The working hypothesis behind capitalism is that people are rational, meaning they will generally act in their own self-interest. Whether they really are is another matter.
Yesterday, Baskin Robins had their annual 31 cent scoop day. Economic theory would tell you to expect a significantly higher demand when the prices are dropped so low. Economists would not have been disappointed. My family and I stood in a line that stretched at least twenty deep out the store last night for about fifteen minutes waiting for our cheap ice cream.
During our wait, I overheard others quip that they could probably buy a half gallon for less money at the grocery store next door and even sell it to the crowd at 20 cents a scoop for a tidy profit. Still, no one left the line. Obviously, their analysis didn’t consider flavor variety, product quality, and ambiance. The only other conclusion is that people are not fully rational.
All I know is that my three scoops were delicious.
Thought of the Day 04.29.09
In Bible interpretation, as the expression goes, people can easily miss the forest for the trees. Consider the subject of polygamy, a practice which most modern people rightly abhor.
If a person starts taking the Bible seriously, it will to frustrate him that polygamy isn’t more strongly condemned. Far from making a rule against it, Genesis shows all the patriarchs engaging in some form of it. Realizing this, people find many clever ways to rescue the Bible from its glaring omission. But it’s not really necessary.
Precisely because the Bible shows us these examples, we can see for ourselves the twisted family relationships and suffering polygamy causes. In an ancient world where plural marriage was normal, the Bible would have been revolutionary not because it prohibited polygamy but because it dared to portray it so honestly as a corrupt practice.
Genesis condemns polygamy as soundly as any commandment could by showing the reasons in flesh and blood. Yet to a proposition-oriented culture too scientific to read stories properly, such obvious conclusions sometimes escape us.
If a person starts taking the Bible seriously, it will to frustrate him that polygamy isn’t more strongly condemned. Far from making a rule against it, Genesis shows all the patriarchs engaging in some form of it. Realizing this, people find many clever ways to rescue the Bible from its glaring omission. But it’s not really necessary.
Precisely because the Bible shows us these examples, we can see for ourselves the twisted family relationships and suffering polygamy causes. In an ancient world where plural marriage was normal, the Bible would have been revolutionary not because it prohibited polygamy but because it dared to portray it so honestly as a corrupt practice.
Genesis condemns polygamy as soundly as any commandment could by showing the reasons in flesh and blood. Yet to a proposition-oriented culture too scientific to read stories properly, such obvious conclusions sometimes escape us.
Thought of the Day 04.28.09
It’s pretty clear from the Bible that the one single good thing in the universe which we need is the love and companionship of God. Everything else counts for nothing when compared with that one need. If so, then God’s parental love for us should mean that He would be willing to do whatever is necessary to bring us that one thing.
Consider the implications of this for pain and suffering. Adversity usually drives people to seek God, and even if they’re seeking Him for those reasons rather than to get the real blessing of Himself, well at least they’re seeking Him, right? The uncomfortable corollary to this is that when things are going well, we often neglect God because we feel we can do just fine apart from Him, an error which inhibits our faith.
But if it’s true that frustration drives us to seek God and satisfaction makes us indifferent to God, then we might say that the real challenge in theology is not in explaining the existence of pain and suffering, but rather in solving the problem…of prosperity.
Consider the implications of this for pain and suffering. Adversity usually drives people to seek God, and even if they’re seeking Him for those reasons rather than to get the real blessing of Himself, well at least they’re seeking Him, right? The uncomfortable corollary to this is that when things are going well, we often neglect God because we feel we can do just fine apart from Him, an error which inhibits our faith.
But if it’s true that frustration drives us to seek God and satisfaction makes us indifferent to God, then we might say that the real challenge in theology is not in explaining the existence of pain and suffering, but rather in solving the problem…of prosperity.
Thought of the Day 04.27.09
Checking out at the grocery store the other day, my father and I ran into a problem. I was trying to use a rain check on some ground beef, which was apparently not so easy to do. Even without anyone behind us, the cashier began getting very frustrated about his inability to get the register to process it properly.
As he grew more agitated, I smiled and looked calm, my dad offered a sympathetic joke, and we both offered suggestions to help. But it’s only days later that I realized how badly I missed an opportunity to apply Christ to this man’s life.
I should have said something like, “You know, Jesus got frustrated by things a lot, too. And whenever I feel stressed, it comforts me that Jesus knows what I’m going through and cares about my troubles. And whenever I remember that, whatever is bothering me seems a little less important somehow.”
Would it have worked? Only God knows. But the next time I have the opportunity to comfort someone, I intend to let Jesus be the one to do so.
As he grew more agitated, I smiled and looked calm, my dad offered a sympathetic joke, and we both offered suggestions to help. But it’s only days later that I realized how badly I missed an opportunity to apply Christ to this man’s life.
I should have said something like, “You know, Jesus got frustrated by things a lot, too. And whenever I feel stressed, it comforts me that Jesus knows what I’m going through and cares about my troubles. And whenever I remember that, whatever is bothering me seems a little less important somehow.”
Would it have worked? Only God knows. But the next time I have the opportunity to comfort someone, I intend to let Jesus be the one to do so.
Thought of the Day 04.24.09
According to a recent column, suppression of speech is no longer just happening in regressive societies. Even European countries are now prosecuting people for unacceptable speech. But despite the author’s horrified tone, I must admit that I didn’t feel much concern. I yawned because it was still Europe rather than my own precious America. And I was selfish and wrong for doing so.
Oh, sure, some would encourage me to care because such shifts can eventually come to this country, too, if we aren’t careful. But that’s just a more enlightened version of selfishness. The real issue is that liberty is an inalienable right conferred upon all human beings by God, which means I must resist the impulse to care a little less about distant oppression merely because it doesn’t threaten me.
If human rights are real and embedded in all humans, then I must always care deeply about their violation in anyone’s life. That’s what it means to love my neighbor as myself, no matter how distant a neighbor he is.
Oh, sure, some would encourage me to care because such shifts can eventually come to this country, too, if we aren’t careful. But that’s just a more enlightened version of selfishness. The real issue is that liberty is an inalienable right conferred upon all human beings by God, which means I must resist the impulse to care a little less about distant oppression merely because it doesn’t threaten me.
If human rights are real and embedded in all humans, then I must always care deeply about their violation in anyone’s life. That’s what it means to love my neighbor as myself, no matter how distant a neighbor he is.
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