Is Christianity rational?

Over at Pyro, Dan Phillips weighs in with a provocative post about the rationality of Christianity. He distinguishes between rationalism and rationality, a helpful distinctive, for his case that, “If it isn’t rational, it isn’t Christianity.”

I deeply appreciate Pyro’s web ministry and apologetics, its attempt to reconnect intellect with faith and challenge us all to be biblically-grounded in our thinking. The one thing that I might add to his post is a simple caveat: If it is rational, it may not be Christianity. You see, we live in a world where spiritual powers and principalities govern world systems. Political, social, and cultural structures are inhabited and infested not only by folks like you and me – you know, the kind that tend to screw up everything we touch – but also by demonic beings who seek to twist, pervert, and destroy all that God intends for creation and people.

There are many rational things that are simply not Christian. What I mean is that if it makes sense, it doesn’t always mean that it’s of God. Rather, sometimes our common sense is the enemy of our faith walk. It didn’t make much sense for Abraham to lift the knife over Isaac, but he did- in faith.

Paul asked for prayer so “that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6.19) Elsewhere, in Colossians 1.27, the mystery is described as “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” I’m not disputing Dan’s post, but I siimply prefer not to have a God that I can completely explain. I’m the creature, after all. Does God make sense? Yes. But there are still things about God that I will never know.

That’s all I’m saying.

BTW, Pyro has got to have the most cohesive and seamless graphic mix that I’ve seen on a blog. If you’ve never stopped by, you ought to do so just for the eye candy.

Introducing…. MonticelloLive

I hinted the other day that something else was coming in addition to buyitfinditsellit.com, and here ’tis!

MonticelloLive.com

I’ve developed MonticelloLive to be a one-stop site for community news, information, connnections, fun, and commerce. I am excited about its ability to network Monticello and southeast Arkansas.

I’d sure appreciate the help spreading the word – especially to business owners. ML will be selling advertising to businesses who see this opportunity as being a greater way to reach existing and potential customers than other forms of advertising.

I’m also looking for folks to help collect news, disseminate information and contribute to MonticelloLive so that it will truly be live. Let me know if you’d be interested in helping in one way or another.

Microsoft Rep visits Dilbert…

Blogged with Flock

Scandalous church

Just finished reading The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience by Ron Sider. It’s definitely not a warm fuzzy. In fact, the first chapter pretty much wanted to make me go bang my toe with a hammer.

In it, Sider decries the fact that in poll after poll, researchers are discovering that the behavior of those claiming to be Christian in America is no different from those outside the church. In the areas of divorce, materialism and the poor, sexual misconduct, racism, and physical abuse in marriage (need we go further?), he cites results that show no significant statistical differences between nominal Christians and larger society. Ouch. In fact, in the Bible Belt some of the statistics were actually higher among “Christians.”

Sider then proceeds to offer a brief account of the church’s fall from grace in the past 200 years and gives some beginning thoughts on how to counter the disconcerting compromise of the church with the world.

Some of his conclusions are:

• Recover a biblical worldview
• Practice loving, consistent church discipline
• Embrace salvation of the soul and the body
• Reject privatized, individualistic faith that excludes accountability to the church and society
• Engage in deeply loving, authentic relationships with other Christians rather than superficial ones
• Work hard to establish new social structures that will meet practical needs in societies and communities

It’s a short, quick read that will result in a long, hard think.

Why I’m not a Hog fan

This entry could also be titled, "Why Houston Nutt must go." Let’s just say this… completely predictable offensive game calling. Since 1997, Arkansas fans have defended Nutt, but it’s just nuts to continue.

I quit watching the game this evening when it was still 3-0. Approximately 1 minute later, USC scored to make it 10-0. I predict another humiliating defeat, in spite of excellent defensive play by the Hogs in the first quarter.

To all AD’s out there who haven’t ever watched a game film… here’s what Houston will call. Run. Run. Predicatable pass pattern on third down. Next offensive series. Run. Run. Predictable pass pattern on third down.

I’m so tired of Arkansas football. Honestly. I would love to be proven wrong, but in the past 38 years of my life, I’ve not been. Sure, there are a few great games each season. I won’t argue with that. But the Hogs have not/can not/will not seal the deal.

I’ve said for the past several years that they desperately need to hire an offensive coordinator, but Nutt remains at the helm. Of course, so does Frank Broyles, the titanic personality behind Arkansas sports. Broyles has served since 1974 as Arkansas’ AD, and in my uninformed opinion (along with every other Razorback fan) may be the continued cause of multiple Hog sports shipwrecks. His personality and ego are just too big for any other ship in the sea to maneuver. If Nutt would just admit his own inept offensive intuition, he might have a chance to go down in history as a great coach. As it is, he’s just a great guy, but only a good coach. He has an overall win-percentage of 58.8% as Arkansas’ head coach, and that alone will not earn you a spot in anyone’s top 20 polls at the end of the season.

If it’s just about money, then keep him. The UofA continues to rake in an alarming amount of money from Razorback paraphernalia – enough to justify Nutt’s annual $1.5 million contract. I imagine there are several profs at the UofA making a far greater impact into students’ lives, but in our American upside-down prioritized culture, we’d rather reward inanity than intellect. (Ooooo. I know I’m gonna get some nasty comments after this.)

So anyway… here I am, a little cooled-off now. I’m actually disappointed in myself for turning on the TV to begin with. Whew. I feel better. For the rest of you Hog fans who will discover this later and be incensed… a simple question… was it worth watching?

Houston, we have a problem. It’s you. Hire an offensive coordinator with intuitive feel for the game of football or move on.

Related posts:

Houston Nutt fired…

57% at the Arkansas Traveler say Nutt should be fired… (no, I haven’t voted)

From experts.about.com:

Nutt’s teams have also been noted for a series of overtime games
including the two longest overtime games in NCAA history. His teams
have also made several record-setting comebacks which are unusual for
teams that rely primarily on the running game.

Nutt has been
criticized for uninspired play calling and his unwillingness to hire an
offensive coordinator. Many critics point to a poor record versus teams
with winning records and claim that Nutt’s win-loss record is inflated.
They also point to Nutt’s poor bowl record and the fact that several of
his critical wins have been of the "hail Mary" variety.

I say a win’s still a win, but when will we get more wins? Oh, and Coulter/Slaughter, please don’t start singing your favorite worshhip chorus, "Just Wait Til Next Year."

Update:
Karl called me out on my facts already. See the comments. He pointed out that Arkansas has already hired an offensive coordinator this past January…. 8 months ago. Since I’m obviously not a Razorback horn-blower, I missed it. However, the welcome hiring proves my point. Or does it? Guz Malzahn was Mitch Mustain’s head coach at Springdale High School. Looks a little like an attempt at collegiate nepotism to me. Get a lock on the nation’s #1 QB prospect by hiring his head coach. Good move, Houston. Now, if they’d only played him in this game…

iPods anyone?

Early holiday presents for the bargain shopper… I’ve bought six different iPods direct from Apple. All are refurbished and come with Apple’s one-year warranty. No manuals, but they do come with cases and software. The iPod mini’s come with headphones and the nifty plastic belt clip made by Apple. All iPod’s are in mint condition cosmetically. None of them have the USB cords for syncing with your computer and charging, but they’re only a coupla bucks on Ebay (or you can get them at Wal-Mart,.

Here are the models:

• (2) iPod mini’s – These are hot items. They are probably the most durable and well-loved iPod made by Apple. In fact, there’s a huge consumer group pestering Apple to re-release these. Aluminum construction along with a 4gig hard drive make these perfect for just about any music lover. Go here for the specs. I have a green one and a silver one.
• (2) iPod nano’s – Amazing technology packed into a small footprint. With a color screen and a 2gig hard drive, these iPod’s are student favorites, cause they fit unobtrusively into a shirt pocket. I have a black and a white one.
• (2) iPod video’s – With this amazing iPod, you can download TV shows and movies to your iPod! I’ve got the 30gig versions, one black, one white.

Price list:

• iPod mini’s – $190
• iPod nano’s – $180
• iPod video’s – $265

Contact me by email or through comments if you’re interested. Gotta get rid of them! Make me an offer! Heck, you can toodle over here to walmart.com and see what a deal you’re getting on the iPod video’s!

Mental weeding

I am continuing my study of 1 Peter and hope to post a more lengthy commentary on it in the days to come, but today I was stopped dead by one phrase in one verse, 1 Peter 2.6:

The one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.

This is a reference back to Isaiah 28.16 and is referring to Jesus. What caused the full-stop in my churning was a vivid remembrance of a similar imperative. You see, sometime ago (I’d have to go waaay back in some of my journals to discover when) in a time of stress and resulting prayer, I distinctly sensed the Lord saying to me, “Just trust my Son.” It was as if the words were a branding iron on my soul.

At the time, they brought spring-blue-sky clarity to an otherwise morose mind. They were a dynamic attitude adjustment, one that restored simplicity to my walk of faith and my perspective. It is relatively easy for all our faith-walks to be distracted or for us to be discouraged as we attempt to follow a God we cannot see.

In fact, Jesus described the problem profoundly in a parable about the soils. He described what happens to seed that is sown among thorns in Matthew 13.22:

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

What the Lord did for me a while back and again this morning was remind me of truth. I can trust Him. He is worthy of my dependence. He is in control. He is unconcerned about what I let myself be concerned about. Rather, He is concerned about greater things and desires for me to concern myself with them as well. In other words, He wants me to get a grip and get the big picture. To trust Him.

It is simplicity I ought to aim for. There is great detail-shredding and clarity-bringing simplicity in living a life of simple trust.

I was reminded of that again today.

In the reminder, I was reminded that one of the Lord’s greatest ministries to us is that of reminding. So often we let the thorns, or weeds of this life – worries, desires for wealth, etc. – distract us from what truly matters. In John 14, Jesus tells us that one of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to remind us: “But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

This promise was given to the disciples who had spent physical time with Jesus. He promised that He would bring back to their minds what He had told them. It us for us as well, but we first must have heard His words to be reminded of them. It’s another great and holy encouragement for us all to saturate our lives with God’s Word through regular Scripture reading and meditation. How much the Father desires to encourage and renew our hearts but that we have given Him nothing to work with in our minds. There is nothing there to remind us of! The thorns have choked out the seed.

I encourage you today to TRUST THE LORD. Whatever those three simple words mean for you in your time and your place and your circumstances, take them as an urgent promise and cling to them, for your life literally depends on their fulfillment. “You just must trust My Son.”

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3.5-6)