Quite an Interesting Conversation

Carrying on quite an interesting conversation with Edward Mills of Evolving Times via his comment section on the "Backlash Has Begun." The topic is The Secret and it's metaphysical underpinning, the Law of Attraction. Here are some snippets of that dialog which might provoke more conversation here (hint hint :-)

Let me preface this by saying that, in general, I affirm the LoA. It seems to me to be a restating of the biblical principle, "You reap what you sow." And I believe we can readily accept this "law" as a tool that God allows us to use for our benefit and his glory. You can read my rationale on why the Secret works here - as well as a neophyte's understanding (mine) of a biological basis for it here.

That being said, what prompted this conversation was Newsweek's article that cast doubts on the motivation behind this marketing phenomenon - The Secret is the #1 best selling book right now with sales eclipsing second place 2 to 1! After all, who wouldn't want to buy a book that tells us we can have anything we want by simply thinking about it! To many, the Secret proffers a magic pill for an already overly self-indulgent society.

In response to Newsweek's skepticism, Ed made this point:

"So the critics who watch the Secret will be able to grab onto to some of the holes in the presentation in order to discredit the entire LoA concept."

I understand, don't throw out the baby with the bath water. But my reaction is that there's a lot of dirty water in the bath tub right now:

"While I agree that a backlash to any concept or movement that has gained popularity necessarily picks at the holes and the extreme or 'straw-man' representatives of that movement, it seems to me that much of the - for lack of a better term - 'wacky' teaching surrounding the LoA opens itself to critique by the main stream populace.

"A noted example is the Teachings of Abraham-Hicks. Instead of denouncing the channeled messages from Esther's spirit guides as a form of demonic possession, many advocates of the Secret (and the main force behind it, Rhonda Byrne) celebrate this as enlightened wisdom.

"My suspicion is that this type of 'teaching' is no longer fringe and that the legitimate and sound principles espoused by the self-help and personal development movement are being co-opted by not only wacky but dangerously destructive practitioners."

Ed confirms my suspicions when he affirms the validity of these spirit-guides (I term them deceiving spirits):

"It seems to me that channeled information, whether from Spirit Guides, Higher Self, or God, has, throughout our history, provided a great source of spiritual knowledge....

And for me, the Law of Attraction and the teachings of Abraham as channeled through Esther Hicks provide a wealth of information that has already dramatically improved my life and continues to make it better on a daily basis."

Although I do not know Mr. Mills and can not judge his standing before God, I felt a burden as a witness to Christ's redeeming power over darkness to share this response:

"Following these demon-inspired teachings leads away from the True God of the universe (not to be confused with the universe itself - which is often capitalized as a nod to transcendence) who wants to have an eternal relationship with us. We are created in his image and so are of inestimable worth. We will either live with God forever or be separated from him forever - there is no middle ground....

"This is a formula for morally relativistic living which can not be judged apart from a divine ruling. We have that ruling already in place - the Scriptures. Without it we have 'teachings' from people like Esther Hicks and Rhonda Byrne who tell us, 'You are the master of the Universe' (p 183 of The Secret). In my book that's blasphemy. Are we incredible creatures? You bet, but we are not demigods. Satan would have us believe this since he believes it himself. Please reject these teachings from this so-called 'Abraham.' "

Ed was gracious in his reply:

"You make several interesting points. Overall, IMO, your positive thoughts are overshadowed by your assertion that the teachings of Abraham are the 'product of deceiving spirits,' and 'blasphemy' and 'demon-inspired.'

"I enjoy your comments and would like to continue this conversation. However, if you continue to mask your insights in such judgmental and closed-minded terms, my interest in continuing this conversation will very quickly diminish."

I can see how that would be the case! Like I said at the beginning, quite an interesting conversation. As I would like the dialog to continue, how should I respond? What might you say in my place? Thanks in advance for your comments.

Words from the Cross - Need

Note: As we are in the Lenten Season of the Church calendar over the next few weeks I'd like to reflect on some of Jesus' Words from the Cross. This excerpt is from a sermon titled Need and is based on the phrase, "I thirst" - the fifth Word from the Cross found in John 19.28.

Need
We need a new coffee maker. We've had it almost 9 years and it's starting to leak. We need to replace it because we use it practically every day, can't live without it. Needless to say, we are avid coffee drinkers. Not just Starbucks, either. We buy the flavored gourmet style beans: Mocha Almond Java, Chocolate Irish Cream, Vanilla Cookie Wafer. Coffee flavors are getting about as ridiculous as ice cream varieties. Double Peanut Butter Brickle Fudge Brownie. At any rate, we need a new coffee maker if we're going to continue this admittedly extreme habit.

What do you need? A new washer, dryer, refrigerator, furniture, carpets, curtains, car, trailer, apartment, house? Or are your needs less tangible, more qualitative? Like friendship, family, companionship, care, understanding, acceptance, love and forgiveness. These are basic needs, to be sure. Emotional and spiritual needs.

Yet for many in the world, there are physical needs which are even more basic. Items, events that we take for granted. A night free from bombing, a day released from terror, shelter, clothing, food and water. Millions of people live without these most basic needs. But not for long. Some survive, many do not.

Hmm. I guess by way of contrast we don't really need a coffee maker. We can live without it. You don't need a micro-wave, mini-blinds or a new mattress. Not that these things are wrong to have. Just realize they don't fall into the category of needs. Wants, wishes, or wise purchases, maybe, but not necessities. Strip away all the packaging and we begin to realize that there are actually very few things that humans need.

We mentioned a few already. Friendship, acceptance, forgiveness, meaning. Shelter, sleep, food, water. Basic human needs. Every person who has ever lived has acknowledge these necessities. It may or may not surprise you, then, that Jesus had needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual needs because he was completely human. Yes, completely divine as well. But don't let that throw you. Jesus knew what it meant to be stomach-grumbling-hungry, dog-tired and emotionally drained.

And thirsty?! Jesus knew thirst. Probably the most fundamental ingredient in the recipe called survival. Water. H2O. Wet, refreshing, life-giving water. So important to our existence, it has become, for many, the symbol of life. To an alien race, water might even symbolize humanity. In one episode of "Star Trek, The Next Generation" (a science fiction TV series that used to rank in my top 5 need-to-watch list) humans were described as "ugly bags of mostly water." It's true. I don't know about the ugly part, but 70% of our body is water. A 5% loss results in fuzzy thinking, a 10% loss leads to death.

Jesus knew thirst. After a brutal beating and whipping which broke open the skin - that thin layered bag that holds our vital liquids inside - Jesus' body was an ugly mass of mostly water, blood-dripping, life-giving water. It's no wonder, then, that he speaks this 5th word from the cross. "I'm thirsty."

I'm thirsty. Has there ever been a more poignant statement of need - of human, physical need. It compliments, and may help explain, the word of anguish we heard last week, "My God, why have you forsaken me." While that 4th word from the cross spoke of spiritual alienation and abandonment due to the world's sin that Christ took upon himself, this phrase, "I am so thirsty," shouts out loud and clear that the divine Son of Man had needs.

Don't doubt it, friends. Jesus was fully human. Some early Christians, in order to protect Christ's divinity, were tempted to think of him as mere spirit in a phantom body. Some claimed that when he walked he never left any footprints. Balderdash. In John 8 we see him scrunch down and scribble in the dust. Can a phantom do that? No. Jesus had a body and it was subject to the bodily functions that mark us all. He ate, drank, burped, used the privy. He slept, cried, was tired, and was thirsty.

This should encourage us. It puts a stamp of approval on all that is truly human. It is not wrong to be in need, to hurt, to emote, to feel pain, depression, anguish, or thirst. Just as it is not wrong for us to exult, shout with joy, or soar to great heights. Humanness is good. In Genesis 1 God pronounces his blessing upon all of creation, especially his masterpiece, Adam, Man, Humankind.

It is not our humanity that gets us into trouble. It is the inhuman sin nature that infests and corrupts God's good earth that is the problem. Our sin nature, that hideous birth mark which we've adopted and fed and treated as something precious, that sin nature which has taken over our flesh needs to be rejected, destroyed, cleansed, and forgiven.

That is the reason for the cross. Jesus, the God-Man, hangs between earth and heaven as a space-time portal to filter out the parasite of sin so that all who enter will be pure and holy. And one day, one day we will experience our humanness as it was meant to be experienced, free from sin and death, free from pain and suffering. True humanity in resurrection bodies.

(For the complete sermon, visit Fwd: Thoughts.)

The Theology of Self-Help

Don't laugh.

That's actually what I'm trying to do here at Thought Renewal - develop a theology of self improvement and personal development. Now hear me out before you report me to Lighthouse Trails. :-)

In this extended blog entry I'll summarize my belief that God is actually behind the "self-help" movement and is calling us to "help our selves" to all the riches of his mercy and grace. And like with everything, if he is acknowledged as Lord, then the principles of this movement can be used for our benefit and for his glory.

Please don't skim this article. If you don't have time to digest the full message and follow my line of reasoning to the end, don't read it. You'll see a link to the full post below. These first couple of paragraphs are here to serve as a teaser, if you will.

So enjoy. And help yourself to whatever else you find here.

Help Yourself! by Lyn Perry (c) 2007

Now these are words I like to hear, don’t you?

My wife and I went over to a friend's house recently. Before we even made it through the door our host invited us to make ourselves at home. Isn't this a great invitation? You’ve been greeted this way before I'm sure. Think back to the last time you went over to a friend's place. You probably weren't through knocking before you heard something like, "Come on in. Pour yourself a pop. Help yourself!" Pop, soda – depends on where you're from – either way, these are welcoming words, inviting you to kick off your shoes and make yourself comfortable.

So what do you do? What else can you do? You make yourself at home! It would be rude not to. By serving yourself you are accepting an invitation to join the family and relax in the company of friends. In fact, this kind of invite is primarily extended to those closest to us for it assumes a trust and fellowship that strangers, by definition, do not enjoy.

Let's take a closer look at this informal social contract: Help yourself.

Note two implications. Within the phrase help yourself is first an invitation. We typically do not barge into someone's home and immediately open the fridge. This behavior is reserved for college students (just kidding!). Even the most outgoing among us wait for some words of welcome. We may know for certain what the host will say, yet still we wait for the invitation.

Second, help yourself is an expression of familiarity, even intimacy. It isn't said to everyone. As we've noted, it's an offer typically reserved for family and friends.

This is an issue of trust. Both the host and the guest are confident that their relationship is genuine. For you see, not only does the host accept the guest into his or her home without reservation, but the guest accepts the host's invitation based upon the assumption that he or she is a trustworthy person. I'm trusting that my friend won't slip anything into my drink.

You might be thinking by now, "What does all this have to do with personal growth?" I think it will become clear in a moment because I believe the implications of this welcoming phrase, help yourself, puts our quest for personal development in perspective.

Go here to read the whole essay.

The Theology of Self-Help Continued

Continued from the post, The Theology of Self-Help:

Help Yourself! by Lyn Perry (c) 2007

Let's face it, we're a self help society. From fill-up to checkout more of us help ourselves than ever before. In fact, successful companies have long understood the labor saving and cost cutting advantages of this trend. But this 'do-it-yourself' mentality has moved way beyond gas, groceries, and home improvement.

Look at the explosion of success literature. From the classic best sellers by Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale to the surge in popularity of Oprah, Dr. Phil, and Chicken Soup for Every Imaginable Soul, positive thinking has become a multibillion dollar business. Amazing!

Why is that? Is it an indication that we live in a self-obsessed culture? Are all these publishing companies simply pandering to the Narcissus in each of us? That may well be the case. But in my opinion there is something behind this movement that is good and right and necessary. Our longstanding fascination with self help is not so much a navel gazing exercise of the me-generation (although it can be that). I believe it is a legitimate response to an invitation.

We've been invited to help ourselves.

Open Invitation

Here's what I mean.

Imagine standing outside in the weather, knocking at the door, looking forward to the warmth of fire and friendship. Suddenly, the door swings wide, you're greeted with kisses and hugs. Come on in. Make yourself at home. Open the fridge and help yourself.

Reading and digesting a book on personal growth or attending a seminar on positive thinking mirrors this picture. It is simply accepting an offer to help yourself grow and develop to your fullest potential. The truth is, we all long for relationship, joy and fulfillment; that is, to come in from the cold. And we're knocking about searching for those things the best we can.

The personal development movement, then, is about – or at least should be about – accepting the invitation to help one's self to a satisfying, enjoyable, and abundant life. We may not be doing a very good job at it, we may be looking in some (very) wrong places, we may even become obsessed with all that is set before us. Nevertheless, there's an offer on the table and we're taking the host up on the invitation. This is a good and necessary response.

Who's Hosting This Party?

But here's an interesting question. If we're responding to an invitation, who is doing the inviting? Who is our host? Recall that within the phrase help yourself are two implications: Invitation and familiarity. We don't party in a vacuum. Neither do we develop ourselves by ourselves.

If my perspective on this topic is correct (and of course that is what I'm advocating!) then pursuing a vibrant life is about responding to a gracious host who wants us to say yes to fellowship, yes to friendship, yes to fulfillment. What's more, we are responding to a person who has our best interests at heart.

Think about that. This is an astounding truth. When it comes to all that life has to offer, someone is doing the offering and wants only what is best for us. Self help is simply responding to someone's invitation. But who is this someone?

Motivational writers and speakers often refer to a power or energy or wisdom available to each of us – a universal life force that we can tap into; that we can help ourselves to. With the right techniques and proper awareness, we can access Infinite Intelligence (a phrase used by a well known success author ).

Despite the capitalization ('Infinite Intelligence'), this energy field is not a personal being and should not be confused with the biblical concept of God. No matter the moniker, what many self-help authors are referring to is simply a natural force, an energy that permeates, and is often identified with, the universe.

This is not what I'm talking about. For a number of reasons. First, a force is impersonal. Impersonal objects do not invite people to help themselves. Only in poetry will the wind call us to set sail and head for the open sea. (I didn't say it had to be good poetry, but you get the idea.)

Second, energy is not relational. I'm speculating now, but I assume you would not want to pursue an intimate friendship with an electrical outlet or lightening bolt. So you see, this personal development movement, properly understood, is not really about tapping into some power source that already exists. No. Self help is responding to the Source of this power. Capitalization intended.

Time For An Illustration

Say there's a vending machine at work. You put your quarters in and grab a snack. In other words, you pay the price and help yourself. Now who is actually providing us the opportunity – in a sense, inviting us – to partake of this tasty and nutritional (broadly speaking) product? It's not the vending machine. We would think it mighty strange if we overheard a colleague thank a distribution mechanism for releasing a bag of chips. We don't look to some contraption as the ultimate source of provision. That would be silly. Obviously, someone is stocking the machine.

Snacks don't offer themselves. The only reason we can choose from the variety of goodies set before us is because someone – not something – is inviting us to 'help ourselves.' (By the way, don’t blame the vending machine or the vendor for your increase in caloric intake! We’ll cover taking personal responsibility at a later time.)

All Good Things

Now fortunately, the Creator of the universe is not indifferent about the offerings available to us. The Source behind all matter and energy is a personal being who cares about how this matter and energy are utilized. In fact, that is one reason why God (for this is the Someone we've been alluding to) created human beings. After creating all things, God installed Man and Woman as stewards and recipients of all that has been created. We have a veritable feast set before us. And we not only have permission we have a mandate to take what we've been given and . . . enjoy it!

Come on in. Make yourself at home. Enjoy yourself.

Our Host is extending to us a personal invitation to join the family, find friendship, and experience a life of abundance. This is a genuine offer and it is extended to each of us. Help yourself!

How do we go about doing this?

That is what we'll explore in the ongoing blog entries of Thought Renewal. The purpose of this blog is to help us learn to help ourselves to all good things in life. In the following months we'll discuss, among other things, five fundamental strategies (see below) for crafting a life of fulfillment.

Picture yourself as a masterpiece in progress. Your commitment to personally develop is not selfish, it is responding to the Master Craftsman who designed you for greatness. We've been given the tools to unleash abundance; it would be selfish not to utilize them.

Thinking Right

The five strategies I want to unpack over time center on our thoughts – challenging, correcting, and controlling our thoughts. Our mind is a powerful tool. With it we interpret everything that happens to us and assign meaning to those various events.

It has been said that it is not so much what happens to us that matters as how we respond to what happens to us. At the risk of sounding cliché, this is exactly right. Our life often lacks abundance and meaning because we think in terms of lack and meaninglessness. Our environment is limited because our thinking is limited. Controlling our environment is largely dependent upon controlling our thinking.

This goes beyond merely being positive or optimistic. It means correcting our limiting beliefs by thinking correctly about who we are and our purpose in life. Thus if I were to write a book (wink wink) titled, Help Yourself! then the subtitle would be: How to Enjoy a Life of Abundance by Thinking Right and Overcome Limiting Beliefs. (Maybe that's a bit long, what do you think?)

Right thinking is essential if we are to unleash the abundance in life that is ours by right and mandate to enjoy. The five strategies that will help us accomplish this ongoing project (remember, we're unfinished masterpieces) are:

• Living on Purpose
• Taking Every Thought Captive
• Renewing Our Minds
• Properly Utilizing Faith
• Serving Others
  

Additional resources include the Power of Mentors and Thinking Right About Wealth.

We'll explore these themes and others throughout this blog and examine each of the strategies in light of appropriate God-given universal laws or principles. We'll unpack and apply those principles to various life situations and offer some mental exercises so that we can grow and develop.

Along the way we'll note some 'wrong thinking' (and even dangerous teaching) that is circulating out there as well as discover some surprising truths about life, the universe, and everything. My hope is that this work might serve as a guidebook for those interested in such matters. If you've made it this far I'm assuming you're one of the people I'm hoping to touch.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Christian Carnival #97, Part 1

Welcome to the 97th Edition of the Christian Carnival!
Glad you made it! I'm fired up with enthusiasm for this week's - the 97th! - publication of the Christian Carnival. If this is your first time here, relax, have fun, and enjoy the show. To guide you through all the attractions, I've clustered the entries into various "rides" like you might find at a County Fair. This is a carnival, after all. We'll start off with some lighter attractions and progressively work our way down the midway to some more challenging rides. Along the way, I'm sure you'll meet new friends and experience a few adventures. Again, enjoy the day. And tell a friend.

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Let's Start Out With a Classic Ride

John Willis from Baptist Revivals Blog celebrates the good news, Texas Baptists elect first black president. Quote: "When Baptists are united with each other in fulfilling the Great Commission given to us by Christ Himself, the witness to this sin-sick world will be astounding!" News source: HoustonChronicle.com

Kim Bloomer of Sharing Spirit writes about having a Gracious Gratitude, "I remember when I was growing up, the holidays were as much about giving thanks to God and sharing, as they were about gifts, food, and tradition."

Richard Anderson in dokeo kago grapho soi kratistos theophilos "describes a visit he and his daughter made to Emanuel Lutheran Church." Read about it in Black and Lutheran.

Phil Dillon of Another Man's Meat writes about "some things to be thankful for at a particularly nasty period of American history" in We Gather Together.

Next Up, the Famous Ferris Wheel

Kemp Skidmore from Stand Up Christians And Be Heard is concerned about The Double Standards of Life. Abortion is legal and yet . . . Quote: "[I]f a fetus is lost due to a crime, then the person that committed the crime is charged with the original crime along with Murder / involuntary Manslaughter of the fetus. . . .So can you see The Double Standards of Life?"

Rev Bill Hayes has a Response to Phil about Pat Robertson: "As Christians, we need to make sure we do notcome across as condeming others we disagree with."

Kim Anderson's Mother-Lode examines "the Islamic riots in France, detailing two radically different responses to oppression" in Radical Response.

Now We're Heading Toward the Sky Swings

Mark Olson of Pseudo-Polymath writes, "Every day counts. Reflections on comparisons between the Christian journey and athletic endeavour" in his post, On Urgency.

Scott at No Mirth At All writes about The Sacred and The Secular, in a "post about Christian world-views dealing with some basics of day to day living."

Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog presents, quote, "An original take on the role of tithing in wealth generation."

Rey at The Bible Archive has "just a real short thought on the need to be thankful and what to be thankful for" with Praying a Thanksgiving Prayer.

cwv warrior of Christianity is Jewish continues "a tale of two saviors and what it means for the Christian warrior. 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.' Not for the faint hearted" with Yeshua.

Rev Ed at Attention Span "remembers a friend who slowly fell away from his faith" in The Downward Slide.

Clement Okon, of the Nigerian Commercial Bank, writes: "Dear Sir/Madam, I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. A Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the National Petroleum Corporation, made a deposit valued at US$26,500,000.00 . . ." (Moderator's note: Hey, it came forwarded for submission!)

Are You Brave Enough for the Thriller?

John Luke Rich from Blogcorner Preacher makes the case that, contra the evangelical outpost's position, one can lose sight of the unchanging nature of God by Parsing the Trinity. Quote: "I suggest that what distinguishes us from Jews and Muslims is not the nature of the God we worship, it is the nature of our understanding of God."

Jeff the Baptist states in Consumer Christianity: "Rev Ed has a good discussion about Christian merchandise and representing the faith. It is a good piece and he makes a good case for buying Christian merchandise to create ministry opportunities. I'm going to play a little devil's advocate. Hopefully not too literally."

Abednego at Parableman says, "Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, has some unexpected words to say about Intelligent Design." He talks about it in Scott Adams on Intelligent Design.

Adam Graham at Adam's Blog "responds to a liberal's attacks on Christian efforts to stop ACLU bullying this Christmas season" in his post,
Spaulding Hot Irony: Why Doesn't the ACLU Start a Soup Kitchen?

Brandywine Books shares "some simple thoughts on the riots in France" with Secularism Won't Build a Healthy Country.

And Now the Grand Finale Coaster Ride

Jay's article, The Correlation of Sacred Scripture with Church Tradition, at Deo Omnis Gloria "examines the relationship between the Bible and Tradition. It started with a comment at our blog and developed into an analysis of the relationship and dependencies of Scripture and Tradition."

Kenny Pearce of KennyPearce.net reports in Ivy League Elitist ... Porn? "on the University of Pennsylvania's use of student activities money to fund the publication of Quake, a pornographic magazine being produced by students here. The author is a current Penn undergraduate."

Well, if you've made it this far down the midway, you've probably noticed that you or your favorite blogger's post isn't up yet. That's because I got behind getting ready for Thanksgiving. The rest of the entries (there were over 60 I believe) are in part 2 below. So, keep your ticket and come again any time. Oh, and by the way, Happy Thanksgiving!

Christian Carnival #97, Part 2

Welcome to the 97th Edition of the Christian Carnival!(part 2)

Welcome back to the 97th edition of the Christian Carnival (part 2!). As you've surmised, I didn't quite finish pointing out all the attractions at our "County Fair" before Thanksgiving Eve. So, pull out your ticket and let's get back to the show. If this is your first time here, relax, have fun, and tell your friends. Like in part 1, we'll start out with some fairly light entertainment and progressively work our way down the midway toward some thrillers.

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Let's Start Out With a Classic Ride

Doug Raymond of Fallible writes how "Katy and Doug never dreamed their marriage would be like this" in I Will Not Be Afraid Of The Terror By Night, Nor Of The Dream About The Guy Who Breaks The Piano.

From Amy's Humble Musings we have a humorous look at the Top 10 Ways to Get Hits. Thanks Amy.

A Penitent Blogger offers "a reflection on an ancient vision and questions for our lives today" in Feet of Clay.

David Fisher of Pilgrim Scribblings writes this about his post, Quiet: "This post was written on a morning when God's peace was so very evident in the midst of life's storms. I had to write it as I was experiencing it because the 'quietness and confidence' was so refreshing."

Next Up, the Famous Ferris Wheel

William Meisheid of Beyond the Rim shares "a few thoughts on Solomon's assertion that wisdom and knowledge only increase grief and sorrow as applied to Christian discipleship" in Some Thoughts On Sorrow And Solomon.

Bob Finnerty of The Doctor is In has some "thoughts on aging, scepticism, and the foolishness of a life of faith" in The Choice of Fools.

Phil Steiger in Every Thought Captive writes: "Statistics about our general biblical illiteracy are depressing, but what do they say about the things we Christians think are biblically sanctioned?" Read more in The Things We Think Are Biblical.

Martin LeBar of Sun and Shield says this post, Jubilee Economics, "is a reaction to a book on this subject, written by Kinsler and Kinsler."

Deputyheadmistress of The Common Room submits an entry on how to have a Quiet Time.

Now We're Heading Toward the Sky Swings

Funky Dung of Ales Rarus writes: "A good friend of mine, a licensed pharmacist and a committed Christian, addresses the issue of refusing to dispense oral contraceptives." Article is Shut Up and Fill the Prescription.

Laura Curtis in Pursuing Holiness states that "As Christians, our feelings should have little or no bearing on our actions." Find out why in Let's not talk about reality, let's talk about our feelings.

In Hodos' entry, I Will Worship God All of My Days, Tony, Mark, & Phil"continue our discussion of the pathway for followers of Jesus with a description of worship that goes far beyond Sunday mornings."

Donna-Jean of Liberty and Lily writes, "There are people still living on the ground in tents in Mississippi, as aresult of Hurricane Katrina. And now it's Christmas. . . . Bloggers can help." She explains how in I Need Your Help.

Are You Brave Enough for the Thriller?

Wayne at Questions and Answers asks in his article The Tabernacle, "What is God doing in the book of Exodus when he gives this clear patter of the Tabernacle to Moses on the Mount. Is this relavant to us in this day and age?"

Phil Threeten states that, "We often think that as Christians we are no longer under the law, but what if our understanding of the law is wrong?" in Law vs Law.

Pete Hernandez of FamilyMedicine writes in his post, Medical Economics and the Family: "The Christian family must take dominion of medical economics. These activities of men must necessarily bring all thought, word, and deed captive to the obedience of Christ for His Glory."

Barbara of Tidbits and Treasures writes: "This article (Where is Your Jesus?) discusses worshipping before apparitions thought to be 'Jesus' and the real Spirit of JESUS, which each born-again Christian has within him/her."

"Do we have a responsibility to forgive everyone who hurts us, even when they've done the same thing over and over?" Silas Jones explores this question and its implications in his post, Low-Caliber Forgiveness.

And Now the Grand Finale Coaster Ride

John Hill writes that the series Back to Basics continues at Brain Cramps for God. The newest installment is: "Filled" - To Overcome and Become.

Runalong with Pastor Mark asks, "Had enough hell yet? My response to Lyn Perry's response to my original post on hell. We agree that hell is a horrible place: But will any people go there?" in Less Hell = More Converts?

That's it. We finally made it to the end. Feel free to come again any time and visit the carnival. Oh, and tell your friends to join the fun next week at Cadmusings. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hell Hath No Fury? Annihilationism Considered

Question: "Do the finally impenitent suffer everlasting, conscious punishment (in body and soul, either literally or metaphorically), or do they go out of existence in the second death?" (Asked by Clark Pinnock in Four Views on Hell, p 142, part of the Counterpoints Series published by Zondervan, 1996)

Answer: See below. But before you scroll down, let's interact with two practical and preparatory concerns.
1) Why does the question matter?
2) What are the possible theological and scriptural alternatives?
After a brief overview we should then be able to consider the biblical case for conditional immortality.

Why does the question matter?

Hell's been getting a bum wrap. In either of two ways. On one extreme, it is being ignored. For many years now churches and preachers have been shying away from the topic because it is uncomfortable to talk about. After all, who enjoys contemplating and discussing an eternity of pain and suffering? But hell is also often neglected because many sensitive Christians are worried that a steady diet of hellfire and brimstone can make God look like a sadistic ogre. As believers we don't want to unnesessarily push people away from Jesus Christ.

This is a valid concern and is actually the other extreme that is giving hell a bad reputation. Some fundamentalists, who are not shy when it comes to preaching eternal damnation, in their zeal often overstate the case and actually mistakenly proclaim that God takes pleasure in the demise of the wicked. As a result, effective evangelism suffers.

So as to why this question matters: Understanding the nature of hell is important because the effectiveness of evangelism is at stake. On the one hand, we don't want to lose our urgency to witness to lost friends and family by being nonchalant about hell. A person's eternal life is hanging in the balance. Yet on the other hand, we don't want to run the risk of turning people off by misrepresenting a doctrine that is already a sticking point for many.

What are the possible scriptural alternatives?

So what are some possible views on hell? How are we to understand this hard teaching? One response is to abolish it by trying to make a biblical case for universalism. That is, ultimately all will be saved. This is not just a "liberal" attempt at downplaying a distastful teaching. It stems from Origen, an early church father, who viewed hell as "a purging and refining fire that finally deposits all its inhabitants in heaven." (Pinnock, p 141) Hell is a temporary but real condition that takes the offense of sin seriously while affirming God's ultimate victory over it. Scripture texts include John 3:16, Philippians 2:10,11, and 1 Timothy 2:3,4.

A problem stems from the possibility that all may not want to be saved. That may be God's intent, but can God predestine a person's free response to his grace? That doesn't make sense. While I affirm that God's salvation is by grace alone, it is also through faith alone. And while even faith is a gift, we must respond. If we reject God, God will honor our request. (This issue involving predestination is too broad to be covered here. Suffice it to say that if asked, "Were you pushed or did you jump?" I'd have to answer yes.)

A second possibility is the traditional, or what some may call the literal, view of hell. This teaching was developed by Augustine, another early church theologian, who in The City of God argued that hell was a condition of endless conscious torment in body and soul. The problem: How can one continue to be exposed to burning flames without burning up? Augustine's response was that "God has the power to do miracles which transcend ordinary nature and that he will employ his power to keep sinners alive and conscious in the fire." (Pinnock, p 139)

What? How does Augustine come to a biblical conclusion that God is a God that tortures people forever? His literal reading does an injustice to the plain implications of the words employed. Far be it from me to enter the ring against such a heavyweight theologian, nevertheless, might it be that, like his doctrine of the millennium or the practice of infant baptism, Augustine got this one wrong as well?

A third view is a revision of the traditional position. Instead of physical pain caused by actual flames, the suffering is mental and emotional. Here the fire is simply a metaphor. And although some might want to entertain as more palatable the notion expressed in Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit where hell is other people or the idea expressed in C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce where hell is absolute lonliness, these pictures are just that. The committed traditionalist might even accuse those of holding the metaphorical view as softening the severity of hell's punishment. Now I probably wouldn't see it that way, because I'm wondering if this latter position is actually any different in practice than the literal view. Isn't God still a God that tortures the wicked endlessly, albeit emotionally?

More importantly, is this really what the scripture means when it refers to hell?

So now we turn to the biblical case for conditional immortality, or as some refer to it, annihilationism. I want to address two main issues: The clear implications of the words used to describe hell and the biblical understanding of the nature of the soul.

Certainly hell is a real reward for the wicked. As Christians we must engage God's word on the matter. But as to it's exact nature, I agree with Clark Pinnock who writes (far better than I):

From the threat of hell, we may not be able to derive precise knowledge about its nature, any more than we can grasp the nature of heaven from the promises God gives us regarding it. Nevertheless, the Bible does leave us a strong general impression in regard to the nature of hell - the impression of final, irreversible destruction, of closure with God. The language and imagery used by Scripture is so powerful in that direction that it is surprising that more theologians have not picked up on it before now. The Bible uses the language of death and destruction, of ruin and perishing, when it speaks of the fate of the impenitent wicked. It uses the imagery of fire that consumes whatever is thrown into it; linking together images of fire and destruction suggests annihilation. One receives the impression that "eternal punishment" refers to a divine judgment whose results cannont be reversed rather than to the experience of endless torment (i.e., eternal punishing). Although there are many good reasons for questioning the traditional view of the nature of hell, the most important reason is the fact that the Bible does not teach it. Contrary to the loud claims of the traditionalists, it is not a biblical doctrine. (p 144)

This essay has gone on longer than expected, so I will probably examine some key scriptural texts in the Q & A to follow (if there is any :-) . But a sampling includes Matthew 3:10-12, 13:49,50; Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 6:7,8; Philippians 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Hebrews 10:39; 2 Peter 3:7; Jude 7; Revelation 20:14,15. A fair reading of these passages can lead to a reasonable conclusion that the bible teaches the final destruction of the wicked. This is not a dumbing down of the scripture but an interpretation that is plausible and has integrity.

Let me briefly address a second issue and wrap this up. And this has to do with why the traditional view is so entrenched as "the" evangelical option today. It has to do with a mistaken understanding of human nature. A hellenistic belief about the immortality of the soul "has dominated Christian thinking about eschatalogy almost from the beginning." (Pinnock, p 147) In other words, the bible does not teach the inherent immortality of the human soul. Rather it points to the resurrection of the body as God's gift to believers. God alone is immortal. We are conditionally so. We acccept eternal life and enter into an eternity with God. Those who reject this offer can not enter into eternal life. Their fate is seperation from God forever. Hell.

Hell does have a fury. It will be unleashed on those who are impenitent. It is a permanent, irreversable state. Hell is a doctrine that is sobering and shocking to contemplate. And one which begs for an urgent response. We can no longer neglect the teaching of hell, nor can we afford to mistakenly assign God's pleasure to the torturing of his creation. Let the message of hope and salvation overcome our hesitancy to proclaim the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

(For more information on Clark Pinnock.)

Hell? Yes. - A Reply and Rebuttal

Runalong with Pastor Mark has posted 10 Foundational Principles on the topic of Hell - a much needed reflection to guide our thinking on this touchy subject. I'd like to add a few comments and posit an alternative to his second point (the word rebuttal is used to snag readers who are looking for controversy :-)

First, I agree with Mark that we need to take the whole of scripture as a message from its Author and work to understand it, rather than simply pick and choose the parts we're comfortable with. The topic of hell fits within this framework.

And to rightly understand hell, we need to be clear that God is not capricious with regards to punishment of wrongdoing. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt 25.41), not humans. It is part of his overall plan for justice and mercy, but God first and foremost wants to save us (grace); although he will not force us into heaven (our response to his grace). We can choose to "go to the devil."

Which leads to another good point that Mark makes on why hell and damn are swear words. These words have a reality behind them! That's also why people don't say "Oh, Buddha" but instead use the name of Jesus in a curse - it's because there is no reality in Buddha. Same with the English phrase "bloody" - it's a swear word because we're talking about the power of Christ's blood to save us.

Now to the rebuttal. One point where Pastor Mark might want to rethink his position a bit would be his rejection of an "expiration clause." He writes: "2. Hell, like heaven, has no expiration clause. The same words are used to describe the duration of torment in hell as are used to describe the duration of bliss in heaven. Eternal, everlasting, never-ending, you get the point. Matthew 25:46 is typical."

While words like eternal and everlasting are used, it is also clear from a plain reading of these texts and others (eg 2 Thess 4:9) that those who rebel against God are destroyed. The terrible reality is that people will be cut off from God forever. It's eternal punishment in that it is a permanent judgment, not an ongoing physical punishment that lasts forever.

To hold that humans will suffer consciously for an eternity is to assume the indestructability of the soul and most likely reads into the scripture a worldview or philosophy that isn't there. That is, the immortality of the soul is not a biblical concept.

A fairly plain reading of scripture indicates that eternal life is a gift - not an ontologically inherent state of being. Adam and Eve were potentially immortal, not necessarily so. (See God's concern that they would eat of the Tree of Life after eating of the Tree of Knowledge - Gen 3:22)

So, while believers are granted eternal life with God (note that we can enter eternal life today!), the wicked are destroyed and will be cut off from God for eternity. Hell is indeed a terrible fate. One that needs to be preached and proclaimed. And joyfully declared defeated in Jesus Christ for those who respond to his salvation.

Thanks for your thoughts, comments, and reflections/rebuttals.
Lyndon

Some 'Nocturnal Theology' by poetic subversion too

T. M. Gagnon has some early morning musings at his blog on the various "causes" of suffering and concludes that some forms of suffering (a la discipline) is from God and should be endured, like Christ, because of the joy set before us - the resurrection life!

While some make a necessary connection between suffering and evil, T.M. points out that that is not always the case, as evil produces no real pleasure (if I'm reading him right), while chastisement does.

Mr. Gagnon doesn't address another mistaken connection Christians make...and that is that discipline and punishment are NOT the same. We know that Christ took the penalty for our sin once and for all on the cross. Thus, while discipline can be severe and from the Lord, it is not penal in nature. We might well remember this in light of the various musings about natural disasters and God's wrath. I do not believe we are seeing God's direct punishment on our nation, despite all the talk from the "radical right wing conspiracy" (joke).

Thanks, Tyler, for either waking up early or staying up late to give us your nocturnal theological reflections. For a good read, visit the link.

An Umpire's View

Heard about how three umpires called strikes based on their different worldviews.

Which statement reflects your perspective?

• The pre-modern umpire says, "I call 'em as they are!"
• The modern umpire says, "I call 'em as I see 'em!"
• The postmodern umpire says, "They ain't nothin' 'till I call 'em!"

I think I know what my answer is supposed to be, but it wasn't my first response. That's because I've probably been influenced by the culture of my upbringing more than I'd care to admit. We all have.

I grew up in the transition between modernity and what has come to be called postmodernism. We may still be in that transition. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Modernism trusted in its own rationalism to the exclusion of experience and mystery, hallmarks of the emerging worldview, and a longing for many.

Good news is, the life we have in Christ speaks to this yearning. Engaging postmoderns, however, requires an honest and humble recognition of the tension between mystery and information, hope and skepticism, confidence and doubt and truth and relativism.

These dualities are dealt with in just such a manner in a recent book by Craig Loscalzo. Apologetic Preaching - Proclaiming Christ to a Postmodern World (IVP) isn't just a book for preachers. It's a helpful guide on understanding our current context and how we might lovingly communicate the message of Jesus to others.

The strength of this book is that it is accessible to those who are not familiar with the philosophical and historical issues behind the Enlightment (modernity) and what is now called postmodernity. A good primer and practical guide for believers who want to understand and participate in the changes going on around them.

Although Loscalzo hits a foul ball or two, he does connect for a hit - not quite a home run, but a solid triple. You may disagree, but then, I simply call 'em the way I see 'em.

American Baptist Exodus

It saddens me to share this information, but in order for me to ask you to pray you need to know a bit of our struggle. Our denomination (The American Baptist Churches, USA) is finally starting to splinter and collapse. I didn't want to see it happen, but I must stand with Biblical Authority and side with the Pacific Southwest Region, which is pulling away from the ABC.

Here's a bit of the press release at ChristianityToday.com (see link below):

The Pacific Southwest region of the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) has begun defecting in the largest church exodus from any denomination over the presenting issue of homosexuality. Underlying issues, according to leaders, include the authority of Scripture and church discipline....

The ABCUSA officially states that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." However, gay-affirming congregations remain affiliated with the denomination. When conservative regions have disfellowshiped such congregations, those congregations have simply affiliated with a more liberal ABCUSA region.

Why this is a sad time for me is that I helped form a renewal movement in the ABC 13 years ago. We've met, we've implored, we've tried to implement change. But we've not fulfilled our mission. We suspected that one day we would see the demise of our denomination. And now, that day is upon us.

Continue to pray for the many, many evangelical churches in the ABC that remain faithful to the Gospel but are confused about the underlying issues. Some denominational leaders paint this as an issue of power and divisiveness, wheras it truly is a matter of scriptural authority. Will we remain faithful to the whole counsel of God or not?