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Tag Archive for 'christianity'

Paganism in Mainstream Christianity: Divination of Feelings

Published by Colin August 18, 2008 in General and Religion. 14 Comments

Until I read Decision Making and the Will of God, I would have never considered a significant aspect of my faith to be rooted in paganism. Yet, upon understanding the nature of God’s will and how it applies to my life, I can see how grave an error I was making, and that my walk was significantly neutered.

Divination is a major problem in Christianity among fundamentalist, bible-believing Christians. It is the practice of using normal and explainable objects, phenomena, circumstances and occurrences to understand and interpret the will of the gods (or in Christianity’s case - God).

Take, for example, this “method” for determining “God’s will in your life:”

…listen to that still small voice inside of you. The burden of the call upon your life will outweigh your ambitions which you have established. If the Lord wants you to do a specific work for Him, He will give you a burden for that work. Your heart will keep drawing you to that specific task or work. As the day draws closer for you to accomplish and know God’s will for your life, your burden will become heavier to accomplish it. If you run away from God’s will, you will always go back because the burden will not go away. The burden also has love attached. And, of course, when we pray for His will to be made known in our lives, He will tell us. As Psalm 143:10 says, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

In other words, we are to use our feelings and impression to divine the will of God. But scripture warns us against this:

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJ)

With a pagan world-view, it is much easier to see this error. If someone said that they believed the trees were speaking to them to not cut them down - they just felt a burden for the trees so strongly - we would accurately determine that such a person was insane. But if Christians substitute “God” (and that adds a lot of weight) then they can say something similar, such as, “I just feel led to be a pastor - I think God is telling me this is His will for my life.”

This problem has been minimized in individuals who actually read their bibles, and can see that there are clear biblical guidelines to determine these things. Again, using the example, if their “calling” to be a pastor is realized after meeting qualifications for that position in the Word, then the error is harmless (though it is still wrong). But an immature Christian, who might have less knowledge and wisdom regarding the Word, might very well miss the fact that he does not biblically qualified for his “calling” and just run on what his “burden of the call” is saying.

I personally, do not believe that God “calls” Christian in this way. I view things much more plainly - God has provided men with a very clear set of principles for living in the bible which must be taken literally and at face value. He has also given men the freedom to make godly choices within those parameters, including how to chose whether a ministry role is correct.

If I would like to go to Kenya to share the gospel, I need not wait until I have a “burden” overwhelming me, gradually getting stronger and stronger to go. Rather, I need to check my desires against what the bible commands, and if it is correct, to go with it. It is never wrong for a mature Christian to preach the gospel. God is not ever going to disprove of his commands being obeyed. In fact, I would argue that the “sacrifice” of waiting on one’s feelings of a calling, is a much more likely offence to God. Instead, we should be quick to obey.

Christians should beware the kind of cavalier mysticism that is currently being embraced as determining God’s will.

Libertarianism, Christianity and Foreign Policy Q&A - Part IV

Published by Colin July 21, 2008 in Religion, Politics and Philosophy. 5 Comments

Over the past year, especially because of the effect of Ron Paul’s presidential candidacy, many honest questions (and many baseless accusations) have been flying around about libertarianism, foreign policy and Christianity. I wanted to take the time to answer a few of these questions from my own perspective.

The first two instalments explained why libertarian foreign policy is neither right wing or left wing. The third argued that libertarian foreign policy is compatible with biblical mandates. Finally, I would like to summarize some criticism from left, right and Christian.

Despite the fact that the Democrats and Christian libertarians have different reasons for supporting a decreased military presence in Iraq, doesn’t the similar result justify grouping them?

Perhaps we should look at a more absurd scenario to judge this principle. My neighbour has a car I like and I offer him $10,000 for it - which he accepts. But what if I steal it instead? Both result in me getting the car from my neighborur. However, one is moral and one is not.

The democrats have no principled opposition to aggression in foreign policy. They are driven entirely by polls (with a few exceptions). Many libertarian Christians, on the other hand, do not support war out of steadfast philosophical opposition to aggression.

I basically agree with these views, but they are not pragmatic. These are merely “theories” which work on paper but cannot happen in real life.

I think the term “theory” is potentially misapplied here. This is not a “theory” in the positivistic sense- where it needs to be “tested” in order to be proved true or false empirically. But the Christian libertarian foreign policy is an a priori argument based on human action and biblical truth. Neither of these foundations require empirical results in order to be verified.

But the more important concern is with the pragmatism of compromising with something one knows to be wrong to achieve a “right” end. Christianity requires us to give the results to God, and walk in faith and obedience. We are not be bend God’s truth to accommodate our political goals - but rather to trust in his sovereignty and obey his gospel. It may not be pragmatic for a soldier to disobey his commanders asking him to kill civilians - but what is the Christian thing to do? It may not be pragmatic for a tax collector to repent and refuse to steal from others - but it is right.

These are the tough decisions for Christians to make because they require us to put our faith into action, despite what our senses and reason tell us. But this does not exempt us from our duty to obey.

Libertarianism, Christianity and Foreign Policy Q&A - Part III

Published by Colin July 17, 2008 in General. 19 Comments

The past two instalments explained why libertarian foreign policy is neither right wing or left wing. But that isn’t good enough - is it biblically compatible?

Is libertarian foreign policy biblical? / I’m all for leaving places like Iraq, but we broke it so we bought it. It would be unChristian of us not to be using our military to save the world from evil and promote democracy and freedom!

As has been stated several times by multiple members of this blog, the bible has virtually nothing to say about political philosophy. This is not a big “oopsie” by God - he clearly was very deliberate about what he wanted in there.

However, the bible is chalk-full of moral philosophy and higher principles. As for me, I believe this is because God doesn’t really want Christians thinking politically. What I mean by that is, that God wants us to be consistent, principled, moral people - like Christ - not wishy-washy consequentialists like Saul or Aaron. He doesn’t want us ignorant about the means we use to achieve our ends.

Libertarian foreign policy is defensive-only. It does not invade, aggress, occupy, challenge, bully, provoke, obtain vengeance or pursue lust for resources. Libertarian foreign policy does allow individuals, families and (if you think they are legitimate) states to protect their property and lives.

This is obviously very compatible with biblical morality, where we are given almost the exact same commands. Although libertarian foreign policy may not be radical enough! The bible also argues that we should be so adverse to violence that we allow ourselves to suffer, and to turn the other cheek. While this is an important argument, it is probably best to have it another day as it is quite a long rabbit trail.

Many Christians justify prolonged nation-building wars and occupations (such as Iraq) by clichés and popular proverbs such as:

We have to continue the surge, and let me explain why, Chris. When I was a little kid, if I went into a store with my mother, she had a simple rule for me: If I picked something off the shelf at the store and I broke it, I bought it. I learned I don’t pick something off the shelf I can’t afford to buy.

Well, what we did in Iraq, we essentially broke it. It’s our responsibility to do the best we can to try to fix it before we just turn away. Because something is a stake.

It is true that if you break someone’s property, you need to pay for it. However, it hardly follows that if you destroy someone’s infrastructure, kill tens of thousands of people, blow up their cultural and historical relics and induce a civil war by these actions you must continue to do so. The Christian thing to do would be to repent, that is to change your ways, and stop killing, wounding and destroying.

This is the kind of compromise that Christians have made to try and serve both country and God - but these two are often mutually exclusive:

…for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20 NKJV).

The moral imperatives of the bible are not removed from Christians when they put on a uniform. If I went over to another country on my own, decided I wanted something, and killed the people who owned it - would I not be a murderer? Just because I have a flag behind me, and a uniform on does not change this. In the same way, if I defended by house from a robber, I would be justified - as would a group of people from an invading foreign army. Similarly, the bible doesn’t change just because a Christian is acting on behalf of a government:

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:34-35 NKJV).

Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honour, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God (Romans 2:7-11 NKJV).

A Christian should view foreigners and strangers with hospitality and compassion. Obviously if one of them tries to injure, kill or steal from you - you can defend yourself. But only then. Christianity is not a call to global paranoia - where every tanned-skinned person from the middle east is out to blow us up. Even if they are - as Christians, it is not our job to join a crusade against those who have not directly harmed us. We are not going to change these people by warring with them, but by evangelizing them. Again, the wise James:

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:1-4 NKJV).

A Christian view of foreigners and conflict is radically opposed to a secular view - especially to current foreign policy. This is the main reason why libertarian foreign policy and Christianity are compatible - libertarianism proclaims the freedom of men to practice what they will by voluntary consent. It allows and even encourages a Christian view of human relations.

Why I am not an Objectivist

Published by Kenneth Martens July 3, 2008 in Religion and Politics. 21 Comments

In my previous articles I explained how my libertarian beliefs are compatible with a biblical worldview, and why I believe in minarchy (small government) rather than anarchy (no government.) Today I will explore Objectivism, the ethical philosophy developed by Ayn Rand.

Ayn Rand is best known for her novel Atlas Shrugged. In it, Rand lays out a consistent ethical framework based on the inviolable rights of life and property. She calls her ethical system Objectivism because the rights are objectively determined by reality, not by the subjective whim of the masses or by the varying interpretation of religious scriptures. Objectivist ethics are inherent in the universe. They are objectively true.

I started reading Ayn Rand because she gives a vigorous defense of small-government libertarianism. Her essays have played a part in shaping my own views of political philosophy. I agree with much of what she says about government. However, I am not an Objectivist.

Objectivism is incompatible with biblical principles. To explain why, let’s study the underpinning concepts of Objectivism. Let’s begin with the Essentials of Objectivism as presented by the Ayn Rand Institute.

Metaphysics

Objectivism rejects any belief in the supernatural

A belief system that rejects the supernatural is contrary to the Bible. The Bible is filled with accounts of supernatural miracles. Jesus walked on water. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. Ten plagues afflicted the Egyptians. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. God spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus.

Epistemology

Objectivism rejects mysticism (any acceptance of faith or feeling as a means of knowledge)

The Bible says a great deal about faith. In John 20:29 Jesus says “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Hebrews 11 says it is “by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.” Hebrews 11 lists off all the biblical heros and declares that “these were all commended for their faith.” Faith is not an optional part of a biblical worldview. Because Objectivism rejects faith, it rejects Scripture.

Human Nature

Objectivism rejects any form of determinism, the belief that man is a victim of forces beyond his control (such as God, fate, upbringing, genes, or economic conditions)

According to the Bible, God is sovereign over all things. God can harden the heart (Exodus 7:13, 9:12). He controls our eternal destiny: “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5). God is in control of nations: “The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.” (Psalm 33:10). A man does not control even his own destiny: “Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21).

Ethics

“Reason is man’s only proper judge of values and his only proper guide to action.”
“Rationality is man’s basic virtue.”
Objectivism rejects any form of altruism—the claim that morality consists in living for others or for society.

Man’s reason is a poor guide: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12).

Politics

Objectivism rejects any form of collectivism, such as fascism or socialism. It also rejects the current “mixed economy” notion that the government should regulate the economy and redistribute wealth.

The sociopolitical system that is compatible with Objectivism is laissez faire capitalism. The way to achieve this is through a minarchist libertarian government. This is not incompatible with biblical values. The underlying values of Objectivism are unbiblical, but Objectivist politics are not.

Esthetics

“Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist’s metaphysical value-judgments.”

I don’t even know what this means.

Of the Essentials of Objectivism, only one out of six (Politics) is compatible with biblical values. As a Christian, I cannot be an Objectivist. Objectivism is based on a godless secular view of the world. It worships man instead of man’s Creator.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Church Part I: The Holy Spirit is a Person

Published by Chris A June 3, 2008 in Religion. 4 Comments

Before embarking on an in-depth study of the Holy Spirit’s role in the New Testament church, it is necessary to identify who – not what – he is. He is, in fact, God. Rather than being some abstract power or force, he is an intelligent being. While I realize the English word “person” is somewhat inadequate in describing God, for lack of a better word, the Holy Spirit is a person in that he possesses the attributes of personality. Understanding the personality of the Spirit is key to comprehending his role in the church. If we fail to acknowledge him as a person, and instead view him simply as God’s power, we will never be able to understand his present-day function in the Body of Christ. Consider what Jesus said in John 14:

16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (NIV)

Notice his usage of the personal pronouns he and him. Therefore, we can reasonably conclude that the Holy Spirit is not an it. In verse 16 Jesus says that the Holy Spirit is “another Counselor”. Some Greek scholars have said that the original language carries the connotation of a counselor of the same sort as Jesus. That would make perfect sense because Jesus was communicating this to his disciples just before he was to be crucified, resurrected from the dead, and ascend to heaven – a truth Jesus later expounded on in John 16.

5″Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Again, I want to reemphasize Jesus’ usage of the personal pronoun he in this passage. Here he tells his disciples that he would go away, but they would be visited by the Holy Spirit – the other counselor.

The Holy Spirit Thinks
One basic attribute of personality is the capacity to think. The Holy Spirit does exhibit this characteristic.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:27)

The Holy Spirit Hears and Speaks
There is no such thing as a counselor who does not speak. Jesus spoke about the Spirit’s ability to communicate in John 16:13.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

In Acts 13:2 we see an example of the Holy Spirit speaking.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Here the Holy Spirit is speaking on behalf of Jesus, revealing his calling of Paul and Barnabas.

The Holy Spirit can Experience Grief

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

What grieves the Holy Spirit? If we read the following verse, Ephesians 4:41, we get our answer.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

The Holy Spirit can be Lied to
In the fifth chapter of Acts when Ananias and Sapphira sold land, and lied about giving all the money to the apostles, Peter said they lied to the Holy Spirit.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”

The Holy Spirit can Fellowship with Believers

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1, 2).

The Seven Counterfeit Gospels - Part III

Published by Colin April 24, 2008 in Essays and Religion. 8 Comments

Before commenting on the last two counterfeit gospels, let’s look at the entire list to summarize:

Formalism
I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.
Legalism
I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.
Mysticism
I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.
Activism
I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.
Biblicism
I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.
Therapism
I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.
Social-ism
The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.

We now only have therapism and social-ism to deal with. Like the other two divisions I made in this exposition, these two counterfeits really do go hand in hand. Let’s take a look:

The Counterfeit Gospel of Therapism
Original Description:

I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin—and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.

In many ways, Way of the Master and other biblical evangelism tools have been formulated as a reaction to this “ism.” In this counterfeit, the emphasis on a person’s spiritual needs are transferred away from repentence, moral deficiency, sin and justice and towards various “life enhancement” needs: peace, happiness, wellness, health, fulfillment and so on. Again, the “Four Spiritual Laws” evangelism method is a perfect example of this - where people are encouraged to have a “relationship with God” because:

“God has a wonderful plan for your life”
We need to “experience abundant life.”
Experience “God’s love and plan for our life.”
He can “Make me the kind of person You want me to be”

This is therapism 101 - “Oh God, I’m just so sad and unfulfilled - I need another goofy, platitude-ridden, experience-based set of feel-good motivational speaking lectures to make me feel happy again.” No, you need a saviour because you will go to Hell, in spite of the fact that God loves you, because you refuse to repent from your sin and trust in Jesus Christ to forgive you.

This is not accomplished by willful deception, but by genuinely caring Christians who have let the cares of the world gradually replace the power of God to save from sin. The have moved from obedience to the bible to vain sacrifice. Christianity becomes less about God’s sovereignty and supremacy, and more about the believer and what he can manipulate from a wealthy parent. God is not someone we submit to, but a genie who grants our wishes, both physical and spiritual.

The Counterfeit Gospel of Social-ism
Original Description:

The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.

Many good things can become idols, getting between God and man - the bible, the name of God and even the body of Christ. The bible commands us to have genuine fellowship with the body - to “love one another.” However, we are also warned not to put family and friends above Christ. In fact, our Christian faith will likely cause our relationships to suffer (Matthew 10:21).

Christians get weary of the world, and in the exact opposite reaction as activism (changing the world by Christian means), social-ists seek to completely remove the world and focus on their “church family.” They build church schools, colleges, singles groups, marriage groups, youth groups, elderly groups, day-care, co-ops, businesses and so on until their entire life is one giant clique. They attempt to create heaven on earth by complicated networks of Christian communities, on which they rely more than the bible, more than the Holy Spirit - more than even God himself.

Because the gospel becomes relationship-based, keeping people happy becomes essential. Sin, hell, repentence and judgment do not make people willing to join these little Christian clubs - so therapism is usually adopted. In a church, this might mean that more concern is placed on “people comforts” such as the air conditioning, decorations, technology and programs rather than the teaching, fellowship and discipline.

Groups like campus life have this down to an artform - making fellowship about holding tanks with pizza, rather than genuine Christian fellowship. Real fellowship always supports the individual believer - it always comes back to the idea of the group empowering the individual, rather than the individual conforming to the group (Romans 12:4-13).

Conclusion
I hope this short series has been informative. But even in considering these seven places where Christians go astray - it is evident that there are many more “isms” that can be a trap. Feel free to continue the discussion in the comments - are there other “isms” that were missed, or were these ones discussed incompletely?

The point of this is to evaluate one’s self to ensure that key elements of Christianity are not being left out, or over-emphasized to the detriment of other equally important aspects. Christianity is an all-encompassing, balanced faith that is relatively simple in its practice. Complicating it through counterfeits like those mentioned is only going to lead the church astray, making it ineffective and impotent to accomplish that for which it was created.

The Seven Counterfeit Gospels - Part II

Published by Colin April 22, 2008 in Essays and Religion. 2 Comments

The counterfeit gospels we looked at last time were fairly obvious. Today’s get to the meat of the matter, and are not easily shrugged off and converted into judgmental thoughts about other people’s faith. In fact, I want to encourage the reader to consider himself while reading this list, and to shy away from using these explanations as a means to evaluate other Christians. These counterfeit gospels are traps waiting to ensnare all of us - we become easy prey if we don’t utilize these thoughts to cultivate personal reform of our own faith.

The seven counterfeit gospels are:

Formalism
I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.
Legalism
I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.
Mysticism
Activism
Biblicism
Therapism
Social-ism

Let’s continue with three more subtle gospels - mysticism, activism, biblicism.

The Counterfeit Gospel of Mysticism
Original Description:

I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.

This “ism” probably begins with a misunderstanding of the ministry and effects of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. Many people take verses about the sovereign power of the Holy Spirit and presume that this power must be cultivated by the effort of the believer himself. Thus, instead of coming to worship seeking a movement of God by his Spirit and subsequently bearing the effects of that movement (which can be manifest in emotion - understanding the truth of God’s love for an example, is quite an overwhelming experience) the mystic will actually utilize emotion to generate a “spiritual experience.”

In ancient religions (and even in modern worship, albeit not formal worship) this was enhanced by the use of drugs, hypnotic chants and other devices to basically create a mystical climate. Mysticism relies heavily on man-made emotionalism.

Since mysticism is rooted in a person’s feelings - they are inconsistent in ministry (whether in the church, their family or their own bible study and prayer life). They are also a constant burden to others, who often have to deal with the fallout caused by their recklessness. This manifests itself in everything from relationship issues, to dropping the ball in ministry and even dealing with sin binges (when it feels good) and overwhelming depression and guilt (when it feels bad).

The problem is that the emotions of man are fickle (Jeremiah 17:9) and can easily turn from elation about God, to fear and worry about all manner of things. It is no coincidence that much of the New Testament epistles speak about the believer’s mind, self-control, order and wisdom.

The Counterfeit Gospel of Activism
Original Description:

I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.

Much of what has been called the social gospel would fall into this camp. This is probably obvious to most people. What is less obvious is the essence of this counterfeit gospel, which can be applied in many ways: the knowledge, commission and power of the church is to be manifest through the secular arena. This is a tremendous danger in the modern era, because we live in societies that are highly political and highly secular. Whereas the work of the church through the church is hard to understand, obey and unify around - the work of the church through the world is easy, available and encouraged.

I’ll give two examples from both extremes. It is easier to proclaim that drunkenness is sin and should be outlawed through secular law, then it is to tell a brother that he is sinning, needs to change and then exercise church discipline if he does not. It seems more just to set up welfare programs for the poor via taxation, then it is for Christians to volunteer for Christian charity work or give of their finances/labor to see this work accomplished.

At the heart of activism is a desire to to good, but a lack of biblical discipline, wisdom and application. It can also betray a lack of faith in the power of God to keep his promises and do what he has said he will do. God does not give us a task like the great commission, and then leave us without the means or power to accomplish it. But as God has layed out the mechanism for bringing real change to people’s lives - it is up to us to be obedient. God desires obedience more than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and while we may think God approves of our passion, hard work and sacrifice for his kingdom, he has made it clear that he is more concerned that we obey.

The Counterfeit Gospel of Biblicism
Original Description:

I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.

Biblicism is the idolizing of the word of God - to the point of an almost academic relationship with God based on knowledge, rather than the more complete relationship and fellowship we are to have. But it’s not just knowledge or intelligence that marks biblicism - it’s when that knowledge becomes an idol, and inserts itself between the believer and God. This guy is the one who gives a funny look or a sarcastic remark upon being asked an innocent question. Biblicalism breeds impatience and dismissiveness.

Ever wanted to form your own perfect church out without the unwashed, ignorant masses who slow you down, waste your time and need constant help with basic biblical teaching? You’ve met your counterfeit gospel.

Like activism’s misguided desire for justice, biblicism is an overzealousness for knowledge - to the ignorance of the more foundational aspects of Christianity. Activism idolizes the secular world - biblicism idolizes biblical knowledge. Unfortunately, the zeal of biblicism - rather than leading towards enlightenment and truth - actually contributes to ignorance, because the believer becomes less concerned with other mechanism for God’s instruction - mistakes, experiences, trials and so on.

Nest time: The last two counterfeits of therapism and social-ism, and a final benediction.

The Seven Counterfeit Gospels - Part I

Published by Colin April 21, 2008 in Essays and Religion. 1 Comment

My wife and I came across a remarkably concise listing of counterfeit gospels over the weekend. I wanted to take the time to explore these in slightly more depth than where I originally saw them (Between Two Worlds). I should note here that I haven’t read the book where these originated, and my interpretation may be completely different than the author’s intent.

The seven counterfeit gospels are:

Formalism
Legalism
Mysticism
Activism
Biblicism
Therapism
Social-ism

The Counterfeit Gospel of Formalism
Original Description:

I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.

Formalism boils the gospel down to loyalty to the church as a organization. It is notably different to legalism in that, rather than commitment to rules and precepts, formalists conform and support the organization of the church. They are probably people-oriented and talented (but as an ends to political and organizational fulfillment, not merely relationships).

I would suspect these people also long for the approval of their pastors and ministry leaders, and are at least mildly authoritarian. They need the constant approval of authority and use this to measure the effectiveness of their ministry.

They say “Hi” to as many people as they can, and have trivial knowledge of probably most of the people in the church - without pursuing the depths of genuine fellowship. The exception to this, is authority - with whom successful relationships may bring more opportunities to participate.

This type probably has trouble with competition and cliques. Again, these people are most loyal to the political aspects of a church as opposed to the people - so people represent a necessary evil. For example, they will serve and help people, but to the ends that it demonstrates their commitment to the church, not because they actually care about the people they serve.

The Counterfeit Gospel of Legalism
Original Description:

I live by the rules—rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.

These people, especially in the modern seeker-friendly church, have a tougher time going about it - but they still exist in less traditional areas. They are also markedly different than formalists (who value commitment to the organization) in that they are committed to rules. The legalist is the guy who stares down the people who come in late, put their feet on the pews or wear shorts.

It has been my experience that legalists were often saved out of very licentious lifestyles. They overcompensate for their past behaviours by instituting a regiment of rules. These people do not trust freedom and liberty, and believe that churches (and usually society) need lawmakers and enforcers to keep everyone in line. If they encounter a brother sinning, it is because there was not a rule in place to prevent the sin (self-made or formally). The idea of conversion - that people can actually be changed an be governed by God and his Holy Spirit - is probably one they don’t really understand.

One of the biggest caveats to legalism, and how it is easily camouflaged is in a altered definition: Legalism is a lot of rules when really, legalism is rules apart from the bible. In other words, those who are overzealous for grace to the point of abuse are technically legalists - they have redefined grace to a rule apart from the bible, that means “I can do what I want.” It is very possible to find legalists who have created rules based in anti-legalism as a knee-jerk reaction. Freedom and liberty may be glorified to the point of becoming a rule unto themselves - which is also unscriptural.

Next time: Mysticism, Activism, Biblicism.

Weekly Links: Oh God…

Published by Colin April 11, 2008 in Current Events. 1 Comment

Charlton Heston passed away this week. In memory of his political activism (which began with the civil rights movement in the 60’s), here is a speech he gave in 1999 at the Harvard Law School. In memory of his acting, here is a clip of him in Wayne’s World 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPg6Q-VUqtc

The Dangers of Atheism Being Dangerous
An Illinois state legislator declares that it’s dangerous for children to even know the philosophy of atheism exists. To wit (audio):

I’m trying to understand the philosophy that you want to spread in the state of Illinois. This is the Land of Lincoln. This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God, where people believe in protecting their children.… What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous, it’s dangerous–It’s dangerous to the progression of this state. And it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!

Lincoln obviously has left a legacy on this land. It seems that Lincoln’s complete disregard for the rule of law and the natural rights of man is still alive and well. To call a philosophy “dangerous” and to qualify that with a statement that declares children must not be even taught of it’s existence (re: a ban of some sort) is ludicrous.

As a secularist, I worry what such an opinion by government officials means for our civic society. As a Christian, I question the faith of anyone who considers the case for Christianity is so weak that other philosophies must be considered “dangerous.” The reality is that atheism, like all other forms of belief thus far devised, have very little of Christianity - which has a strong historical, philosophical, archaeological and scientific record. In a republic, it is not the job of government to determine what is “philosophically” dangerous, but merely to assess crime and punishment. If certain thinking is construed as dangerous - the God save us.

Other Links This Week
Rudyard Kipling Unburdened

The Battle Over Anglican Church Buildings Continues In BC

In a New Generation of College Students, Many Opt for the Life Examined

Superfast Internet Coming Soon

Wisdom Applied, Circumstances Denied

Published by Colin February 14, 2008 in Religion. 8 Comments

Author’s note: The following is from a study I taught last weekend on Godly wisdom. As I go through the book “Decision Making and the Will of God” (reviewed here), I find that the basic view of the book has much wider applications than merely those which the author intended. In this study, I took Dr. Garry Friesen’s ideas one step further, and considered the erroneous Biblical roots of determining “individual will” via circumstances.

Wisdom is the summation of all the characteristics of a man of God. A wise man is going to be dependent on God in prayer, he is going to study the Bible diligently, he will have faith, he will have integrity and he will be a man devoted to Godly love.

A wise man fears the Lord so much that he looks to God and his word for all things pertaining to the Christian existence:

Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28)

It is up to us, however, to search for wisdom in the truth of God’s Word, not by trying to subjectively read our emotions and auger our circumstances.

Biblical Wisdom Applied Correctly
There are many places where wisdom was applied correctly, and circumstances (even supernatural ones) were ignored in favor of it. One impressive example is when Paul and Silas had been imprisoned in Acts 16:25-30:

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The man and his entire household went on to be saved because Paul used wisdom. How? This is merely surmising, but consider that Paul and Silas were very likely praying that they would be able to escape or leave the prison - that is definitely what I would be praying for. However, when God responded miraculously, Paul waited in the jail and rejected an “open door” because it was wise to prevent the guard from killing himself. In all honesty, he could have left the jail, which was clearly an option. But his wise decision was rewarded with a new convert!

We know this today, and Paul knew it then, that we are called to preach the gospel. We are to value it more than our freedom – so it’s an easy choice between an open jail cell and a person in distress (I know I would have bolted out of the prison, but that is another story). Paul was obviously prepared in wisdom and so he did not have to rely on “reading” his circumstances to make his choice. The truth of the word was hidden is his heart, as it says in Psalm 119:11.

This is the essence of Biblical Wisdom: being prepared in the word.

The Opposite of Biblical Wisdom: Divination
In a broad sense, I would call wisdom’s opposite “mysticism” – a philosophy which rejects free-will, reason and absolute truth and instead relies on fatalism, human experience and subjectivism. The closest thing Biblically is the practice of divination - the attempt to use common objects or signs to auger supernatural direction. We see God’s thoughts on the practice several places, but Ezekiel 13:1-3, 6-7 is one particularly strong passage:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’”
Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
…They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The LORD says,’ but I have not spoken.”

It is important to see here that these diviners were doing so under the pretense of being God’s people. However, they were not being deliberately deceptive, but ignorantly foolish. These prophets were misguided, having reduced God’s wisdom to vain mysticism.

Wisdom Applied Incorrectly
Because the Bible is honest, we have many examples of man’s ignorance in action. Let’s look at a somewhat controversial one in Acts 1:23-26, where the remaining apostles are trying to determine how to fill Judas’ place:

And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Apostles chose to cast lots to determine next apostle rather than apply wisdom. They were impatient and impulsive, which led them to use mystic methods to make a choice rather than rely on wisdom.

For example, they knew that God promised them the Holy Spirit - Jesus just told them this in their recent memory. They knew that God keeps his promises. Yet they chose, in the moment when it came time to apply wisdom, to instead “read the signs” of divination, and ignored what Jesus had just spoken about the coming of the Holy Spirit. They wouldn’t have had to wait long, as Pentacost was just around the corner.

Anyone who has heard a modern sermon on idolatry knows that idolatry does not require stone statues to exist in today’s society. But do we also realize that lot casting is also a popular method in today’s church for determining wisdom? Just as it was incorrect then, it is incorrect now. Casting lots is, in essence, trying to divine God’s will by circumstances.

For example, in looking for a new job, relying on criteria such as “if this job calls me first, then I’ll know it’s right” or “if the interviewer is wearing a white shirt, God wants me here.” This is modern divination, using time in the first example and a man’s shirt in the second to determine God’s will.

But divination appeals to us because it allows us to cede what God has given us along with free-will – responsibility. Its the same method that legalism employs, where the believer can be immune to critical thinking by following prescribed rules and laws. For the diviner, he can avoid responsibility (and consequences) by claiming that the stars weren’t aligned, the energy was bad, or (the Christian favorite) it wasn’t God’s will.

But we can know God’s will – it is clearly written in the bible. There is nothing magic or mystic about it. God is a God of order, not confusion! Thus, God, in his wisdom, gave us everything that is pertinent for us to know about who He is and how to obey him – in the bible.

Zeal For Truth