"In every age the men who want us under their thumb, if they have any sense, will put forward the particular pretension which the hopes and fears of that age render most potent. They ‘cash in.’ It has been magic, it has been Christianity. Now it will certainly be science”
C. S. Lewis, 1958
And what's that commandment about "putting no other gods before me"?
Trump is the child of an immigrant (a Scottish maid) and two of his three wives are/were immigrants. Might as well call a man, all of whose grandchildren are Jewish, an anti-Semite. It's nuts.
A really funny take on the moralization around smoking was a recurring punchline in a sci-fi book called Bellwether by Connie Willis. That book was prescient about the scolding moral tone of our wokie era. Highly recommended…
Your comments about humility are spot on Keith. Once again you have struck at the heart of the issue.
Having advanced degrees in "science" and an abiding interest in the phenomenon of young Christians leaving their faith at the first challenge, causes me to throw caution to the wind and declare that I have the answer! lol
To extend your point a little, I think it is futile to support Christian apologetics on "science". Even though the neo Darwinists have pretty much thrown in the towel, Christians refuse to declare victory and move on.
Rather, our apologetics should be supported on history for the simple reason that Christ entered history unequivocally and left us with plenty of easily available supporting evidence. Rather than trying to teach our kids that "science" must be met with "science" making the defense of Jonah in the belly of the fish of utmost concern why not just say, "I haven't a clue about Jonah because I wasn't there. My faith is founded on one who was there and for whom I have ample evidence. Do you know Him?" And having made a good defense from the revealed Christ of history one can then say, "As to Jonah, I am happy to believe the story because Jesus seems to have believed it. Good enough for me."
As much as I love arguing the case for Genesis, it is usually a vain and sterile activity. If I want to strengthen my faith and have an influence, a good discussion about Christ and his historicity is pretty much the way to go. And I am a scientist so that pretty much wraps that up... and humble too...
You could haved saved yourself a lot of words. This problem you speak of is as old as our knowledge of God. People simply do not believe Him; that Scripture is His authoritative and living Word.
I lost so-called "Christian" friends over this issue. I quoted Psalm 139 and Job 4:5-7. I had one friend who would not touch her mail for nine days. Insanity bourne of fear. When reminded how many times God says not to fear....no response. God is clear; He has already appointed the number of our days and time of our death. So it simply becomes a matter of whether one believes it, or not.
Most do not.
I take God at his word that my body is the temple, but that does not mean I live encased in bubble wrap to preserve it. Instead I appropriately care for it. I have the audacity to take God at His literal word. When it came to the virus, I was cautious but not terrified. I balanced the information coming from the media, (whom I do not trust) against what I knew about viruses and epidemiology. I read up about all of it, including the technology of the so-called "novel" vaccines. I noted that the CDC changed the decades long accepted definition of "vaccine" on their website to suit the new technology. I understood MRNA as a possibly dangerous out of control green light for processes that could potentially be permanent and whose effects were unknown. I prayed to God for wisdom to make prudent decisions and trusted God that if this was how I would die, it was in His hands. In my and my husband's case, the jab was a hard and non-negotiable "no". Holy Spirit, no doubts. What I did NOT do was panic or succumb to fear. Ever. I read Psalm 81 every day. God is sovereign and His will be done.
We stopped attending the church we had been going to because closures, then "social distancing" and "masking". The pastor made me sick with his virtue signalling non-leadership. I admire the heck out of John Macarthur. "Be courageous and do not fear". A true believer.
Scripture encompasses so many truths, but people usually only embrace the Scriptures that are convenient for them, if they know any at all. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit; yet I see obese people in church all the time who claim 'Christian' without a hint of self awareness or shame. Not one preacher alive today would dare address that from the pulpit. The vices are much more popular than the virtues.
Lots of things that I could say, but honestly most people I meet who claim "Christian" have never submitted to Christ, do not read or know the Bible, do not have an atom of actual faith and just think of the label as "fire insurance" that they get if they take sacraments, belong to the correct church or say a little prayer about "believing" in Jesus, while they go through their lives ignoring Him except on Christmas and Easter. Plus some other stuff about Commandments. Their favorite scripture? "Judge not, lest ye be judged".
I often think of that day described in Matthew 7:23. There are going to be a lot of surprised and horrified souls.
It is interesting that those Christians who have long distrusted "the science" of evolution were among those most immune to regime messaging during Covid.
We must hope -excellent work
Love this! Thank you for your voice. It gives me hope, which does, indeed, spring eternal.
"In every age the men who want us under their thumb, if they have any sense, will put forward the particular pretension which the hopes and fears of that age render most potent. They ‘cash in.’ It has been magic, it has been Christianity. Now it will certainly be science”
C. S. Lewis, 1958
And what's that commandment about "putting no other gods before me"?
Trump is the child of an immigrant (a Scottish maid) and two of his three wives are/were immigrants. Might as well call a man, all of whose grandchildren are Jewish, an anti-Semite. It's nuts.
A really funny take on the moralization around smoking was a recurring punchline in a sci-fi book called Bellwether by Connie Willis. That book was prescient about the scolding moral tone of our wokie era. Highly recommended…
https://www.amazon.com/Bellwether-Novel-Connie-Willis/dp/0553562967
Your comments about humility are spot on Keith. Once again you have struck at the heart of the issue.
Having advanced degrees in "science" and an abiding interest in the phenomenon of young Christians leaving their faith at the first challenge, causes me to throw caution to the wind and declare that I have the answer! lol
To extend your point a little, I think it is futile to support Christian apologetics on "science". Even though the neo Darwinists have pretty much thrown in the towel, Christians refuse to declare victory and move on.
Rather, our apologetics should be supported on history for the simple reason that Christ entered history unequivocally and left us with plenty of easily available supporting evidence. Rather than trying to teach our kids that "science" must be met with "science" making the defense of Jonah in the belly of the fish of utmost concern why not just say, "I haven't a clue about Jonah because I wasn't there. My faith is founded on one who was there and for whom I have ample evidence. Do you know Him?" And having made a good defense from the revealed Christ of history one can then say, "As to Jonah, I am happy to believe the story because Jesus seems to have believed it. Good enough for me."
As much as I love arguing the case for Genesis, it is usually a vain and sterile activity. If I want to strengthen my faith and have an influence, a good discussion about Christ and his historicity is pretty much the way to go. And I am a scientist so that pretty much wraps that up... and humble too...
You could haved saved yourself a lot of words. This problem you speak of is as old as our knowledge of God. People simply do not believe Him; that Scripture is His authoritative and living Word.
I lost so-called "Christian" friends over this issue. I quoted Psalm 139 and Job 4:5-7. I had one friend who would not touch her mail for nine days. Insanity bourne of fear. When reminded how many times God says not to fear....no response. God is clear; He has already appointed the number of our days and time of our death. So it simply becomes a matter of whether one believes it, or not.
Most do not.
I take God at his word that my body is the temple, but that does not mean I live encased in bubble wrap to preserve it. Instead I appropriately care for it. I have the audacity to take God at His literal word. When it came to the virus, I was cautious but not terrified. I balanced the information coming from the media, (whom I do not trust) against what I knew about viruses and epidemiology. I read up about all of it, including the technology of the so-called "novel" vaccines. I noted that the CDC changed the decades long accepted definition of "vaccine" on their website to suit the new technology. I understood MRNA as a possibly dangerous out of control green light for processes that could potentially be permanent and whose effects were unknown. I prayed to God for wisdom to make prudent decisions and trusted God that if this was how I would die, it was in His hands. In my and my husband's case, the jab was a hard and non-negotiable "no". Holy Spirit, no doubts. What I did NOT do was panic or succumb to fear. Ever. I read Psalm 81 every day. God is sovereign and His will be done.
We stopped attending the church we had been going to because closures, then "social distancing" and "masking". The pastor made me sick with his virtue signalling non-leadership. I admire the heck out of John Macarthur. "Be courageous and do not fear". A true believer.
Scripture encompasses so many truths, but people usually only embrace the Scriptures that are convenient for them, if they know any at all. Self-control is a fruit of the spirit; yet I see obese people in church all the time who claim 'Christian' without a hint of self awareness or shame. Not one preacher alive today would dare address that from the pulpit. The vices are much more popular than the virtues.
Lots of things that I could say, but honestly most people I meet who claim "Christian" have never submitted to Christ, do not read or know the Bible, do not have an atom of actual faith and just think of the label as "fire insurance" that they get if they take sacraments, belong to the correct church or say a little prayer about "believing" in Jesus, while they go through their lives ignoring Him except on Christmas and Easter. Plus some other stuff about Commandments. Their favorite scripture? "Judge not, lest ye be judged".
I often think of that day described in Matthew 7:23. There are going to be a lot of surprised and horrified souls.
It is interesting that those Christians who have long distrusted "the science" of evolution were among those most immune to regime messaging during Covid.