Back from the Island

Life is full of sad, unalterable facts. Tasty sweets make you fat, babies grow up, and vacations eventually end. Last week, Tiffany and I enjoyed a nice break from the world on the stunning island of St. Lucia. A former colony of Great Britain, St. Lucia is a geographical work of art featuring mountainous peaks framed by sandy beaches and blue seas. The diversity of the island's terra reminded me a little of Hawaii.  Our home for the week was the Sandals Regency La Toc, where we stayed in a very nice two story villa situated on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.  Our resort was all-inclusive and featured butler service, which was a nice perk that I never got totally comfortable using.  While there, we enjoyed a romantic beachside candlelit dinner for our anniversary, went into Castries (the capital city) for a day of shopping, took a day-long tour of the island by bus and boat, and lounged on the beach in our downtime. As I said before, the island is simply beautiful...it seemed like every home, restaurant, and shop had a clear view of the ocean. The locals are kind and very hospitable. They live simply but are happy.  I suppose there's a lesson somewhere in that. Unfortunately the food nerd within me was disappointed with most of the resort's culinary offerings. Ours featured six different restaurants, all of which were vanilla at best.  Fortunately, we got to enjoy excellent St. Lucian cuisine on our days outside the resort. Seafood and local produce were the staples of our meals, and they were delicious - the island boasted the best bananas I've ever eaten. After a week of fun and relaxation, we returned home to find things much the same as we left them. No news is good news, I guess. 

I enjoy traveling, mostly because it means I'm going somewhere besides work. It also means I have time to read, so I always pick out a book or two before leaving.  My choices this time around were The Shack by William P. Young and God of the Possible by Greg Boyd. I'm not quite done with The Shack, so thoughts on it will come later. God of the Possible is a treatise on Open Theism, which states that God sees the future as a combination of certainties and open possibilities and works in relation to this. In other words, God does not "know" all things to come, only the things He has decided He will do. At face value, this is a jolting assertion. It denies a basic tenant held by most of mainstream Christianity - God knows all things that are, have been, or will be, and He is eternally changeless. Boyd, a former atheist, writes that he grew tired of trying to explain away scripture that described God as changing or being surprised (and there are many) in the name of the classical view of complete foreknowledge. He also struggled to make sense of the problem of evil in light of total foreknowledge - if God knew Hitler would kill millions, how could He go ahead and create Hitler?  In God of the Possible, Boyd outlines the open view in detail, defends it using scripture, and addresses common critiques. 

This book is wonderful. I won't say that Open Theism answers every question - that can't be done by any human theory. After consideration of the evidence presented, I believe it presents a scripturally accurate picture of God as He is. Now, I had to get over a hump in accepting this theory - am I removing omniscience or power from God by supposing He does not know all aspects of the future? After study and thought, I believe the answer is a resounding "no."  It seems that the notion of an all-knowing and controlling God is rooted in the theories of Hellenistic philosophers such as Plato.  Not until the fourth or fifth century did Christianity begin to assign these attributes to God in its teachings.  Logically speaking, the notion that God "knows" the future removes free will from the equation. If it can be unequivocally (trademark Bill Oliver) known a man will choose God over sin or vice versa, did that man ever really have a choice?  If we assert that our decisions are our own and that we alone are responsible, then how can these choices be "known" until after they are made? In the end, stating God cannot know the future decisions of free agents strips Him of no more power than saying He cannot make a square circle or a married bachelor. It is a self-contradictory concept. In scripture, God is repeatedly described as being surprised, shocked, disappointed, and regretful at the actions of His creation.  He also makes future events contingent on the behavior of His people - "if you will, then I will". Patrick Mead has done a thorough series on this very subject on his blog, and he lists many of these instances. I won't rehash those here, but you can peruse them at your leisure.

What's the purpose of all this, anyways? I do not believe this is an issue that is doctrinally critical - who among us can truly know the mind of God? If I'm 110% wrong, then that's OK. We are not saved by doctrinal perfection. The open view offers an explanation for questions that have troubled me for quite some time, and upon inspection of scripture at face value, it appears to be accurate. In my admittedly limited mind, a God who works with free, rebellious, immature, and constantly changing agents and STILL accomplishes His plans is far more amazing, loving, and perfect than one who knows all that will happen and controls all things. Humans need control to make things work...our God does not.

Well, I didn't mean for that to drag on for so long. Time permitting, I'll have some pictures from our trip posted for all to see very soon. Until next time!

A Friday Quickie

Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you've made plans to honor the father/father figure in your life. There may be no taller order in this world than to ask a man to emulate the role that God Almighty established and perfected. No small feat, that's for sure. Lucky me....I was blessed with a man who has filled that role with honor and dignity for nearly 30 years now. Thanks, dad. I love you. 

Modern Christianity has a load of problems, issues, and warts to deal with. For my dollar, the most damaging of them all is the seemingly insatiable need to judge, condemn, or shun people we deem more sinful than us. The church has, deservedly so, acquired a reputation of being holier-than-thou jerks who love nothing more than pointing out the faults of everyone and everything but itself. And we wonder why nobody wants to join us on Sundays. Sadly, it seems as though not a week goes by without someone telling me a story of a friend or acquaintance of theirs who refuses to consider Christ because they've been mistreated by someone in this way. Wednesday night, we heard the story of a gay man who killed himself because his circle of friends, who were Christians, refused to have anything to do with him after he 'came out.'  This is unacceptable, and it has to stop. Anyone who reacts to any sin in this way is foolish, immature, and way out of line. Who are you to judge? I don't know how it got this bad, especially given all the warnings we are given about it by Jesus himself. Take a long look in the mirror, folks. You'll see the worst of sinners. You'll see a soul marred by selfishness, immaturity, and pride. You'll see a person unworthy to even utter the name of God, let alone carry his Spirit around inside them. If you don't see these things, immediately go pick up a Bible and read it. Please keep your mouth shut until you have read enough to see the aforementioned person in the mirror. Then, go look again. See that worthless, self-damaged sinner...completely useless on his own....and realize that God's grace saved and justified that person.  Sin cannot be grouped into social classes. We are all equally guilty. 

I read a great little blog each morning called "My Utmost for His Highest."  It consists of the compiled writings of Oswald Chambers, a Scottish minister from the 19th century.  The wisdom of his words is timeless (wisdom from God tends to have that characteristic) and I draw a lot of motivation from them. Also, having to decipher the "King's English" Chambers writes in at 5:30am helps to get the blood pumping. Today's entry might have been my favorite yet. Coincidentally, it speaks to today's topic. Take it away, Oswald:

"Judge not, that ye be not judged." Matthew 7:1
Jesus says regarding judging - Don't. The average Christian is the most penetratingly critical individual. Criticism is a part of the ordinary faculty of man; but in the spiritual domain nothing is accomplished by criticism. The effect of criticism is a dividing up of the powers of the one criticized; the Holy Ghost is the only One in the true position to criticize, He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into communion with God when you are in a critical temper; it makes you hard and vindictive and cruel, and leaves you with the flattering unction that you are a superior person. Jesus says, as a disciple cultivate the uncritical temper. It is not done once and for all. Beware of anything that puts you in the superior person's place.
There is no getting away from the penetration of Jesus. If I see the mote in your eye, it means I have a beam in my own. Every wrong thing that I see in you, God locates in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-20). Stop having a measuring rod for other people. There is always one fact more in every man's case about which we know nothing. The first thing God does is to give us a spiritual spring-cleaning; there is no possibility of pride left in a man after that. I have never met the man I could despair of after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.

These and other wise words can be found at http://www.myutmost.org/. Have a great weekend, friends. Take dad out for Sunday dinner or something. He deserves it.

Follow up

As a quick follow-up to yesterday's post, I'd like to share a link from Patrick Mead's Q&A Blog, Tentpegs, that deals with the issues I talked about yesterday. He does a much better job of verbalizing on this subject than I could.

http://tentpegs.patrickmead.net/?p=1469

Tough Questions

Hello again from Central Arkansas. Despite this surprisingly aggressive storm season, we are all still here and doing well. Things are rolling along routinely, I suppose. Tiffany and I are counting the days until our summer vacation to St. Lucia. In preparation, I have been exercising, running, and pumping iron like never before.  I'm in the best physical condition of my life at just south of 30 years old. Special thanks to Joey, Matt, and Chris for being reliable workout partners. I met a man at our monthly Wednesday night meetings with the Christians at Emeritus Retirement Center who told me that he'd made it to 97 years old recently.  I could tell this wasn't a medically assisted number. He stood before me looking fit and healthy, with good posture and strong shoulders.  He told me that he attributed his longevity to regular exercise in his younger years.  As I shook his hand, I marveled at how he still had a firm grip.  I guess there is something to all this sweating after all.

I was going to pen an easy read today. It was going to be a quick update, followed by some thoughts on grilling for the holiday weekend. There's a problem, though. All these storms, along with the death, destruction, and pain they have brought along, have troubled me. I decided to try to verbalize the thoughts I've had and the conflict that has come with them. I apologize in advance if they come off as shocking, heretical, or otherwise faithless in any way, as I don't intend them to be. Here goes....

We pray to God for protection. We ask Him to be our shield, our shelter from the storm, and we mean it literally. "Don't let this tornado blow me away."  Then, when the storm passes, we thank and praise God for His protection. And then.....we ask His comfort on those who were killed, hurt, or uprooted.  Joplin, MO was nearly wiped off the map this week. Were there not saints there? Did they pray for protection?  What happened? And if God is doing what we like to think He's doing (answering our prayers for safety) then what did the saints in Joplin (or Tuscaloosa, Vilonia, or elsewhere) do that brought such a fate on them? Are we just special? Is it all a part of some plan, some grand design?

Consider a quote from famed Christian thinker and writer R.C. Sproul. These thoughts probably lie at the root of the questions I have. 

"If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God's sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled. Perhaps that one maverick molecule will lay waste all the grand and glorious plans that God has made and promised to us... Maybe that one molecule will be the thing that prevents Christ from returning."

Sproul is verbalizing what most of us have grown up believing without question. We believe, and rightfully so, that God's promises are true and that Christ will return. Therefore, God must be in total control of everything, because if He wasn't then He wouldn't be God and couldn't make such promises.  Right? Right?

I have weak moments, and maybe this is one of them. I'll admit to that. I'm just being 100% truthful with you when I say that this doesn't add up for me.  Do we conclude that God brought the storms?  Do we try to give Him a pass by saying he "allowed" them? I suppose these matters are far too complicated to be resolved by a quick answer or a couple of hastily selected scriptures. This is a mean, cruel, and unforgiving world that is occupied by an even more cruel enemy who, according to I John 5:19, has control here. Is this enemy, Satan, nothing more than "God's dog on God's leash," as some have said? If so, why is he constantly described as an enemy, foe, and general opponent of God's will? Alternatively, why are we told to stand guard, to "watch and pray," putting complete faith and trust in the Father if He is the one orchestrating all the calamity and trouble we face to begin with? Does that make any sense?

Some of you might be troubled by all this. To some, it might appear that I am questioning the sovereignty of the Father. Trust me, that is not the case. I believe with every fiber of my being that God is who He claims to be, and He is sovereign. However, I don't think belief in a sovereign God requires belief in an all-controlling God. I don't think I have to try to find a "purpose" in every tragic event. Sometimes tragedies just happen. Sometimes, they might be caused by the enemy. And sometimes, we bring them on ourselves. I have to ask these questions, difficult as they are to consider. You see, I interact with people who do not believe in our God on a regular basis. They believe in man, science, and reason. If I tell them the storms were "God's will" or "part of a plan," they are going to call me on it and make me explain myself. And I can't do that without making God appear to be the culprit or an accessory.  I can, however, describe a God who is at war. I can speak to them of a God who fights with me through this battle of life, a God who is there with incredible comfort and strength when the difficult times come.  I can tell them that we are living on a battlefield, and I stand with the strongest warrior in the fight. Battles go back and forth, and casualties are almost a certainty. In the end, however, I know that the strong warrior I stand with will win conclusively and permanently. I can't justify or reason my way through every tragedy.  I can stand by the constant, unmoving God who will be there after the storms have passed.