Success means...

"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative" --Oscar Wilde

Often an argument for continuing to do something the way it has been done, is to point to successes from it, or even positive results that are assumed would not be gotten otherwise. Fallacy. We don't live in a closed system; positive results are not necessarily the result of a good model, but rather a merciful God. He will bring order to our chaos, and accomplish His purposes anyway, but that does not mean our way is necessarily correct. I would almost think we have a creative mandate to continue to innovate and never settle for what we think is good enough. God is not falsifiable...

Growing up "Christian"

There are a plethora of benefits and joys to growing up in a Christian environment and being saturated in the Word. I am also realizing a downside--or rather a consequence.There is so much that I take for granted, that I find I don't understand some of the basics. I can talk about them, probably debate them, back it up with Scripture--but I don't really understand. Case in point? The Cross. Reading tonight in J.I. Packer's Concise Theology, and he had this to say about God's goodness:

"The supreme expression of God's goodness is still, however, the amazing grace and inexpressible love that shows kindness by saving sinners who deserve only condemnation: saving them, moreover, at the tremendous cost of Christ's death on Calvary."

Hearkening back to the earlier post on the necessity of recalling--and repenting of--the fall, I really don't get the cross. I understand it to some extent, but it really fails to sink down in to my soul. I don't even begin to comprehend or appreciate the gravity of who I was, God's love, and Christ's sacrifice. I am living post-cross, and so don't understand life before a realized Savior; I am saturated with sin, and so don't understand perfect holiness; I am so completely selfish, that I can't understand selfless love--and so perpetually take these for granted.

Its impossible to understand or appreciate grace when we don't understand the fall. How can His love make sense, when I see my self as so lovable? I see sin, and I still don't get grace. Hmm...come to think of it, Dr. Held spoke in chapel on that very topic. Maybe I am not alone... I think I should listen to this.

I believe in Karma...

Listening to a song on my 45 min drive home from work today (I know, I should have been listening on one of Dad's sermons or something!) Despite my carnal choice, the opening line from the chorus sparked some interesting thought. "I believe in Karma, what you give is what you get returned." Started thinking about karma, and more generically, actions having consequences. Seems God has arranged His world in such a way that that is generally true. We can't comprehend anything else but cause-and-effect, because we have no reference for anything else (and indeed this may be all there is). Now there are exceptions to this rule everyday, and of course true belief in karma is nonsense, but we do well to remember the consequences for our actions.

In fact, this is key to understanding, or at least appreciating His grace. Realizing that we are not only saved from the power of sin--no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to Christ--we are also saved from the eternal consequences of sin--for the wages of sin is death. Not only is this grace manifested in our eternal salvation, but also in our earthly life. He does not see our sin, but rather Christ's righteousness. This is yet another reason why punishment is a vital part of parenting. If you teach a child right from wrong, and he learns what is supposed to happen when he sins, then he will be able to understand, or at least better feel the weight of God's grace, when he is not punished as he deserves.

But I suppose I don't really believe in karma...

Reflections from Hebrews 1

An weighty chapter from a weighty book...

The writer begins by describing Christ, showing how He is superior to the prophets and angels. In vs. 3 he says this, "He upholds the universe by the word of His power." . What an incredible statement! He already mentions in vs. 2 how through Him all things were created, but this goes beyond that. He not only created it, He keeps it running. God the Sustainer.

I don't think about creation that much--at least the initial act of it. Even less the continuing sustaining of it. I think it is in man's nature to take things for granted, our continued existence notwithstanding. Just think about that for a moment, let it sink in. All that we see and experience continues to exist because of Christ's sustaining work. I'm no Greek scholar, but the English word "uphold" doesn't seem to me to be a passive word. He didn't set it up and then watches, He actively ensuring that it (the universe--all that exists) continues to function as He pleases. And we go right on with our lives not even thinking about it.

I immediately see many theological implications in this statement, and all that the writer says about Christ, but for now, just meditate on Christ the Sustainer of All. He is truly awe-some.