This is one of the things that is roiling around in my life. We think we know the answer, but what if there are indications that perhaps we don’t have as strong a hold on gauging the truth as what we thought? This comes home to us in many ways in modern life. Maybe it was always so through the ages, but not having “been there”, I’m satisfied to just comment on us, today.
I’ve been challenged by God to question some of my basic premises. But instead of delving right into that I want to leave you readers with something to cogitate a bit about. Seth Godin has a book on Marketing that has been repackaged with a new title “All Marketers Are Liars”. In it he deals with how we often operate in terms of what we believe to be true. No wonder he says “I’ve seen this book in campaign headquarters and carried around at evangelical conferences.” Yes, that’s you, Evangelical…. or you, observer of Evangelical. Interesting that we market the gospel, but we market ourselves in this age of ubiquitous new media, so I suppose that is not too hard to grasp.
So, what are the thinking points I’d like for us consider from Godin’s thoughts, for now?
You believe things that aren’t true.
Let me say that a different way: many things that are true are true because you believe them.
…Here’s the first half of the simple summary: We believe what we want to believe, and once we believe something, it becomes a self-fulfilling truth.
…Here’s the second part of the summary: When you are busy telling stories to people who want to hear them, you’ll be tempted to tell stories that just don’t hold up. Lies. Deceptions.
“What’s your story?”
“Will the people who need to hear this story believe it?”
“Is it true?”
…When you find a story that works, live that story, make it true, authentic and subject to scrutiny.”
OK, that is a powerful big bite to chew on.
If I talk about Big T truth, then I am talking about a standard that does not change according to circumstance or what we want to believe about it, but for most of us we rarely operate in the confines of Big T truth (maybe we ought to, more). Most of us are trying to swim or sink inside the truths that are more fluid, like who we are, and what we believe about how we should behave, or how we ought to relate, or even as big as how we ought to live our lives.
Feel free to comment… and I’ll be taking the conversation into what this looks like in my own life and heart right now.
It will take me further down the road of Imposters and Inner Critics, but with a spiritual touring car.
If you want that book by Seth Godin, get it here – but that isn’t the main point of this post.
Rebecca Groothuis
Discerning biblical truth consists of more than stringing together a series of prooftexts. We must encourage Christians to think theologically, systematically, and holistically, asking questions of plain logic, such as, “Does this make sense? Does it cohere?” All truth is God’s truth, and a logical contradiction is not truth.
Exegesis of scripture, discovering an understanding of what God’s message to us means, consists of many aspects of study.
People tend to favor their own methods, but there is a synergistic working together of things that will highlight the truth. In the knottiest of questions I like using an overview approach that I have called “the principle method”. If broken down into its essence I might say this is based on finding God’s revelations of Himself and applying that as a test, or key, to our understanding of the meaning in individual parts of scripture. I would structure this as the pivotal fulcrum between conflicting ideas of scripture’s direction, thus creating a balance of understanding.
And lest anyone think this is a subjective and … by inference… unproven method of arriving at the truth of God’s message I found a very ancient and reliable illustration: the Nicene council and the influential arguments of Athanasius.
In pursuing reading relative to the gender debate within the Church an intriguing avenue opened. Kevin Giles has written a book which connects the issues of how we view the Godhead and how we view male and female interpersonal relationship. Within the first part of the book dealing with views of the Trinity, the Nicene council… and resulting creeds … is prominent. In the debates over doctrines the usual pattern of conflicting scriptures and their individual exegesis evidences do battle. This is a familiar territory for everyone who finds themselves trying to negotiate their way between theological conflicts. Calvinism/ Arminianism… works vs. faith…. cessationism vs continualism…. and here, trinitarianism vs subordinationalism. Too many ism’s don’t you think? Some people just tune it out, it makes their heads swim; others are into their ( dare I say it?) anal element.
But the truth is out there somewhere, and that is what we are aiming toward, it is something worth the time and effort for many of us. Some of us are pearl connoisseurs, looking for that big T Truth. Principles are the stepping stone bridge over the troubled waters of seemingly unresolvable dispute. I think, personally, this is because principles are usually grounded somewhere in the nature of God Himself, as He has revealed Himself. Jesus, in His perfect simplicity stated it this way: I Am the Truth. This is why this method of scripture study works. There is overarching truth, not a multiplicity of it, but there is overarching truth to be found, and it provides structure and parameters for the rest of the understanding.
I think there are several terms that are used for this same concept. At times I have expressed this as “presuppositions”, because to use the principles in discussion, there has to be an agreement that these are indeed true.
Athanasius is quoted as speaking of “the scope of scripture”, “the overall drift”. and “the theological center”1 in forming his concept of “homoousios”. This line of thought resulted in the acceptance of our present ideas of the Trinity as defined and confessed within the Nicene Creed. It is one of the presuppositions that many orthodox Christians work from. Giles, in his book, “The Trinity and Subordinationism The Doctrine of God & the Gender Debate”, submits that we in Evangelical Christianity are reworking the old debate, for self-invested reasons of our own. Although he gives the benefit of the doubt to Evangelicals on the basis that their grasp of history is lacking. He chalks this up directly to the idea that todays Evangelical theologians are vested in their determination to prove the subordination of women, and thus “read back” into the doctrine of the Trinity and threaten to subvert the whole trinitarian doctrine that was previously established as a result of the Nicene council.
What Giles argument here does not do is establish anything concerning the gender debate – that is dealt with later in the book, but he makes a very cogent observation about the blind spots of today’s manner of theology in our own stream of Evangelicalism. And how important it is to not be reactionaries. Using the full connotation of the word.
But what I am saying here concerning “principles” is that this overview is as important to contextual reading as specific textural reading, context on the smaller scale of singular scriptures and even books of the Bible. There is an entirety to the Bible that cannot be ignored, and there are times when we must establish the basic principles and then go on from there. This is Paul’s contention in the book of Hebrews,”not laying again the foundation”. Keep reading →
Most people know that Harvard began as a Puritan institution, and numbers know that the religious origins have been largely left in the dust; but what you might not know is that there seems to be a resurrection of spiritual interest and dialog at this venerable ivy league college.
“Is Christianity All the Rage?” reports that this is effected by “…students watching the screening of the new documentary “Collision.”
The event was hosted by Harvard College Faith and Action in order to stimulate discussion and thoughts about Christianity. ”
One view:
“Harvard needs something like this,” he said, “we have intellect, sport, we don’t have a lot of spiritual stuff, this is a good way to bring that in, or to even start that.”
Taking this out of my sidebar, but wanted to make it available for those who don’t mind viewing a fairly long video that is chock full of illuminating information. We always hear opinions on the economy and little about what is actually being referenced.
Well, this is posted to address that oversight. You’re welcome!
I was always interested in name meanings, perhaps because my own name was an unusual one, but probably because most people think that the meaning of their names holds some interest, or sparks their curiosity to some degree. We are seeking our identity most of our lives, and what is more of an identifier than our personal name?
When my children were conceived, and in some cases before, I had mulled over what I would call them. In some ways it is such a reflection of what the parent imagines or hopes for their child. At times, though the name comes in response to the characteristics in the child. Not in our culture so much, but we, too, adjust matching up meaning through either waiting to choose the name after the birth, or through giving a nickname of some kind.
Most of the time those nicknames or endearments fade into the past, although they are sort of a secret sort of shortcut to the past with those who might call up the “Tommy”, “Lainie”, or “Pokey” [my Dad's nickname because he procrastinated, did things slow but sure]…whatever the nickname might have been.
I always paid attention to the meanings of the names when choosing them for my children, keeping within cultural acceptability and preferably with a spiritual wish, or connotation. I remember choosing the name of one of my sons, Nathanial Michael. he came after a previous miscarriage that was difficult to adjust to. His first name means “gift”, “Gift of God, God has given”. It is actually a verb, with the meaning of being a giver.
Depending on the context the word is translated in these way :
to give, put, set
1. (Qal)
1. to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
2. to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
3. to make, constitute
2. (Niphal)
1. to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
2. to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
3. (Hophal)
1. to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
2. to be put upon
It was the name of a prophet who spoke to King David.
I am reminded of the scripture: James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
That statement declares that a recognition is made of this person, that they are intended to bring good into that family through their lives.
The second name, Michael, is the name of the archangel who in the book of Daniel is designated as the angel over the particula matters of the Hebrew people.
It is a given name that comes from the Hebrew:(Mikha’el), meaning “Who is like God?” which asks a rhetorical question. To be named ‘Michael’ is a constant reminder that no one else is like God, that He is holy, and alone to be worshiped.
So the combination of the two names creates a statement that God gave this life to be a giver of truth, and a testimony to the fact that there is no other god than the Lord God, alone.
I have a story for each one of my children, and I try to remember their unique destinies including the hints of them before there were any lines written on the pages of their lives.
I read a blog where I wasn’t expecting so much keen insight on the Health Care Issue… but here it is, Cindy’s opinion.
She had twelve very thoughtful points- here are a few:
4. Insurance companies need to stop putting conditions on what they will and will not cover. If they will pay for one well visit a year great. I HATE the fact that our insurance will only pay for a dietitian IF someone has been diagnosed with diabetes. Not for a person who’s prediabetic. HUH???
11. It’s not really the fact that I’d be against universal coverage if it really was universal. I am afraid that it will end up being a welfare supplement and I will be excluded because of my finances. It seems I always make too much money to qualify for any type of services.
12. The government has a way of goofing up a lot of well intentioned things. I do not want them running our health care system though I would appreciate more oversight pertaining to some issues I have discussed above. The way they run medicare and medicaid is going to make them run out of money. They need a better strategy.
Today’s world is trying to walk a fine balance. We are trying to keep our civilized noses above water in the inundations of clashes between cultures, religions, and races. What is at stake is the hard won tolerance, true tolerance of diverse heritages and backgrounds, as well as appreciation of the human race as a whole. Evil takes its advantages wherever it can find them, however.
Once we came to a place in society where racial bigotry was seen as the insidious thing that it was, we entered a very short period of greater opportunity and equality… but as clamps came down to methodologize and legislate increasingly tight terms of behavior it has led to today’s hodgepodge world of trashed justice. We might be trying our best, but we are failing miserably. LaShawn Barber is well known for her posts pointing this out. But as politicking goes, the problem with trying to approach these problems of racial acceptance with mostly pressure tactics is leaving us in a situation of vulnerability to losing all the good and a freefall into gang mentality. If not actual gangs.
Our compassion without structured restraints of a society’s adherence to strong moral standards is leaving us in a vise grip of increased authority to corral increased advantages taken by the immoral. Without a core of strong moral standards in between it propels society into either chaos or tyrannical laws and leaders.
A free society has a lot to lose in this scenario.
I loved my old theme “Coldstone”, and I hope to be able to bring it back, but in upgrading things I somehow ran into too many snafus and it just wouldn’t work. So we are back to “Cutline” or something else as soon as I can get things to work for me.
My personal life has been busy, and a bit distracted. My husband and I have finally made updated wills… after twenty five years or so, it was time. Life is full of such business, and my mind is more given to creative ponderings and play. The intersection of organizational and business demands with the free spirit mindset is not a pretty thing! Tinkerbell meets Brave New World or something like that.
Well…. I hope to get that site in order and then actually write. And I have housecleaning to do, and teaching, and I really ought to fix a balanced meal or two. Well, you might get the picture. Or maybe not, because I haven’t included the garden chores of fall, the teen social schedule, the holiday preparations, the years of accumulated clutter that are STILL in need of addressing, old business come due. I think half the busyness of our lives has to do with the lack of expected tasks of seasons and the fragmentation of our society. The “woman’s work is never done” did not go away, it merely took on the overlay of meeting all sorts of work demands that were created by the “man’s world” of yesterday.
Yes, you can argue all you want about my non-PC language… but today’s woman has to wade through enormous amounts of clamor for her time and requirements of her energies and resources. It isn’t that women can’t do that, but how taxing it all is. Sidestepping is one of the little known abilities that become necessary.
Shame, that.
Sorry…just meant to alert any readers that the theme template changed out of …such necessity. Back to our regular programming ASAP.
