Monday, November 28, 2005
Updates
Dylan went in for a routine test and found out that his mitral valve in his heart is leaking again. We're not sure what went wrong. He hasn't yet felt any pain or extreme lethargy as he did before though. He's been referred back to the surgeon for further investigation. I'll keep you posted.
On a more positive note, my job hunting efforts seem to have paid off... hopefully... maybe. I have a first interview with one of the "big 4" professional services (i.e. audit, advisory, etc.) firms tomorrow.
On a more positive note, my job hunting efforts seem to have paid off... hopefully... maybe. I have a first interview with one of the "big 4" professional services (i.e. audit, advisory, etc.) firms tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
They mock what they don't understand? Do they?
(Warning: Lots of links taken from all over the place. Right-click and 'Open in New Window' could be useful here)
I've been thinking. This world is really bad at mocking Christianity. I'm not saying that it's impossible and never happens, but it's pretty difficult and that perhaps fewer instances where Christians think "hey, he/she/they are making fun of Christianity!" are actually mocking genuine Christianity.
Permayt meh to hhhexplayin:
When people think of Christianity, their perceptions could range from the nominal "I'll say I'm a Christian but I'll never go to church, never read the Bible, and generally never have a clue or care about what it's really about" that 75% of people in this country seem to say. Actually, 17% of those people who described themselves as Christian went to church regularly, and I'd bet that most of those 17% wouldn't describe the UK as a "Christian country". For a short piece on the "Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?" question (which is basically the same question as "Do you have to eat and drink to live?"), see this post from a while back and the link within that to John H's excellent articles.
Next, people might imagine that Christianity is the syncretistic, mixed up message of far left-wing, politically correct crap made by people who somehow occupy the posts of clergy, but are frankly pulling out something of their own invention from a hat and calling it 'Christianity', denying authentic and historic Christianity at every step. Basically, though the arguments of the liberals seem subtle and intellectual - until you question the foundation they're made on (I speak from experience -B.A. Honours) - if they end up looking like this, this, or this, you can be pretty sure that what you have doesn't look anything like historic Christianity. As for me, I wish those who claim to be Christian teachers would teach Christianity, rather than their own socio-political agendas, or just be honest with everyone and get out, but I think they'll be around and making a lot of noise for a while to come.
Then of course you have the completely batsh*t insane fundamentalists. e.g. Pat Robertson. And those nutcases who stand on the street and scream at people. I know there may be some good intention somewhere in their minds but they don't take their faith seriously enough. Same with all types of fundamentalists, really. If they did, they'd study the Scriptures and the historic faith of the Church more carefully, they'd find orthodoxy, and thereby, orthopraxis, and they might actually realise that Christianity isn't about trying to convert people. Oh, and that they themselves can't convert anyone, or even make them want to hear about what you're saying, anyway. Only God can. That's important too.
I speak from experience on that one too. When my faith was weaker, and less informed, I was much more obnoxious and in-your-face than I am now. As I matured in my faith, and I began thinking of Christ more, not less, til He undergirds and precedes or follows every thought I have, and to the world I've slowly appeared more "normal".
And Christianity is not a self-centered, emotionalistic, entertainment experience.
Oh, and I don't know how or why this all happened, but Christianity is not, or is not supposed to be, at least, just a bunch of "old people", "people with poor social skills" or "people continually getting shocked at sinners (i.e. everyone) when they sin". It's all been done before anyway. -Sometimes done by us.
I think the devil's played his game quite well. What better way to keep people from the Truth, and from what they've always hungered after without realising, than to mix it in with what is false and fake so that it is passed by without a second glance? In many cases, to use an illustration my British readers will get at least: If chocolate represented what was false, and a sweet caramel centre represented what was true, much of Christianity, as it is perceived in the modern world, would be a Rolo.
So what is this Truth? "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" claimed Jesus. Truth is a Person. Him. All Scripture is meant to point us to Him (John 5:39), often via our need of Him. All else can be thrown out. The devil ruined the phrase by giving it to groups of people who would cliche it by over-use and lack of understanding, but the phrase "all you need is Jesus" is nevertheless true. But it probably doesn't help people much to just leave that sentence without any further explanation as if they're supposed to totally "get it" just from hearing it once. For me, it's the conclusion achieved after much reflection and appreciation, and not the beginning understood right away, in my journey through the faith. And it is also true that "He's been what you were always looking for", just in a less cheesy way than that's often put across. But before our need of Him is fulfilled, and we find ourselves forgiven and redeemed, we wouldn't really recognise that we had been also wanting Him all this time anyway. That's why orthodox preachers and churches are all about the forgiveness of sins.
Christianity is not "Christians". If it was, I would not be one today. Christianity is Christ. Both in personal redemption and in collective sustenance through the Church -wherever it fulfils its God-given mandate to baptize, teach, and partake in Holy Communion; in all of which it is not Christians who are in action, but Christ Himself.
It's very easy to mock those who bear the name of Christ, be they entirely wolves in sheeps clothing, or genuine believers who are a little misguided about their faith and so act all weird, thinking they're doing the right thing. But it is more difficult to mock Christ, simply because He is not what most people imagine Him to be, they having never read any of the gospels or investigated Christianity for themselves and relying completely on second- and third-hand reports. They, and especially the devil who runs the whole show, daren't allow any sort of true investigation for thenselves. That might very well present people with a different Christ than they had presumed. And that is much more risky. Because He could be real.
I've been thinking. This world is really bad at mocking Christianity. I'm not saying that it's impossible and never happens, but it's pretty difficult and that perhaps fewer instances where Christians think "hey, he/she/they are making fun of Christianity!" are actually mocking genuine Christianity.
Permayt meh to hhhexplayin:
When people think of Christianity, their perceptions could range from the nominal "I'll say I'm a Christian but I'll never go to church, never read the Bible, and generally never have a clue or care about what it's really about" that 75% of people in this country seem to say. Actually, 17% of those people who described themselves as Christian went to church regularly, and I'd bet that most of those 17% wouldn't describe the UK as a "Christian country". For a short piece on the "Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?" question (which is basically the same question as "Do you have to eat and drink to live?"), see this post from a while back and the link within that to John H's excellent articles.
Next, people might imagine that Christianity is the syncretistic, mixed up message of far left-wing, politically correct crap made by people who somehow occupy the posts of clergy, but are frankly pulling out something of their own invention from a hat and calling it 'Christianity', denying authentic and historic Christianity at every step. Basically, though the arguments of the liberals seem subtle and intellectual - until you question the foundation they're made on (I speak from experience -B.A. Honours) - if they end up looking like this, this, or this, you can be pretty sure that what you have doesn't look anything like historic Christianity. As for me, I wish those who claim to be Christian teachers would teach Christianity, rather than their own socio-political agendas, or just be honest with everyone and get out, but I think they'll be around and making a lot of noise for a while to come.
Then of course you have the completely batsh*t insane fundamentalists. e.g. Pat Robertson. And those nutcases who stand on the street and scream at people. I know there may be some good intention somewhere in their minds but they don't take their faith seriously enough. Same with all types of fundamentalists, really. If they did, they'd study the Scriptures and the historic faith of the Church more carefully, they'd find orthodoxy, and thereby, orthopraxis, and they might actually realise that Christianity isn't about trying to convert people. Oh, and that they themselves can't convert anyone, or even make them want to hear about what you're saying, anyway. Only God can. That's important too.
I speak from experience on that one too. When my faith was weaker, and less informed, I was much more obnoxious and in-your-face than I am now. As I matured in my faith, and I began thinking of Christ more, not less, til He undergirds and precedes or follows every thought I have, and to the world I've slowly appeared more "normal".
And Christianity is not a self-centered, emotionalistic, entertainment experience.
Oh, and I don't know how or why this all happened, but Christianity is not, or is not supposed to be, at least, just a bunch of "old people", "people with poor social skills" or "people continually getting shocked at sinners (i.e. everyone) when they sin". It's all been done before anyway. -Sometimes done by us.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you.
[But now for them as Christians:]
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6
I think the devil's played his game quite well. What better way to keep people from the Truth, and from what they've always hungered after without realising, than to mix it in with what is false and fake so that it is passed by without a second glance? In many cases, to use an illustration my British readers will get at least: If chocolate represented what was false, and a sweet caramel centre represented what was true, much of Christianity, as it is perceived in the modern world, would be a Rolo.
So what is this Truth? "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" claimed Jesus. Truth is a Person. Him. All Scripture is meant to point us to Him (John 5:39), often via our need of Him. All else can be thrown out. The devil ruined the phrase by giving it to groups of people who would cliche it by over-use and lack of understanding, but the phrase "all you need is Jesus" is nevertheless true. But it probably doesn't help people much to just leave that sentence without any further explanation as if they're supposed to totally "get it" just from hearing it once. For me, it's the conclusion achieved after much reflection and appreciation, and not the beginning understood right away, in my journey through the faith. And it is also true that "He's been what you were always looking for", just in a less cheesy way than that's often put across. But before our need of Him is fulfilled, and we find ourselves forgiven and redeemed, we wouldn't really recognise that we had been also wanting Him all this time anyway. That's why orthodox preachers and churches are all about the forgiveness of sins.
Christianity is not "Christians". If it was, I would not be one today. Christianity is Christ. Both in personal redemption and in collective sustenance through the Church -wherever it fulfils its God-given mandate to baptize, teach, and partake in Holy Communion; in all of which it is not Christians who are in action, but Christ Himself.
It's very easy to mock those who bear the name of Christ, be they entirely wolves in sheeps clothing, or genuine believers who are a little misguided about their faith and so act all weird, thinking they're doing the right thing. But it is more difficult to mock Christ, simply because He is not what most people imagine Him to be, they having never read any of the gospels or investigated Christianity for themselves and relying completely on second- and third-hand reports. They, and especially the devil who runs the whole show, daren't allow any sort of true investigation for thenselves. That might very well present people with a different Christ than they had presumed. And that is much more risky. Because He could be real.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
I hate blogger.com
I type out a post. It eats it. Yay.
