In Their Own Words XXI: Without God, Man is An Immoral Beast

Since Sir Francis Bacon was a believer, it is not surprising that he would have said the following.

There are two books laid before us to study, to prevent our falling into error: first, the volume of the Scriptures, which reveal the will of God; then the volume of the Creatures, which express His power.-Francis Bacon, Scientific Method

Francis Bacon is roundly considered one of the fathers of modern science. He is certainly considered the father of the scientific method. He was a 16th-17th century philosopher, scientist and writer. He has remained extraordinarily influential even posthumously due to his writings. The most influential were his writing on the scientific revolution and with it the scientific method. The scientific method being the processes or techniques for investigating phenomena to gain new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.

Because of his philosophical theories Bacon is also considered the father of empiricism. Empiricism being the belief that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. Right within the definition of empiricism is a self-limitation for its abilities. It precludes anything outside the senses or a priori knowledge. Yet, Bacon himself did not personally deny the supernatural. If anything he did the opposite in his writing. It was later atheistic/agnostic protégées that would inevitably separate Bacon's method from its theological underpinnings and totally discard or ignore them. 

For knowledge to now be considered scientific knowledge it needs to be based in empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning (interestingly it doesn't always have to be logical). This is more currently referred to as logical empiricism/positivism. Furthermore, since today's scientific method does not deal with non-sensory data, it ignores the supernatural or metaphysical. Sadly, this method is all-pervasive in society. Due to militant atheism in the echelons of science, science tries to dictate that only scientific knowledge gained from empiricism, etc. is valid knowledge and usually discounts the entire metaphysical realm.

In this way, adherents of scientific proofs end up not taking in the full range of reality by precluding anything that falls outside of the realm of empiricism, logical positivism or the ability to be measurable or observable. The problem with these theories isn't just that they limit knowledge, it is that they are logically flawed. Why? Logical positivism essentially says that anything that cannot be proven empirically or through sense experience is meaningless. That means in the end empiricism and logical positivism are self-referentially absurd. Why? The theories themselves cannot be proven sound through empirical means (because they are ideas, issues of consciousness, metaphysical). They therefore negate themselves as meaningless. The philosophy or theory invalidates itself. Yet we are to take them seriously in scientific reasoning or as sound philosophy? Geez Louise, get a grip.

So all of this information about Bacon then becomes somewhat ironic and bittersweet.

What is ironic about Bacon being the father of modern science through his scientific method is the basis for his technique. Why is it the technique itself ironic? Well firstly, Bacon formulated his scientific methodologies based on his work Instauratio Magna or The Great Insaturation.

The Great Instauration is composed of two parts. The first is essentially a letter to King James (yes, that King James **see note) explaining his work. The second part is a statement of what is often called 'Baconian' philosophy. It is a systematic plan for a complete revolution in learning and intellectual reform. The published work (second part) was an outline divided into six parts: (i) the division of the sciences, (ii) the new organon or directions concerning the interpretation of nature, (iii) the phenomena of the universe, (iv) the ladder of intellect, (v) the forerunners of Bacon's view and (vi) his new philosophy. The first part (i) described the divisions of science in Bacon's time and suggests that there are further branches that should be added. This is important to note because it shows he does not hedge himself in intellectually. He will do the same with religion and a belief in God unlike his protégées in later centuries. The second (ii) developed a new inductive method of scientific inquiry which is, in effect, an early sketch of the scientific method. The work continues and contains ideas on new epistemologies (study of knowledge), new ontologies (study of being/existence), and forms of logic. For the sake of clarity I will not go into detail on them. In the end the logic of this outline was intended to help understand and command nature and not to win arguments against religion. Sadly, that is exactly what the scientific method has become today. In fact, using the scientific methods to discredit belief in God is totally contrary to what its creator devised it for. It is apparent that Satan hijacked another great idea.

So again I ask, why is The Great Insaturation ironic? It is ironic because it is based in Bacon’s religious beliefs that stand in direct contrast to the atheist beliefs of later adherents of his process in the modern realm of science. It stands on Bacon's Biblical beliefs. Many of modern adherents of Bacon’s method being scientists are avowed atheists….yet they don’t have to be. They chose to be. Many of them will not consider anything a valid explanation of phenomena in the universe outside of empiricism, positivism or the laws of naturalism. In other words anything in the Bible is ruled out solely on ideological grounds.

The irony therefore arises out of the structure of The Great Insaturation. As noted above, it was marked or was to be delineated in the six parts noted above. These six parts were to be an imitation of the Divine work…they were to be an imitation of the six days of Creation as defined in the Bible in the Book of Genesis. 

Okay. Stop. 

Read that again and let it sink in. Bacon’s great reformation therefore looked like this:

1. Partitions of the Sciences (De Augmentis Scientiarum)
2. New Method (Novum Organum)
3. Natural History (Historia Naturalis)
4. Ladder of the Intellect (Scala Intellectus)
5. Anticipations of the 2nd Philosophy (Anticipationes Philosophiæ Secunda)
6. Second Philosophy or Active Science (Philosophia Secunda aut Scientia Activæ)

In the second step of his treatise above, the Novum Organum or New Method, Bacon stated his view was that his reformation would allow science to aid in the... "partial returning of mankind to the state it lived before the Fall.” This restoration would restore mankind’s dominion over creation, while faith would restore mankind's original state of innocence, purity or holiness.

I don’t know about you the reader but I’m suspecting that most atheist scientists today are not using Bacon’s scientific method for that purpose. In simpler terms, Bacon’s purposes for the creation of the method were to bring glory to God by reflecting God's work in our work. Ironically, today’s “scientists” use it to deny and mock Him. It is a very sad irony, but irony none-the-less.

Intelligent and introspective as Bacon was, he went on to give a prophetic warnings in The Great Insaturation. One of the warnings regarded the end use of science. It is as if Bacon in his wisdom foresaw the ends to which his ideas would be misused in the wrong hands. He said science should respect things that were Divine but not believe that the very act of scientific inquiry is forbidden by Divine law. Bacon believed science must be a faithful attendant of religion to avoid superstitions. 

He also believed that the modern sciences (in his time) were the fulfillment of prophecy made in the Book of Daniel that said: 

Daniel 12:4 ~ "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" 

As for Bacon’s faith which is clearly evident in the formulation of his methodology he wrote the following in the first part of The Great Insaturation called De Augmentis Scientiarum/Partitions of The Sciences.

"…the more discordant, therefore, and incredible, the divine mystery is, the more honor is shown to God in believing it, and the nobler is the victory of faith." ~ Francis Bacon [The Great Insaturation]

Bacon also wrote this in The Essays: Of Atheism concerning religion:

“…a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." ~Francis Bacon [Essay: Of Atheism]

Finally, I leave you below with one other quote from Of Atheism concerning adherents of atheism. With this quote he effectively and efficiently dismisses the arrogance of modern atheistic scientists. What he says here is damning to those that will discount God from an explanation of physical reality in science. Modern atheistic science should therefore be ashamed of itself considering science takes Bacon’s methods while simultaneously dismissing the belief system that they were founded on. We see people that are willing to worship the Creation but not the Creator. We see them limit their knowledge on purpose because they hate God. Because they hate God, their lack of logic and proper reasoning is obvious in their incoherent quotes that I publish on this blog routinely.

I seriously doubt Bacon would’ve ever done this. In this way, modern atheistic scientists are nothing like their predecessor. They are not fit to wear his shoes. In this comment we see that Bacon's view of God is in accordance with Christian theology. What is stated in the last quote is simple enough to understand. The quote speaks of the Imago Dei and how man is made in the image of God. Man might be physical but without the image of God in him, he is nothing more than an ignoble or immoral beast.

"They that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts in his body; and, if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature.” ~Francis Bacon [Essay: Of Atheism]

If we weigh everything Bacon has said in this post together, we stumble upon this last thought that we can deduce from Bacon’s writing. Modern science has borrowed Bacon’s methodologies but dismissed his belief in God. This means that Bacon’s quote from Of Atheism speaks directly to his atheistic protégées in subsequent centuries that utilized his scientific method. These so-called intellectual giants are ignoble or immoral creatures. Bacon specifically tells us why and it is a theological statement. It's because they are not of the Spirit of God. He has literally paraphrased Paul from 1 Corinthians 2.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ~ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

It therefore stands to reason that anyone that does not accept a belief in God, is nothing more than a beast. This comes directly from the mouth of their scientific predecessor and father of the scientific method. I couldn't have said it any better myself being a theologian.

**Side note: It is believed Bacon was actually one of the editors of the King James Version Bible [1611]. It appears one of Bacon's other talents was as a linguist (1).

(1) Dodd, Alfred. Francis Bacon's Personal Life-story. Kila, Mont.: Kessinger, 1995. Print.

Strained Relations III: The Road Less Traveled

[Continued from Previous Post]

So, when it comes strained relations between professing Christians, I guess this short series of posts comes down to one final question: 

Are there places where I should avoid relationships with Christians or people that call themselves Christians altogether? 

Are there places where I should seek to avoid or restrict fellowship or relationship? In this new evangelical age where many within the Church will tell us that we should be accepting of others and inclusive of questionable ideas...are there definitive places where we should forsake relationships? In short, yes. There are times in the church where fellowship must be restricted to one degree or another. Sometimes the separation needs to be complete.

First are the recalcitrant and rebellious.

The Disobediently Immoral

In 1 Corinthians 6, states that unrepentant immoral persons like fornicators, drunkards, etc. will not inherit the Kingdom. They are therefore worthy of Church discipline. Paul informed the Corinthians that Christians were not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all. He was referring to the people of the world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. Christians must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. They are not even supposed to associate with these type of people in non-spiritual situations unless it is to directly lead them to Christ. Do not even eat with such people. Instead they are worthy of rebuke and correction or are to be delivered to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5-7). 

The reason this separation must occur is because of the really bad influence it has on the obedient Christian. Even the obedient Christian is prone to sin. When in the presence of the immoral the obedient Christian is likely to wander and may stumble in their Christian walk. Even if the Christian does not engage in the sin of the immoral Christian there is a risk of guilt by association. Just being around these people will have people flapping their mouths in gossip and we owe it to Christ not to allow this. It is best to just get away from these types of people. This is one of those old adages that is actually in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 15:33 ~ Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

The Apostates

The second category of people which we should have restricted relationships with are the apostates. We must be leery of those who “fall away” (Luke 8:13) or those who “depart from the faith”. No I will not be discussing the possibility of people losing their salvation and that is why I have put "falling away" and "departing from the Faith" in parenthesis as a generalized euphemism. What I will state is that, if these people are in the church they must be dealt with in accordance with Scripture. Whomever they are they need to be handled with some form of discipline.

1 Timothy 4:1 ~ “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”

This discipline should not be unduly harsh for the new-believer because they may not even know the gravity of their wrong. This punishment is geared more towards those “in the know”. The “mature Christians” who know better having learned the Scripture and chose to walk way form it intellectually in the Church itself. The new believer might not even understand the significance of the disciple but the older member should. Those that have “matured” somewhat know the implications of their apostasy and why discipline is involved. In these cases discipline has to be exercised or the entire body could be in jeopardy of false teaching or false doctrine which is the next restriction.

2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15 ~ “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”

If apostates remain unchecked in the church they will always lead people astray through false teaching and demonic doctrines. They are the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. It is the act of apostasy where these one-time sheep don the apparel of the wolf. More accurately, it is at the point of apostasy where the true wolves divests themselves of the sheep’s disguise and manifest their true character which is the character of a rapacious predator.

The Fomenter of False Doctrine

The final and most dangerous group that demands restriction concerns teachers of false doctrine right within the church. These people are poison in the well. We are to ἐκκλίνετε or turn away from these people completely. Just as they have turned away from the True God, we must turn away from them back in the direction of God. This turning away is to fully avoid by deliberate, decisive rejection. Contrary to common belief, we are to shun them and deviate from the same path that false teachers are on. To say another way, even if the whole church is on the wrong path, we need to avoid that path. We must take the road less traveled that leads to God. Not because the path lacks wear but because we are called to be different from the world. We are called on a path of holiness and this path will often see us walking alone to avoid the falsity of the world and its deceitful thinking and deceptive teaching.

Romans 16:17 ~ “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them”

After a firm and public rejection of their doctrine which includes explaining why the false doctrine is wrong, the false teacher needs to be rejected and ejected. The correction must be made public and harshly because no one knows to whom or what depth the false teaching has burrowed into the body. A public rebuttal and public form of proper teaching arrests the infection or corruption of false teaching. False teaching is like a diseased parasite entering a host. It must be completely excised and removed to avoid risk of another infection. Paul speaks heartily to Titus about this very thing…

Titus 1:10-16 ~ For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

This passage of course goes back to the last post’s idea that things might be well-communicated but poorly backed or acted on. Paul says it explicitly here, “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works…” Actions speak louder than words! This is the perfect Scriptural example.

Paul dealt with two people like this in the exact manner prescribed above when writing to Timothy. Paul severed relationship with what appeared to other “believers” and delivered them to Satan just as he had with those in 1 Corinthians 5.

1 Timothy 1:19-20 ~ “….holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

1 Corinthians 5:5 ~ “…you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord”

How does one determine which teachings are significantly erroneous to warrant disciplinary action? When two brethren (or two groups) hold opposite viewpoints on various points it is quite obviously someone is usually in error. How to tell what to do? Knowing what is false teaching and what is not leads us to two things stipulated by Scriptures. One: Scripture itself. Two: Prayer after Scripture. These are the avenue demanded of us as Christian. When we rely on any other measure, we subject ourselves and the Body of Christ to error.

As I have heard it said many times and it still holds true. In essentials, unity in Scripture and Christ, in non-essentials we need to have liberty. We cannot be dogmatic in non-essentials. What should be considered essentials? We need to see salvational issue as essential. Anything that would jeopardize someone’s salvation should be rigidly gripped and held on to. We need to loosen our grip on things that do not pertain to salvation and allow breathing room. When it comes to issues of conscience or foibles we need caution.

Strained Relations II: Failure To Communicate

[Continued from Previous Post]

Communication Breakdown

To continue from the previous post I will further expound on why true Christians can often have conflict in their interactions with other true Christians. Conflict does not always mean one or more of the parties is not Christian, it just means there might be more sin in someone’s life than first suspected. All people are sinners, but not all that sin are non-believers. We were saved from our sin by grace, it didn’t make us perfect, only justified in God’s eyes so that we would not be condemned for our sin at the time of final judgment.

Poor communication in a failing relationship is a foregone conclusion. This is an obvious symptom. The problem might not necessarily be an issue of no communication but instead, poor communication that is misinterpreted or misunderstood. What’s more is that it might even be well-communicated but poorly backed or acted on communication. What do I mean? We may communicate things perfectly with our mouth and be perfectly understood in an audible manner but what doesn’t communicate well is our behavior. Things do not always add up between words and action. Our behaviors and body language do not back-up our statements based in our beliefs. Our behaviors contradict or countermand our words. It's called hypocrisy folks. We talk the talk but not walk the walk. As it is also said, “Actions speak louder than words!”

It isn't so much a failure to communicate as it is a failure to communicate honestly. Where the mind leads the body needs to follow or there will be an incongruity. It usually comes in the form of judgmental hypocrisy. What other things have I found to be a hindrance?

All Is Vanity and Selfish Conceit

Another relational sin I see often in myself and other is vanity. Again, at the root of this sin is pride. Vanity is strictly personal and serves no righteous purpose. Vanity literally has no reward and sadly, trivializes everything around it. Vanity makes itself higher than anything else and belittles anything that would dare to stand next to it. This is not humility and it is certainly not Christian for that reason alone. It takes an ideal from our heads greater than reality and therefore makes an idol of our imagination. We then take this imagination and project it onto reality….other people’s reality. In so doing we impose our imaginations on other people. We shoehorn our sin into another person’s life.

We essentially say that something created of our own mind is greater than that which God has made and put before us in reality. It is idolatry in its purest form. These mental images of ourselves never remain in our minds, they manifest into reality as arrogance and narcissism. This is never conducive to a godly relationship. It puts us first before God and neighbor. In truth, we should not be loving our neighbor as ourselves. This is often misinterpreted from the Bible. Jesus is assuming a sinful condition in man when he says this. What Jesus is really saying here is that we should love God and our neighbor like we normally would selfishly love ourselves but in reality should’ve been loving others in that same manner. In other words: We need to love God and our neighbors with selfless love! In Christianity…there really is no self…there is only God and others. God's will and other people’s well-being should be viewed above our own needs.

That is the whole point of the Kingdom of God. It is the whole point of Kingdom community. We best embody the idea of community and otherness when we forget about ourselves and dwell on the needs of others. There is no community when we indwell and focus selfishly on the self. When we do so, it is sin of egotism pure and simple. Like I said, vanity serves no meaningful Kingdom purpose.

Selfish and Vainglorious

Well, since we’re hovering around the idea of selfishness we should discuss this also. Selfishness leads to a lack of commitment and effort towards another. When one or both partners in a relationship lack commitment, there usually is an equation that equals relational disaster.

Self-centeredness in a relationship is a death knell. If the purpose of a relationship is based on self-centeredness, this is a sign of a dying relationship. Our society encourages selfish relationships. God, on the other hand, desires that all relationships be based on selfless love because it pushes towards others-ness. Selfishness precludes true love for others. It precludes meaningful sacrifice.

2 Kings 17:15 ~ “They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

A more contemporized example looks like this. Just as in a marriage, we have an opportunity to start another relationship and jeopardize the one we are in. Just because we can do it doesn’t mean we should necessarily do so. We should not selfishly go off chasing wild goats while the very sheep of our fold are spiritually starving. Said another way, adultery is only a decision away. Just because the opportunity presents itself does not mean it should be pursued.

Galatians 5:13 ~ “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

What underlies a failure to commit is usually a rouge commitment or double-mindedness towards a coveted sin. If our purpose for living or doing something is not in the better interest of other people perhaps we should consider not doing it. If there is a choice, things should get done for the good of community not for the good of the self. Any purpose outside of God’s purpose for our lives is sin. Selfishness is not the pattern of Scripture nor is it God’s will for people in general. We see this most prominently in Jesus Christ’s life, His death and His Resurrection from the dead for us.

[Concluded in Next Post]

John MacArthur, Zombies and Deathwalkers

Well, its not often we get to hear Johnny Mac (John MacArthur) talk about zombies, death-walkers, dead people and meandering corpses but I have found a sermon where he does exactly that. It is a good sermon too. Good enough to warrant posting here on my blog with a clever title and amusing picture. The link to he high quality audio is embedded in the title below. I present it unaltered as it is on Grace To You's web site.

Coming Alive in Christ

[Ephesians 2:1-10 February 26, 1978]
Grace To You

It has a lot of good theological points that you can sink your teeth into. Hope you enjoy the sermon, I did.

Strained Relations I: Where Envy Abounds, Strife Will Also

There have been continued relational issues that I encounter as I continue to associate with fellow Christians. I realized a while ago that my dogmatism and strong convictions made me tedious to be around but over the last year or two I have made inroads to stem the tide of these abrasive behaviors. They might have been the primary factor for relationship hiccups in the past but I believe lately, that has not been the case. I have struggled to make myself more approachable but to some extent, most would not view me as a legalist goon or arrogant self-assured theology geek…at least not as bad as I used to be. Yet, the interactive strains with some Christians persist. So as a compassionate and inquisitive person I ask why?

Well, firstly I must state that every single one of the issues I will bring up here I have either been guilty or I am still guilty of in a sin-laced life that is nearly impossible to clean up at times to become more holy. As a matter of fact, SoulJournaler (my blog) in general has taken a more emotive and relational turn due to these struggles. The blog has taken on more topics that revolve around these issues because its author has been turning in this direction also. I have turned in this direction mainly because of the Holy Spirit but also because most of the Christian walk is about community in the Kingdom and that means godly relationships.

The first thing that presents itself to me after prayer is that two people could still both be Christian saved by the grace and still have relational issues. Rocky marriages are a perfect example. Why? It is because, in a relationship there are two fallen sinful people involved. Two broken, flawed thinking creations capable of a great relationship but due to their broken condition in a broken world, it is more prevalent for relationships to fail or fall apart. The irony is that the thing that saves us from our fallen nature and brokenness is the very same thing that will allow us to fix a broken relationship with the other person. 

It is God’s grace towards us which entails, patience, humbleness, gentleness, kindness and love. It also helps to bear with each other and forgive just as God forgave us. Many of these behaviors should be directed towards others or our neighbors too, not just God.

Another hurdle I see between people is a failure to take a meek roll and a willingness to be poor in spirit. Many Christians in the United States have an entitlement mentality as Christians. This might be the attitude of the land but for the Christian it is a bad attitude. Part of this attitude is a complacency and desire to always be comfortable. Many wish to be comfortable financially and socially. If any restrictions arise in this pursuit they are avoided or ostracized.

Another wall that often gets erected in a relationship is envy. The envy might be one-way but sometimes it can be both ways. I find that this is often one of the largest mitigating factors in poor Christian relationship and fellowships.

We can begin to fix a bad relationship by releasing the envy that we sinfully harbor in our heart. How many of us are caught up in bad relationships that are corrupted by envy? We see others with better jobs that make more money and they can afford to drive new cars when we are stuck driving run down old ones. We see people with nicer clothes and the current fashions and we cannot afford anything above Wal-Mart Puritan brand or Faded Glory. Sometimes we even maintain these relationships because of the status they bring us and not for any Christian purpose (James 2). This is sinful and it should not surprise us that the relationship is strained or failing at the seams.

1 Corinthians 3:3 ~ “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?”

This envy is a symptom of pride and overestimated self-worth. It is usually the case that the one suffering from envy feels entitled to what someone else has or believes that they deserve it. This mindset alone shows that in God’s economy, they probably do not. This even carries over to positions of power and control. When we go to work in environments where we believe we could do a better job than our bosses over us…we are attempting in our hearts to usurp power not given us from God. God has put these people over us for a reason. If he wanted us to be supervisors, bosses or company owners…we would be. Not only would we be envying here but also not submitting to authority (Romans 13).

1 Peter 2:1 ~ “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”

It is clear envy solicited by pride needs to be removed from our lives. We will never be able to remove it while pride reigns. Scripture tells us that we must refrain from envious thoughts in a relationship. We need to stop feeling we need to look as good as the other person. We need to stop feeling we need as much money as others do. We need to stop thinking we are smarter than they are. Conflict is only resolved when there is peace and no envy between two people or groups.

James 3:14-16 ~ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 

What does Scripture say is the answer? It says wisdom comes from above. True unity is in God and with God.

God First

James 3:17-18 ~ “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Godly relationships include encouragement where two people minister to one another. For any human relationship to be good, the relationship must put God first. We must go to the cross first and trust in Christ. We must also trust that our current situation is the exact situation that Sovereign God wants us in and stop wanting something other than where God has us. If he wanted us to have a better paying job, we would have it or be stirred to move in that direction. Murmuting is not the correct response to these situations, submission is. We must pray that He guides us. Essentially, when we envy...we desire something that we do not have and something God has not given us. If we continue to kick against the goads and strive after wind, we will reap wind. Envy’s most prominent fruit is frustration.

The bottom line for me with strained relationships with other Christians is that instead of finding fault in others, I must turn inward. I found that many times it is not the other Christian, it is me that needs to start to change. When someone has to change to improve a relationship we must always focus on ourselves not others. Why? We cannot change others, only God can. The truth is that even changing ourselves is a mighty task that cannot be easily accomplished. Perhaps that is why many of us avoid it and focus on getting others to change instead? 

Of course there are other things that come to the fore when dealing with failing or failed Christian relationships (including marriages). At all their roots lies sin(s). What are some of the other problems we will find? More on those in the next post.

[Continued In Next Post]

Post Rock V: Hammock-Departure Songs

Hammock have a large catalog filled with a wide spectrum of post-rock and ambient music but Departure Songs is by far my favorite. There is a mild oppressiveness mixed in this album and it is also saturated with love. Most would see this as being melancholy but they are missing the beauty for the pain. As a Christian would say they are missing the joy in the suffering. These themes are nowhere more exemplified than on tracks like Together Alone and (Let’s Kiss) While All the Stars Are Falling Down. Although slow and depressive…I could see people dancing to Together Alone (albeit very slowly). This could also be considered Sunday driving music. I could see this music as the backdrop for driving but not knowing where you are going but end up at home at the end of the day.

It starts off with a cheerful ambient vibe but quickly changes moods and progresses into something far more painful. I suggest that some of this music might even cause confusion with listeners by having both uplifting and depressing themes. These should not be alien to the Christian though at that is exactly why this album endears itself to me. Perhaps you too?

Here is a fan created video for Glossolalia from Departure Songs. Yes, I picked this song and video on purpose because of the name which is γλωσσολαλία in Greek and means "tongues"

King For A Day, Fool For Eternity

The Spirit laid this on my heart this weekend at Church. In my immaturity and arrogance I have misunderstood my gifts as making me special or essential. Not only to myself but to my family and the body of Christ. As I am learning humility I am beginning to realize that the gifts I have been given make me useful and effective for the Kingdom.

1 Samuel 2:3 ~ "Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Romans 12:3 ~ "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."

Said another way, as I have heard it said in the past...

When you try to become king for a day which is usually the duration of true control over situation, most end up becoming fools for a life time. In an effort to exert even small meaningful control over small meaningless elements of our lives, we exert superfluous amounts of energy to acheive little or nothing. Whats worse is we strive in vain chasing the wind only to make fools of ourselves. Success or importance can only be gauged agaisnt the measure set forth by God. Everything else, as Solomon said, is vanity.

Jeremiah 17:11 ~ ""As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid, So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; In the midst of his days it will forsake him, And in the end he will be a fool."

If you are important to God, you are useful to all. If you are arrogant, you are useless except as a bad example. God of course can change you as He has me. How hard the change is, is in direct correlation to the height of your arrogance and where God wants you in humility. Everyone is gifted...it is a matter of how the gifts are used. Are they used in selfishness or in service to others?

Philippians 2:5-8 ~ “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross.

I guess it is no small irony that fools are always so sure of themselves while the wise are always so plagued with doubt. I should probably revise my original statement. It isn't that you become king for a day and a fool for a lifetime. It is more like being a king in your own mind for a day in exchange for being a fool for eternity. Why? 

By putting yourself first you are attempting to take your Father's seat at the throne. When you make yourself king before giving credence and reverence to God, it puts you in direct violation of...

Exodus 20:3-6 ~ “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Leviticus 19:4 ~ “Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.”

Jonah 2:8 ~ “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.”

1 Corinthians 10:14 ~ “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

1 John 5:21 ~ “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

If you are in violation of these commandments or violating these principles on a regular basis you might want to take a long hard look at your relationship with God and make sure its as solid as you think it is...because it might not be what you think. Are you willing to risk your eternal crown for a self-bestowed imaginary crown only existent in you own imagination? Your greatness here may only be your imagination as opposed to the rock solid guarantee of the very real salvation from the Lord in the Kingdom.

In Their Own Words XX: Theology Describes Creator; Science Describes Creation

Having been born on February 22, 1969, I was born at the height of the Vietnam War, the end of the Haight-Ashbury hippie scene and in the middle of the Apollo space program. All three would have a direct or indirect effect on my life. The war would affect family members of my parent's generation. The Hippies would affect the music my parents and I both listen to in terms of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Arlo Guthrie, The Who, Woodstock and the like. The Apollo space program would capture my imagination in a way neither the war nor the music ever could. It would push me on a course for the field of engineering and then later, in a transcendental way, theology. As I read over the lives of the astronauts and pioneers of the American space program I came to understand scientifically how we ended up on the lunar surface. When I looked into the hearts of the men that drove the program I found out why we went. Interestingly, I also found a kindred spirit in a man named Werner Von Braun. 

Von Braun was a man that was enraptured by engineering but also in love with God. It is as if his engineering drove him to God. It is not surprising to me that I still sit in awe of the fact that humanity was able to put men on the moon. It is even less surprising that I sit in even greater awe of the very same God that Werner Von Braun sat in awe of also. Men that are capable of believing in great things (like God) are capable of performing great deeds through God’s power in them. I pray that I might one day have just one iota of the influence or impact Werner Von Braun had on millions (perhaps billions) of people when he was involved with the American space program. My main quote for this post comes from Werner Von Braun and ironically it is in related to science/engineering and God.

“I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science.” ~ Werner von Braun

A surprisingly insightful comment from the man who would first reluctantly (by most accounts) aid the Nazis in their V-2 rocket program and then later willfully aid the Americans. His work with the American space program would produce the Saturn V booster rocket that helped land the first men on the Moon in July 1969. Initially Werner had no interest in religion. He was known as the “Merry Heathen”. It is said by those that who knew him through the 1960s and 1970s that after he had arrived in America, he had begun to change subtly. They noticed during these years that a new manner began to surface in his conversations, in his speeches and his writings. There was a growing interest in religious thought. It appears that behind these changes that there was a Lutheran belief system being recultivated. Although he had little interest in religion as a youth, as he aged he developed a firm belief in the Lord. He was actually pleased to get opportunities to speak with peers about his Biblical beliefs.

Von Braun’s family had been present as ministers in the Lutheran church for several hundred years. Von Braun is also cited as saying that his interest in science and engineering began the day of his confirmation into the Lutheran church. To commemorate the occasion his mother had given him a telescope which would allow him to observe the destination of his rockets (Piszkiewicz 22-23). It also appears his voracious reading habit in youth and young adulthood included not only science and engineering books but also books from the likes of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (a statesmen), Friedrich von Schiller (philosopher, historian), and Immanuel Kant (philosopher of metaphysics, epistemology, ethics). It is probably the latter of these three (Kant) that would drive Von Braun and his logical engineering mind to search out God through reason but find him inevitably in the realm of faith.

It is in religion or specifically the belief in a biblical God that both Von Braun and I both find the bridge between the vast complex world/cosmos around us and the greater plan embedded in our lives and the Creation. He (like myself) came to the conclusion that the world of technology like rockets, manned voyages to the Moon, atoms, stars, and even living organisms must somehow fit into some greater meta-narrative or overarching story/plan. Somehow all of this points to a greater system created by Someone greater than all the above elements put together. The only One capable of such a vast system had to be God. It was like Paley’s watchmaker analogy on steroids. Von Braun would say it this way…

"It is so obvious that we live in a world in which a fantastic amount of logic, of rational lawfulness, is at work. We are aware of a large number of laws of physics and chemistry and biology which, by their mutual interdependence, make nature work as if it were following a grandiose plan from its earliest beginnings to the farthest reaches of its future destiny. To me, it would be incomprehensible that there should be such a gigantic master plan without a master planner behind it. This master planner is He whom we call the Creator of the Universe . . . One cannot be exposed to the law and order of the universe without concluding that there must be a Divine intent behind it all. For me, there is no real contradiction between the world of science and the world of religion. The two are dealing with two different things, but they are not in conflict with each other. Theologians are trying to describe the Creator; scientists are trying to describe His creation. Science and religion are not antagonists; on the contrary, they are sisters . . . While, through science, man tries to harness the forces of nature around him, through religion he tries to harness the forces of nature within him . . ."

Because of these startling parallels drawn up through Von Braun’s dialectic it is not surprising to see him make this further shrewd statement founded firmly in science, morality and theology.

"Our knowledge and use of the laws of nature that enable us to fly to the Moon also enable us to destroy our home planet with the atom bomb. Science itself does not address the question whether we should use the power at our disposal for good or for evil. The guidelines of what we ought to do are furnished in the moral law of God. It is no longer enough that we pray that God may be with us on our side; we must learn again to pray that we may be on God's side”

From the early 1960’s onward, Werner talked often about his faith. He was publicly asked if he believed in God. His immediate responses would always be an emphatic, “Yes! Absolutely!” He was never ashamed nor annoyed by the question (Romans 1:16-17). He seemed grateful for the opportunity to formulate and describe the elements of his religious belief in disarming simplicity from such a complex and thought-out man. It is this very dichotomy that fascinates me about the man.

It is also interesting to note Werner’s ritual after a successful mission to space and safe return to earth. He was once asked by a reporter, “Dr. Von Braun, what did you think after you had given your final 'yes' a week ago?" His response? "I quietly said the Lord's prayer" 

I find it just as profoundly interesting that a man whose mission in life was to break the bonds of Earth’s gravity was interested in another frontier besides space and even life itself. Von Braun was a man of destiny. He used his trade and life’s work to glorify God later in life. With a deep-rooted interest in philosophy and religion, he saw no conflict between scientific knowledge and religious faith. He believed that natural sciences deal with creation; religion deals with the creator. Werner Von Braun believed the two are really complementing each other perfectly. 

In the end he believed in a world beyond our own where life would be life-everlasting. He is noted for talking about his end to others. He was known to have remarked the following about his physical death and departure from this world.

"When my journey comes to an end I hope that I can retain my clear mind and perceive not only those precious last moments of my life, but also the transition to whatever will come then. A human being is so much more than a physical body that withers and vanishes after it has been around for a number of years. It is inconceivable to me that there should not be something else for us after we have finished our earthly voyage. I hope that I can observe and learn, and finally know what comes after all those beautiful things we experience during our lives on Earth.”

This philosophy is shown in his gravestone’s epitaph. On it he embraces the thing he tried to reach through the thing that he believed. Von Braun’s tombstone includes a piece of Scripture. He acknowledged the end result of the two overriding goals in his life: Rocketeering to space and his Christian faith.

Psalm 19:1 ~ "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."

The whole of Von Braun’s life and philosophy are further summed up in a single quote from Father John Bruce Medaris (formerly Major General) when he wrote the following: 

"His imagination strolled easily among the stars, yet the farther out into the unknown and unknowable vastness of Creation his thoughts went, the more he was certain that the universe, and this small garden spot within it, came from no cosmic accident, but from the thought and purpose of an all-knowing God."

Dare I say that this almost sounds like something the hippies from Haight-Ashbury would've said. We are stardust and we're all just trying to get back to the Garden. We're trying to get ourselves back to the way things used to be before the Fall and sin entered the world.

Piszkiewicz, Dennis, Wernher von Braun: The Man Who Sold the Moon, Praeger: Westport, Connecticut (1998), pages 22-23.]

Stuhlinger, Ordway, Wernher von Braun: Crusader for Space