I just finished reading The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis for the second time. I enjoyed reading it both times and even more the second. Here are the closing words to the last chapter:
The kind of explanation which explains things away may give us something, though at a heavy cost. But you cannot go on 'explaining away' for ever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on 'seeing through' things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Slovenliness of Our Language
Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the
English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we
cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is
decadent, and our language--so the argument runs--must inevitably share
in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse
of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to
electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the
half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an
instrument which we shape for our own purposes.
Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have
political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence
of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause,
reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an
intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because
he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely
because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the
English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are
foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to
have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible.
Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which
spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take
the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more
clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political
regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and
is not the exclusive concern of professional writers.
- George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, 1946
English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we
cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is
decadent, and our language--so the argument runs--must inevitably share
in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse
of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to
electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the
half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an
instrument which we shape for our own purposes.
Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have
political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence
of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause,
reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an
intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because
he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely
because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the
English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are
foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to
have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible.
Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which
spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take
the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more
clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political
regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and
is not the exclusive concern of professional writers.
- George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, 1946
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Dostoevsky on Beauty and Happiness
"The horror of it is that beauty is not only a terrifying thing - it
is also a mysterious one. In it the Devil struggles with God, and the
field of battle is the hearts of men."
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Part I, Book III: Voluptuaries, Chapter 3: The Confessions of an Ardent Heart. In Verse
is also a mysterious one. In it the Devil struggles with God, and the
field of battle is the hearts of men."
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Part I, Book III: Voluptuaries, Chapter 3: The Confessions of an Ardent Heart. In Verse
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, Part I,
Book II: An Unfortunate Gathering, Chapter 4: A Lady of Little Faith
Possessor
The Hebrew word "ba'al" means master or possessor. Ba'al worship was often in contention with Yahweh throughout Israel's history.
When a rich ruler inquired about eternal life, Jesus mentions the commandments then He tells him to sell his possessions:
"He said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'” (Luke 18:22)
When talking to His disciples, Jesus says, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor." (Luke 12:32)
The good Samaritan gave away his possessions, to include his time, oil, wine, transportation, housing and money to help his naked, beaten and needy neighbor:
"A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'" (Luke 10:33-35)
The early Church was quite selfless with their possessions:
"No one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Acts 4:32)
In Canto VII of the Divine Comedy, the fourth circle of Hell was reserved for the avaricious and prodigal. Dante observes as each group pushed weights opposite directions in a ringed ditch until crashing into each other, turning around and repeating the process for eternity:
"They clashed together, and then at that point
Each one turned backward, rolling retrograde,
Crying, 'Why keepest?' and, 'Why squanderest thou?'"
Even the nature of color and light can teach us something about possessions. With light, black absorbs all colors and white reflects all colors. White is selfless, giving away all colors and it is seen as white. Black hoards all colors. It possesses. It is a selfish thing. And it is black.
The Christmas season and spirit of giving that accompanies this time of year is upon us. I think this is good, but it should be a year round lifestyle for those who claim the name of Christ. There is a common thread that runs throughout all of the things mentioned above and it is selflessness and a spirit of giving. Jesus said, that He had come to give us life and to give it abundantly, but first we have to give away our lives. "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me." (Matthew 25:40)
When a rich ruler inquired about eternal life, Jesus mentions the commandments then He tells him to sell his possessions:
"He said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'” (Luke 18:22)
When talking to His disciples, Jesus says, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor." (Luke 12:32)
The good Samaritan gave away his possessions, to include his time, oil, wine, transportation, housing and money to help his naked, beaten and needy neighbor:
"A Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'" (Luke 10:33-35)
The early Church was quite selfless with their possessions:
"No one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Acts 4:32)
In Canto VII of the Divine Comedy, the fourth circle of Hell was reserved for the avaricious and prodigal. Dante observes as each group pushed weights opposite directions in a ringed ditch until crashing into each other, turning around and repeating the process for eternity:
"They clashed together, and then at that point
Each one turned backward, rolling retrograde,
Crying, 'Why keepest?' and, 'Why squanderest thou?'"
Even the nature of color and light can teach us something about possessions. With light, black absorbs all colors and white reflects all colors. White is selfless, giving away all colors and it is seen as white. Black hoards all colors. It possesses. It is a selfish thing. And it is black.
The Christmas season and spirit of giving that accompanies this time of year is upon us. I think this is good, but it should be a year round lifestyle for those who claim the name of Christ. There is a common thread that runs throughout all of the things mentioned above and it is selflessness and a spirit of giving. Jesus said, that He had come to give us life and to give it abundantly, but first we have to give away our lives. "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me." (Matthew 25:40)
Tocqueville's Prophecy
In 1840, the second volume of Democracy in America was published. The following is Tocqueville's vision of soft despotism that could take hold in America.
"I want to imagine with what new features despotism could be produced in the world: I see an innumerable crowd of like and equal men who revolve on themselves without repose, procuring the small and vulgar pleasures with which they fill their souls. Each of them, withdrawn and apart, is like a stranger to the destiny of all the others: his children and his particular friends form the whole human species for him; as for dwelling with his fellow citizens, he is beside them, but he does not see them; he touches them and does not feel them; he exists only in himself and for himself alone, and if a family still remains for him, one can at least say that he no longer has a native country.
Above these an immense tutelary power is elevated, which alone takes charge of assuring their enjoyments and watching over their fate. It is absolute, detailed, regular, far-seeing, and mild. It would resemble paternal power if, like that, it had for its object to prepare men for manhood; but on the contrary it seeks only to keep them fixed irrevocably in childhood; it likes citizens to enjoy themselves. It willingly works for their happiness; but it wants to be the unique agent and sole arbiter of that; it provides for their security, foresees and secures their needs, facilitates their pleasures, conducts their principal affairs, directs their industry, regulates their estates, divides their inheritances; can it not take away from them entirely the trouble of thinking and the pain of living?"
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Volume II, Part 4, Chapter VI: What Kind of Despotism Democratic Nations Have to Fear
"I want to imagine with what new features despotism could be produced in the world: I see an innumerable crowd of like and equal men who revolve on themselves without repose, procuring the small and vulgar pleasures with which they fill their souls. Each of them, withdrawn and apart, is like a stranger to the destiny of all the others: his children and his particular friends form the whole human species for him; as for dwelling with his fellow citizens, he is beside them, but he does not see them; he touches them and does not feel them; he exists only in himself and for himself alone, and if a family still remains for him, one can at least say that he no longer has a native country.
Above these an immense tutelary power is elevated, which alone takes charge of assuring their enjoyments and watching over their fate. It is absolute, detailed, regular, far-seeing, and mild. It would resemble paternal power if, like that, it had for its object to prepare men for manhood; but on the contrary it seeks only to keep them fixed irrevocably in childhood; it likes citizens to enjoy themselves. It willingly works for their happiness; but it wants to be the unique agent and sole arbiter of that; it provides for their security, foresees and secures their needs, facilitates their pleasures, conducts their principal affairs, directs their industry, regulates their estates, divides their inheritances; can it not take away from them entirely the trouble of thinking and the pain of living?"
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Volume II, Part 4, Chapter VI: What Kind of Despotism Democratic Nations Have to Fear
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Music
I don't pay attention to the lyrics. I just like the beat. Disregard the propagation of sexual licentiousness, rebellion, disorder, vanity, promiscuity, drunkenness, and anything else that is contrary to beauty, truth, holiness and God glorification. I like the beat! This embodies the mindset most have with respect to music selection. In The Republic, Socrates discusses at length the power of music and its affect on those who listen, specifically its ability to influence politics. Plato, Socrates' student, observes the folly of disregarding right and wrong in music.
"Through foolishness they, the people, deceived themselves into
thinking that there was no right or wrong in music, that it was to be
judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave, as it was, the criterion
was not music, but a reputation for promiscuous cleverness and a
spirit of law-breaking." (Plato, The Laws, Book III)
Athens observes this spirit of law-breaking as a result of music, but Jerusalem gives an account of this happening as a precursor to music. In Genesis, Cain killed Abel, the first recorded act of violence. Lamech followed as his progeny, who was the first to take two wives, the first recorded act of sexual immorality. Lamech had a son named Jubal who "was the father of all who play the harp and flute." (Genesis 4:23-24) This is the first time music is mentioned in history.
This is not to say that music is evil. Music is not inherently evil or inherently good. It is a neutral medium that can be used for evil or good. Music is to glorify God and that is its proper function. Its propensity for evil is strong in this crooked and depraved generation, so be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves when making your music selection. (Matthew 10:16)
The most powerful example of good music, that I have been part of, is when the audience stands in one accord during the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel's Messiah. God is glorified in such music.
"Through foolishness they, the people, deceived themselves into
thinking that there was no right or wrong in music, that it was to be
judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave, as it was, the criterion
was not music, but a reputation for promiscuous cleverness and a
spirit of law-breaking." (Plato, The Laws, Book III)
Athens observes this spirit of law-breaking as a result of music, but Jerusalem gives an account of this happening as a precursor to music. In Genesis, Cain killed Abel, the first recorded act of violence. Lamech followed as his progeny, who was the first to take two wives, the first recorded act of sexual immorality. Lamech had a son named Jubal who "was the father of all who play the harp and flute." (Genesis 4:23-24) This is the first time music is mentioned in history.
This is not to say that music is evil. Music is not inherently evil or inherently good. It is a neutral medium that can be used for evil or good. Music is to glorify God and that is its proper function. Its propensity for evil is strong in this crooked and depraved generation, so be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves when making your music selection. (Matthew 10:16)
The most powerful example of good music, that I have been part of, is when the audience stands in one accord during the Hallelujah Chorus of Handel's Messiah. God is glorified in such music.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Patriotism And Reasons Why
John Adams wrote that a patriot must be a "religious man." The Christian's faith calls him to civic duty - knowing the needs of neighbors and meeting them, demonstrating faith with works of charity. The Christian patriot, after all, spends more time washing feet than waving flags. And in flags he sees symbols, not of military or economic might, but of the common good of the specific people a sovereign God has given him to serve. That's patriotism in its place, a patriotism worth singing about - and even dying for. (Charles Colson, The God of Stones and Spiders, Ch. 39: On Waving Flags and Washing Feet)
I have had a very difficult time answering people why I joined the Marine Corps. Not because there is nothing to say, but because there is so much to say. There are many factors that go into that decision. And in a world of attention spans that last as long as the average marriage, I've had to answer as concisely as possible. The shortest answer is love. A slightly more elaborate answer is that I am a follower of Christ. As such, I have become a servant to all. In the Marine Corps, I can serve the entire country, and as an officer I can serve Marines, too.
I've also been asked, "why fight and possibly die for a corrupt and sinful country?" To which I reply, "Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
I have had a very difficult time answering people why I joined the Marine Corps. Not because there is nothing to say, but because there is so much to say. There are many factors that go into that decision. And in a world of attention spans that last as long as the average marriage, I've had to answer as concisely as possible. The shortest answer is love. A slightly more elaborate answer is that I am a follower of Christ. As such, I have become a servant to all. In the Marine Corps, I can serve the entire country, and as an officer I can serve Marines, too.
I've also been asked, "why fight and possibly die for a corrupt and sinful country?" To which I reply, "Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Why Feller of Trees?
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13)
Judges 6-9 is the account of God choosing Gideon, son of Joash, to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon's first task: cut down the Asherah poles and destroy the Baals that his father had erected. Deuteronomy 16:21 states, "You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God". The Baals and the Asherahs, strictly forbidden by Yahweh, had been erected by the Israelites in the places of worship. The first step to delivering the land from tyranny of the enemy was to end the evil practices in the places of worship. The regeneration of Israel hinged on the restoration of proper worship during a time of widely accepted improper worship. The sinful rebellion was so widely accepted by God's people that they wanted to kill Gideon after he had cut down the Asherah and Baal.
"So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal's alter, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrficed on the newly built alter! They asked each other, "Who did this?" When they carefully investigated, they were told, 'Gideon son of Joash did it.' The people of the town demanded of Joash, 'Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.' But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, 'Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning!" (Judges 6:27-31)
In America, we have been or are in the process of being taken over by our enemies on multiple fronts. The political landscape is falling apart and the culture is crumbling. Culture is defined by the "cult" or common set of beliefs and worship. In other words, culture is defined by the Church. The Church permeates into culture. Culture permeates into politics. There has been a fundamental breakdown and it all stems back to improper worship in the Church.
The remedy: Christ. He is our salvation. The first step: removing the Baals and Asherahs from the places of worship even in opposition from God's own people. What are our Baals and Asherahs? They take form in our disregard to Christ's words, just like Israel had disregarded God's words. Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3, I Corinthians 7:39, Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 are no longer acknowledged. Even a cursory look at these principles will testify to the fact that unrepentant adultery is clearly our improper worship. For adultery is not only allowed in the places of worship, it is propagated as righteousness and defended tenaciously. Matthew 18:15-18, a process of confronting a brother in sin, exhorting him to repentance, and resulting in ex-communication for the unrepentant, is the first step to cutting down the Baals and Asherahs. I Corinthians 5:9-13, II Thessalonians 3:6,14, I Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:11 and 3:10, 2 John 1:10-11, I Corinthians 5:2,6-7, II Timothy 3:5, and Ephesians 5:3,7 reinforce Christ's command regarding unrepentant believers and would demolish the Baals and the Asherahs if practiced. Obedience to Him in worship will result in regeneration on all levels.
Gideon means feller of trees. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 7:19)
Judges 6-9 is the account of God choosing Gideon, son of Joash, to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. Gideon's first task: cut down the Asherah poles and destroy the Baals that his father had erected. Deuteronomy 16:21 states, "You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God". The Baals and the Asherahs, strictly forbidden by Yahweh, had been erected by the Israelites in the places of worship. The first step to delivering the land from tyranny of the enemy was to end the evil practices in the places of worship. The regeneration of Israel hinged on the restoration of proper worship during a time of widely accepted improper worship. The sinful rebellion was so widely accepted by God's people that they wanted to kill Gideon after he had cut down the Asherah and Baal.
"So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime. In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal's alter, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrficed on the newly built alter! They asked each other, "Who did this?" When they carefully investigated, they were told, 'Gideon son of Joash did it.' The people of the town demanded of Joash, 'Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.' But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, 'Are you going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning!" (Judges 6:27-31)
In America, we have been or are in the process of being taken over by our enemies on multiple fronts. The political landscape is falling apart and the culture is crumbling. Culture is defined by the "cult" or common set of beliefs and worship. In other words, culture is defined by the Church. The Church permeates into culture. Culture permeates into politics. There has been a fundamental breakdown and it all stems back to improper worship in the Church.
The remedy: Christ. He is our salvation. The first step: removing the Baals and Asherahs from the places of worship even in opposition from God's own people. What are our Baals and Asherahs? They take form in our disregard to Christ's words, just like Israel had disregarded God's words. Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3, I Corinthians 7:39, Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 are no longer acknowledged. Even a cursory look at these principles will testify to the fact that unrepentant adultery is clearly our improper worship. For adultery is not only allowed in the places of worship, it is propagated as righteousness and defended tenaciously. Matthew 18:15-18, a process of confronting a brother in sin, exhorting him to repentance, and resulting in ex-communication for the unrepentant, is the first step to cutting down the Baals and Asherahs. I Corinthians 5:9-13, II Thessalonians 3:6,14, I Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:11 and 3:10, 2 John 1:10-11, I Corinthians 5:2,6-7, II Timothy 3:5, and Ephesians 5:3,7 reinforce Christ's command regarding unrepentant believers and would demolish the Baals and the Asherahs if practiced. Obedience to Him in worship will result in regeneration on all levels.
Gideon means feller of trees. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 7:19)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tocqueville on War and Democracy
"There are two things that a democratic people will always find very difficult, to begin a war and to end it."
"No protracted war can fail to endanger the freedom of a democratic country."
"All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and the shortest means to accomplish it."
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Book II, Chapter XXII, Why Democratic Nations Naturally Desire Peace, And Democratic Armies, War
Churchill on Education
"This is an age of machinery and specialisation but I hope, none the less - indeed all the more - that the purely vocational aspect of university study will not be allowed to dominate or monopolise all the attention of the returned Service men. Engines were made for men, not men for engines. Mr. Gladstone said many years ago that it ought to be part of a man's religion to see that his country is well governed. Knowledge of the past is the only foundation we have from which to peer into and try to measure the future. Expert knowledge, however indispensable, is no substitute for a generous and comprehending outlook upon the human story with all its sadness and with all its unquenchable hope."
- Winston Churchill, University of Miami Speech, Education, 1946
- Winston Churchill, University of Miami Speech, Education, 1946
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Running About With Fire Extinguishers
Grace, grace, grace...tends to be the fashionable outcry of popular Christianity. Walk into any church and the message will more than likely be on God's grace. There will be grace peppered into every song, grace will be the title of the sermon, and "Grace" will probably be in the name of the church somewhere. It is not unfashionable or offensive to speak of grace. Turn the radio to the Christian station and you will hear Matthew West singing, "There's only grace. There's only love. There's only mercy and believe me it's enough". Or you will hear Pocket Full of Rocks' opening lyrics, "He's not mad at you. He's not disappointed. His grace is greater still". Afterwards, the radio hosts will make no qualms about proclaiming the grace of God and the grace Christians should have to each other. Grace is well spoken of and touted as wonderful, beautiful, and often leaving those who experience it in awe. These are all good and true things. The problem arises when this virtue is emphasized to the point of crowding out all other Biblical virtues, thus leaving the the Church ill-equipped to guard against the vices to which it is prone.
In C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, the veteran demon, Screwtape, discusses how the spiritual forces of darkness attempt to direct the popular thoughts of humans:
"The use of Fashions in thought is to distract the attention
of men from their real dangers. We direct the fashionable outcry of
each generation against those vices of which it is least in danger and
fix its approval on the virtue nearest to that vice which we are
trying to make endemic. The game is to have them all running about
with fire extinguishers whenever there is a flood, and all crowding to
that side of the boat which is already nearly gunwale under."
The vice which is endemic in the Church today is lawlessness and licentiousness. The fashionable outcry is grace. The virtue of grace has been approved to the point of proclaiming obedience and repentance an arduous endeavor for those who dare. It may be difficult to find a sermon overtly co-opting grace as a means to continue in sin because the perversion is usually more subtle, but the message is still conveyed through the incessant focus on grace, elementarily understood. This, coupled with the lack of exhortations to repentance and obedience, nearly puts the ship's gunwale under. The hearers ingest the grace message as milk rather than solid foods because grace is not just the realization that you have been given something you do not deserve, but it brings you into repentance and obedience as well. Do you not know that "God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" (Romans 2:4).
God sent His son to die for the sins of mankind, an act of grace. Yet, the very first words out of Christ's mouth initiating His ministry were, "The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). And His appeals to obedience were not unusual, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:5), "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21) or "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). God is not as one-dimensional as the fashions in thought propagate. Obedience pleases God. "For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice." (Hosea 6:6 NAS) And Paul sums this up well in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?". Beloved Christians, stop the foolishness, and might I say cowardice, of running to floods with fire extinguishers. Run to the fires.
In C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, the veteran demon, Screwtape, discusses how the spiritual forces of darkness attempt to direct the popular thoughts of humans:
"The use of Fashions in thought is to distract the attention
of men from their real dangers. We direct the fashionable outcry of
each generation against those vices of which it is least in danger and
fix its approval on the virtue nearest to that vice which we are
trying to make endemic. The game is to have them all running about
with fire extinguishers whenever there is a flood, and all crowding to
that side of the boat which is already nearly gunwale under."
The vice which is endemic in the Church today is lawlessness and licentiousness. The fashionable outcry is grace. The virtue of grace has been approved to the point of proclaiming obedience and repentance an arduous endeavor for those who dare. It may be difficult to find a sermon overtly co-opting grace as a means to continue in sin because the perversion is usually more subtle, but the message is still conveyed through the incessant focus on grace, elementarily understood. This, coupled with the lack of exhortations to repentance and obedience, nearly puts the ship's gunwale under. The hearers ingest the grace message as milk rather than solid foods because grace is not just the realization that you have been given something you do not deserve, but it brings you into repentance and obedience as well. Do you not know that "God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" (Romans 2:4).
God sent His son to die for the sins of mankind, an act of grace. Yet, the very first words out of Christ's mouth initiating His ministry were, "The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). And His appeals to obedience were not unusual, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:5), "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21) or "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23). God is not as one-dimensional as the fashions in thought propagate. Obedience pleases God. "For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice." (Hosea 6:6 NAS) And Paul sums this up well in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?". Beloved Christians, stop the foolishness, and might I say cowardice, of running to floods with fire extinguishers. Run to the fires.
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