assumptions of faith

Everywhere I look there are people debating the existence of God. Many discussion boards have some faith related topic as well. And though many posts are not worth anyone's time or energy, there are a few interesting thoughts. So, since I haven't written here in a while let me respond to one of them:

"And while the object of faith is not logical, faith itself is an evolutionary byproduct that is itself constrained by logic. Everything in this universe is constrained by a logical model." Alexander Ross, in Facebook group (six degrees of separation) asks for one logical reason to believe in God.

faith in physics

While he or anyone may assume that our universe is "constrained" by a logical model, we have no proof of this, especially in the area of faith. "For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." What we can know (at least in part) is that what is measurable can, to some degree, be explained by a logical model. Why is that so when we, as logic driven humans, had no part in the origin of the universe? By what freak of "chance" did our universe ever depend on logic for its existence!?

The "constraining" element by definition would be something which is outside of our understanding.

Now we can address the realm of faith. For just as science attempts to create logical models for physics and biology and language attempts to create logical models for communication, so does theology attempt to create logical models for faith. (Remember also that science cannot address origins because it is outside of its realm of measurability.) So what many attempt to do is create a logical model for faith based on the "constrained" assumptions of science - and arrive at no solution. If we begin with the "constrained" assumptions of theology, we are at least comparing apples to apples.

So what are the theological assumptions we can begin with? One, it is necessary to have this discussion in the first place. Two, there is a problem with the world which is called by various names though it is really the same thing: deception, pride, selfishness, abuse, corruption, evil, sin. Three, there are many who claim that they have found the answer to this problem but have either proved themselves false or have been proven insufficient for the need. Four, there should be one solution which is universal and timeless, which by its existence negates all other options (and being TRUE would be forever intolerant). Five, if a solution to the problem exists, it must come from beyond or above the material world and the knowledge contained in it in order to triumph over it for the good of all.

These theological assumptions lead us to the realm of faith. Faith in what or Who does make a difference because it will lead us to think and act in specific ways. If you believe that there is no God, then you will act as if nothing we do or say has any ultimate value or meaning. If you believe that there are many gods (like the pantheistic Greeks) you may behave as if you are a god yourself, which is nearly the same as believing there is no God at all. If you believe that there are many gods (like primitive tribes), you will forever live in fear of the possibility of offending one of them. If you believe in the god of Islaam, you will (among other things) follow Mohammed's example (scary!) If you believe in the Christian God, you should act as if each person is a sinner fallen short of God's glory and are equal in the need for pardon and a restored relationship with Him. This last has proven to be the effective solution to the issue in assumption #2 (above).

It is interesting to note that every person and group falls on one of two sides: truth seekers and truth suppressors. Truth seekers tend to believe that they are finite and cannot claim to know everything but are interested in learning and the promotion of learning. Truth suppressors tend to claim that they know in order to gain personal, political or even religious power.

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17 ... That is the way I want to live and it appears that faith is an indispensable element.

But all this talk is silly when we compare it to real people of faith! Take a look at what is happening to those who believe around the world at persecution.com and try to tell them that God does not exist!

Fractured Education

One of my goals this summer is to catch up on the reading that I never can get to during the school year. Part of that, of course, is current events. It is amazing to see how inconsistent people can be in their ideas and it shows up at all levels of society. Probably it is related to pervasive postmodern culture which has no problem with conflicting "truths" all being true. The obvious result is, "If they conflict, then one is really very false or both are false!"

Take a look at this simple example in the area of education. An article in "Christian Today" talks about the debate in Germany over the possibility of allowing theological questions about the origin of the world into biology classes. An interesting issue, no doubt. The very nature of biology leads us to ask questions about origin; and the classroom is one important venue for the sharing of ideas in a free society, right? What really gets me though is a comment by a member of the Protestant Church's theology committee! He says, "Frau Wolff is ignoring the differences between natural sciences, religion and philosophy. That does not correspond to the Protestant view." What is that!? If he believes that God made the world and everything in it, then what exactly are those differences? It would be helpful to know what "differences" he refers to. Is it differences in fact or differences in method? Either way these fields of study, taken honestly, should cross paths periodically and support a cohesive view of the true human condition and the world we live in. Is it acceptable to say that God made us in religion class, that we are a product of chance in biology class, and that we "made" ourselves in philosophy class? That approach is part of what I call fractured education.

I'll leave the resolution of the issue to your own detailed research. But, take into account another little article from "The Christian Science Monitor" - a site I RARELY read! An article about a linguistic project talks about the probability of a common language root. Sound familiar? Take a peek at Genesis 11:1. Then there is a comment about human genetics tracing its ancestry "to as few as 1,000 individuals". The years may need some adjustment, but it is very interesting to see how science falls into line with biblical truth. Of course I don't want to "prove" the Bible through science, we must come to God in faith, but it supports the idea that fractured education is a worthless means of learning!

Silas walking

From his first steps, back in April, there has been a huge change in his security and stability. Yesterday he was pushing his stroller around on the grass. But he still can't do steps going up or down. Running isn't too far off though! He loves to carry things too. The other day he had a big ball and a water bottle in his hands and a coaster in his mouth. Sometimes he picks up things that are quite heavy just to move them to the other end of the house. I think he takes it as a challenge; he wants to see how much he is capable of doing. He walks a little funny though. It's like he's been on a horse too long and can't get his legs straightened out again - it's probably just the diaper...

Paul talks about walking and running in Philippians chapter 3: "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." It makes me wonder how I walk. I don't walk bowlegged but I do want to walk steadily and purposefully. I want to set an example in my walk, admitting when I walk in the wrong direction. Most of all I want Silas to walk how Jesus walked, loving and honoring God first, caring for the needs of others, and being thankful and satisfied in little or much. But for that to happen we have to be purposeful in how we walk and what we teach him. It won't just happen naturally because there are too many other influences and distractions. There is too much in our human nature pulling us in the other direction. And we need help from God's Spirit working in us and friends, family, and teachers around us.

Walk with me

I enjoy very much my walks with my dog after a long day of teaching. He is so excited to see me when I get home, whining and following me around the house until I'm changed and ready to go. Sometimes I play or run with him, but usually he's content to just walk and mostly do his own thing as long as I'm not too far away. If I change direction during the walk, I give him a quick signal and he jumps to obey, running ahead on the new path.
Is that something like how youth would act if we really spent time with them in relationships? Is that how I should respond to the direction that God is giving me from His Word? Of course this is a loose illustration, but what if I could learn something from this?
Talking with the Spanish teacher the other day, he noted that his students made critiques on an assigned reading but never actually read the whole thing. They would make a note from the first sentence of a paragraph, thinking that the author would continue in one direction, but because they never bothered to finish, they didn't know that he went another direction entirely. Do students want to learn or are they just doing the minimum amount to complete the assignment?
Monitoring a study hall today, I see that some students are working on a study of the book of Acts. Their interest is much more centered on what they will be wearing to the next social event or on the scores of yesterday's soccer matches. Is there any application to the events of the 1st Century A.D. in our appearance or our daily activities? Should we be getting clues as to how to behave and what to think about from somewhere or Someone?

Excuse me for a few minutes - I think I hear Someone calling me for my daily walk...

Thoughts on Freedom

I was watching "King Arthur" a while back, with Richard Gere and Sean Connery and was again impressed by the misconception of what "freedom" means and how the falacy is consistently taught by the media. When I think of freedom, I think of the ability to interact with people and inpact each other's lives because there are commonalities in our language and personal experiences. These "limits" enable us to communicate effectively. Without a code for behavior and meaningful communication we lose the potential to interact "freely" in society. I want the freedom to communicate honor, integrity and value to my friends, neighbors, and even those I don't know. I want to be free to daily reaffirm my humanity and the relationship I have with each person as a part of God's creation. When I act "independantly" without respect for consequences or without a desire to be understood or understand, or without respect for the value of others and their perspectives, then I am not free, but rather enslaved to my ego and disconnected from everything of value.

Watching Gueneviere struggle with her feelings between the great King Arthur and the handsome, brave Lancelot, I can only feel pity for her conflicting desires. She wants to be a great queen and honor a noble King (who she apparently loves) on one hand and, on the other, feels a passion which she is unable to control. Am I not often in the same situation? I want my passions to be subject to my heart! I want my heart to be a slave to a noble calling! I want to live in a freedom that connects my life to something of eternal value and consequence! I want freedom to prosper in a community of those who value life and meaningful communication.

Our Journey (looking back)

Paul went to Spain in 1998 and, because I was single, I used the title “Paul’s Journeys” for my newsletters. I liked it a lot because it made a reference in my mind to the great apostle Paul and his famous missionary journeys described in the book of Acts. That Paul also had a dream of going to Spain (see Romans 15:22-24) and may have gotten there; although, we can’t be sure. So, if he was not able to go in the 1^st Century A.D., at least I was. Then, when I was blessed with a wonderful wife, I could no longer use “Paul’s Journeys”. That meant that I needed a new title for OUR newsletters that could be a little more inclusive and describe well who we are and what we are doing.
Ellie and I love to travel; and we meet many people while we travel. I have some good friends who I met while bicycling in Ireland in the summer of 1997. A couple years later I went to visit them in northern Germany and met a brother who has visited us in Spain a few times. This kind of thing happens more frequently these days until it seems that most of the people I know I have met on the way to somewhere else!
That is how God brings people into our lives. It doesn’t mean that we should wander aimlessly through life expecting God to fill it with purpose or letting chance control our relationships and activities. It does mean that God loves to surprise us with good things and that He uses opportune moments and meetings to teach and sometimes redirect us. If we do not have a destination, how will we ever arrive anywhere?
My mom often quotes from Genesis 24:27: And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren."
So, where is our journey taking us next? We plan to make a difference in our world and expect God to bring those people into our life that He chooses to help us, challenge us, and teach us. Where are you hoping to go today?

What is a journey?

What is a journey?
It's more than a destination, this is an enjoyment of the process of moving from one place to another over a long period of time and the revelations and decisions along the way. It's having a goal in mind and being surprised, furious, perplexed, and delighted at various stages. It's coming to a new understanding of yourself, your world and eternal purposes with each new step. Sometimes it's a radical change in direction or big detours or roadblocks. Sometimes it is joyful rememberance of past victories or tearful reminders that we didn't learn the lesson well enough. Sometimes it hurts to keep going. Sometimes we want to stay at this spot forever with joy and beauty all around us. Let me tell you a story of two men a long time ago at one stage of their journey to help illustrate:
As the story goes, there were two men walking home one day and they were very confused about the events they had seen over the weekend. Suddenly, somone came alongside to walk with them. They really didn't know who it was, but the words he said made an incredible impact in their hearts. Well, since it was getting late, they invited him to stay the night. Then, as they were eating together, the truth of the things he told them finally clicked with the reality of who this man was. All their previous expectations had been shattered and their sorrow as well in one glorious moment. They thought they were going in one direction for a particular reason, but it was actually for a different purpose altogether! Look up Luke 24:32 to see their reaction and what they decided to do afterward.

What do you think? How would you have reacted? Do you have a story of how this man has impacted you with the truth? That is a real "journey of joy"! Ellie and I will be sharing our journey of joy with you through these postings. We welcome your interaction, questions and comments.