them. I believe it would also include defending the rights of all religions to respectfully attempt to show others why they believe they are correct. The Westminster Confession holds to this kind of tolerance: "It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance." (23.3)
Tolerance is not holding that everyone should believe that everything is right (which is really just believing in nothing) but holding that everyone has the right to believe what they choose as strongly as they choose without "molestation or disturbance".
By His Grace,
Taylor
The article that Mr. Hendryx is citing can be found here. I completely agree with the above statement. The word "tolerant" has been twisted to dogmatically mean "you have to believe that none of your beliefs are exclusively true or you are a bigot." How is this "tolerant"? Really this is just doctrine of convincing yourself that there are no doctrines and everyone should be just like you. This is really a very intolerant view, for those who hold it are saying that everyone should be just like them (which usually means dogmatically believing that those who hold to dogmas strongly are bigots), while pretending to be neutral. It is not, however, neutral but it just as exclusive as Christianity, if not more. Under this new definition of tolerance you must exclusively believe that all religions are right to be "tolerant". It is a dogma wrapped in lip service to neutrality.
I agree with Mr. Hendryx, to be truly tolerant one would have beliefs that they hold (as strongly as they wish to hold them), yet also defend the right of another person to disagree with them. I believe it would also include defending the rights of all religions to respectfully attempt to show others why they believe they are correct. The Westminster Confession holds to this kind of tolerance: "It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or disturbance." (23.3)
Tolerance is not holding that everyone should believe that everything is right (which is really just believing in nothing) but holding that everyone has the right to believe what they choose as strongly as they choose without "molestation or disturbance".
By His Grace,
Taylor
Monday, July 7, 2008
Expectations
"We should not expect a 'fair fight' in a secular world that is hostile to God and uncomfortable around the truth of Christ. Therefore, our response to abuse or distortion or slander should not be angry resentment, but patient witness to the truth, in the hope and with the prayer that returning good for evil may open hearts to the truth." ~ John Piper, Tolerance, Truth-Telling, Violence, and Law
This is something I have to remind myself of often when I am frustrated with a politician, writer, journalist, or anyone else who seems to have an overwhelming hatred for Christians. I find myself shocked at times by what I read, hear, or have said to me, but then when I am by myself and really think about it I ask, "Why does this shock you? Christ told you this is what you should expect (Matt. 10:22)."
When I really think about it that way it makes me also think about where I came from. Were it not for grace and God's work of salvation in me, which is "of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9) from start to finish, my heart would harbor that hatred as well. It is not as if I did something to change my heart. Stepping back and thinking about it that way makes it easier to respond with patience and "witness to the truth" though I still am not very good at that. Fortunately grace is not finished (Phil. 1:6).
By His Grace,
Taylor
This is something I have to remind myself of often when I am frustrated with a politician, writer, journalist, or anyone else who seems to have an overwhelming hatred for Christians. I find myself shocked at times by what I read, hear, or have said to me, but then when I am by myself and really think about it I ask, "Why does this shock you? Christ told you this is what you should expect (Matt. 10:22)."
When I really think about it that way it makes me also think about where I came from. Were it not for grace and God's work of salvation in me, which is "of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9) from start to finish, my heart would harbor that hatred as well. It is not as if I did something to change my heart. Stepping back and thinking about it that way makes it easier to respond with patience and "witness to the truth" though I still am not very good at that. Fortunately grace is not finished (Phil. 1:6).
By His Grace,
Taylor
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Mentors
"...Throughout this conversation the older man maintained a voice tender and solicitous with love. Nothing Alexandros could do would ever make this voice love him less or abandon him. Such is the peculiar genius of the Spartan system of pairing each boy in training with a mentor other than his own father. A mentor may say things that a father cannot; a boy can confess to his mentor that which would bring shame to reveal to his father." ~ Xeones, Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
If you like historical fiction, particularly ancient history, I would highly recommend this book, but that is not the point of the quote. I like how the character, Xeones, points out the wisdom of using mentors in the Spartan system. I think our society could gain from such wisdom. A mentor cannot replace a father or mother and certainly cannot diminish the necessity of a father or mother in the life of a young person, but a mentor can greatly augment the growth of a young man or woman. Some things are easier when received from a mentor than from a parent. Some things are easier to say to a mentor than to a parent. A parent has to focus on a wide range of child rearing responsibilities while a mentor can focus on special potential in a young person. The admiration of a mentor empowers a young person in a way that family cannot as much because this man/woman looked in from the outside noticed you out of any number of young people and believes in you when others might miss your potential. This simple kind of involvement can do wonders in the esteem and growth of a young person. Look, for example, at what Paul did for Timothy in I and II Timothy.
By His Grace,
Taylor
If you like historical fiction, particularly ancient history, I would highly recommend this book, but that is not the point of the quote. I like how the character, Xeones, points out the wisdom of using mentors in the Spartan system. I think our society could gain from such wisdom. A mentor cannot replace a father or mother and certainly cannot diminish the necessity of a father or mother in the life of a young person, but a mentor can greatly augment the growth of a young man or woman. Some things are easier when received from a mentor than from a parent. Some things are easier to say to a mentor than to a parent. A parent has to focus on a wide range of child rearing responsibilities while a mentor can focus on special potential in a young person. The admiration of a mentor empowers a young person in a way that family cannot as much because this man/woman looked in from the outside noticed you out of any number of young people and believes in you when others might miss your potential. This simple kind of involvement can do wonders in the esteem and growth of a young person. Look, for example, at what Paul did for Timothy in I and II Timothy.
By His Grace,
Taylor
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