Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus have been bothering me recently because, in them, the apostle says that people who like to discuss controversial matters are dangerous to church harmony. Since this is basically what I get paid to do, I began to worry that the Bible was telling me I couldn’t be a talk show host, much like I’m not allowed to be a psychic or a stripper.
But then I noticed that Paul’s real concern was the division and strife such talk can cause, and that’s why I haven’t resigned yet…because, far from producing those results, I believe we discuss these matters in such a way that we relieve the already-existing tensions over doctrine and morality. See, Paul was worried about immature people hating each other over such stuff, whereas my goal is that people mature so they can love one another in spite of and even because of their disagreements.
My hope is that by doing the opposite of what Paul says, I am actually accomplishing the objective he had in mind. I can’t be sure, of course, but I would certainly like to believe that Paul would have been a fan of the Andrew Tallman Show.
TOD 02.14.08
Yesterday we had a discussion about sadness and happiness because I argued, quite ludicrously, that it’s sinful to be sad. One thing that really struck me during that conversation was the potential that these dual-edged emotions have to impact our relationship with God.
When we are happy, it can bring us closer to Him as we express our gratitude to Him for the blessings. But happiness can also lead us to falsely think that we don’t need God at the moment because things are going so well. Similarly, sadness can bring us great intimacy with God as we depend upon Him to comfort and guide us through grief or disappointment. But sadness can also cause us to become bitter at God for allowing such pain to beset us.
Thus we have the power to turn blessings into curses or curses into blessings…depending on whether we creatures here below use them rightly to spur us toward the One from whom all blessings flow.
When we are happy, it can bring us closer to Him as we express our gratitude to Him for the blessings. But happiness can also lead us to falsely think that we don’t need God at the moment because things are going so well. Similarly, sadness can bring us great intimacy with God as we depend upon Him to comfort and guide us through grief or disappointment. But sadness can also cause us to become bitter at God for allowing such pain to beset us.
Thus we have the power to turn blessings into curses or curses into blessings…depending on whether we creatures here below use them rightly to spur us toward the One from whom all blessings flow.
TOD 02.13.08
Driving to work yesterday, I saw a church sign that said, “Christianity is a work in progress.” Being the oppositional thinker that I am, I immediately thought that some people would defiantly reply, “No, Christianity is a finished work of Jesus Christ.” But, of course, there’s no reason we can’t affirm both statements with equal vigor.
An important principle of philosophy is that you cannot simultaneously affirm and deny the same idea, so long as you mean them in the same way. Yet precisely such variation is the issue here. Christ indeed finished the sacrificial system and atoned for all sins forever on the cross. But the evidence of the transformation that this completed work accomplishes in our lives is a gradual and continuous manifestation of Christlikeness.
The danger of being highly invested in a doctrinal dispute is that you too easily view all statements as taking a side in that conflict. Just because a statement can be taken the wrong way doesn’t mean that it cannot be taken a right way.
An important principle of philosophy is that you cannot simultaneously affirm and deny the same idea, so long as you mean them in the same way. Yet precisely such variation is the issue here. Christ indeed finished the sacrificial system and atoned for all sins forever on the cross. But the evidence of the transformation that this completed work accomplishes in our lives is a gradual and continuous manifestation of Christlikeness.
The danger of being highly invested in a doctrinal dispute is that you too easily view all statements as taking a side in that conflict. Just because a statement can be taken the wrong way doesn’t mean that it cannot be taken a right way.
TOD 02.12.08
Have you ever heard the expression, “God will never permit you to receive more troubles than you can bear?” It sounds nice, but, like most theology that sounds nice, it’s not true. In fact, God not only allows us such burdens, but sometimes He actually causes them. And the reason is pretty simple once you think about our possible reactions to such difficulty.
One, we can try to handle it by ourselves and get crushed in the process. Not a great idea. Two, we can take it to God and develop a deeper faith with Him. This sounds right, but I think it’s still missing something fundamental. Three, we can let others share our burdens with us, spreading out the load and strengthening our fellowship with them. See, people are one of God’s primary mechanisms for meeting our needs, and one He prefers because it allows all involved to benefit greatly.
So, does God give us more than we can bear? Sure. But He never gives us more than we can bear with the help of Him and His earthly instruments.
One, we can try to handle it by ourselves and get crushed in the process. Not a great idea. Two, we can take it to God and develop a deeper faith with Him. This sounds right, but I think it’s still missing something fundamental. Three, we can let others share our burdens with us, spreading out the load and strengthening our fellowship with them. See, people are one of God’s primary mechanisms for meeting our needs, and one He prefers because it allows all involved to benefit greatly.
So, does God give us more than we can bear? Sure. But He never gives us more than we can bear with the help of Him and His earthly instruments.
TOD 02.11.08
While my wife was still asleep this morning, Spencer started playing noisily with a toy on the coffee table. I told him to stop because “Mommy is still sleeping.” He waited a few moments and then played with it again, so I asked, “What did I say about that?” he replied, “But I want to play with it.” So I told him he had a choice, either he could stop playing with it or I could take it away. After a few more moments went by, he resumed playing with it, but much more quietly. When I looked at him, he said, “It’s not loud. I won’t wake mommy up.”
I had to chuckle to myself because this was such a strange mixture of parenting success and failure. On the one hand, he was clearly disobeying me. But on the other hand, he had learned that the principle was more important than the rule made for it. In finding a way to satisfy the purpose of my command while still doing something he wanted to do, he showed me that I’ve created a rational problem-solver.
After all, though I want him to obey me, I also want him to think …especially for those times when I may be wrong.
I had to chuckle to myself because this was such a strange mixture of parenting success and failure. On the one hand, he was clearly disobeying me. But on the other hand, he had learned that the principle was more important than the rule made for it. In finding a way to satisfy the purpose of my command while still doing something he wanted to do, he showed me that I’ve created a rational problem-solver.
After all, though I want him to obey me, I also want him to think …especially for those times when I may be wrong.
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