Theology
The Believable Lie pt II: Authentic Beliefs
A cataclysm occurs at the point where authenticity becomes entrenched in the system of belief, for when our beliefs become authentic to who we are they become who we are. It is as if an alien life form had taken over the space in your brain that controls what you do, make, say or think.…
Read MoreThe Problem of Authenticity
Ever since Kierkegaard coined the term and Sartre popularized it, the value of authenticity has maintained a prominent place in the minds of those in individualized society. The general consensus is that it is better, nay, crucial, that a person be authentic- that they be who they truly are. Of course, this means that a…
Read MoreThe Believable Lie Pt. I
Over the past months I have been writing about the difference between faith and beliefs, and between lies and truth. I have written that faith is not about believing, and that Jesus’ claim to be the truth in John 14 is not to be confused with him claiming to be our own, personal understanding of…
Read MoreThe Lie ptII
I will freely admit that much of my life feels like I am in the shadows. Or better, that my life has become a shadow. It seems that very often light exists beyond the horizon. Other times, it seems to be just beyond my grasp; I can see it, enough to know the shadow, but…
Read MoreFaith the Second
Last week I began exploring how the bible uses the word faith and what it means by it. I began comparing Malachi 1-3 to Romans 9, and argued that the sense in which Paul is using faith in Romans 9 by quoting Malachi 1 is the same as that which Malachi is using it: the…
Read MoreThe Lie
Have you ever wondered what makes a lie a lie? Or, what is a lie, exactly? This may seem like a stupid question, but I trust that is you ponder it with me you may see why I am giving it such thought. See, we naturally assume a two dimensional, oppositional position of a lie…
Read MoreWhere The NT Gets Its Ideas About Faith
So a while back I was working on what it is to be faithful according to the bible. While it is common knowledge that faith and belief are different words with different meanings in English, most people are unsure about what the bible means by the word “faith.” In earlier blogs I have pointed out…
Read MoreJacob I have loved, but Esau…
I have long struggled with this bit of scripture. How could it be that God, who is love (1 Jn. 4), can arbitrarily assign love and hatred to two brothers on no ascribed merit beyond choice? Two primary ideas have been derived from this bit of scripture. The first, famously, is that people are “predestined”…
Read MoreVolunteering
I am taking a break from my abstract pontifications about God, life, and reality, and am turning my attention to a practical matter of service: VolunteeringMany churches and ministry organizations depend entirely on volunteer humanpower. This is, I think, a wonderful approach to ministry, as it enables the lay person to be a valuable and…
Read MoreWhat Happens?
What happens when light is shone on the darkness?What happens to the shadows when they are revealed?What of the things done in darkness?What of the power of offense? What happens when sin is revealed?Does it change or do we?And which is redemption?Are the acts redeemed?Or the actors? I’ve often wondered what to make of the…
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