Thursday, December 08, 2005
I Show my Hand
With death or before, parting comes to us all. And so the time has come, before I depart, to show my hand. I have made a practice of not stating my position, only asking questions. I knew that as soon as I stated a position, my position would become subject to inquiry. This is only right. A structure, especially a philosophical one, must be questioned. In my life, I attempt to live this way. Where I do not know, I do not speak. What I do know is that things can be questioned, for none of us knows everything, or knows anything completely, and so I question.
But now the time has come. Some structure must exist, if only the one to question from. All relativity is relative to something, all science, art, communication and thought relies and lies upon some basis and context.
I am a believer in the soverign God, creator of heaven and earth. I believe the Bible is his one and only word, and that it is the only true interpreter for life. I believe he is active and interactive in our lives, and that he has preserved through history the validity of his word, so that his sheep might hear his voice, and come to him.
I believe that we all rely upon something. We all give authority to something, be it scientists, reason, empiricism, or some other text. I believe there is nothing, no authority, so reliable as the God who has revealed himself through the Bible. He has shown in that text (Daniel, Isaiah, Matthew) to know the future that has come to pass. He has shown himself faithful to me, and the more I know of his character, the more I learn of his faithfulness and my own failing. I pray constantly that he would more fully reveal himself to me, because I can not reach him, he must reach me. I depend upon a God that I can not see, but only see the evidences of.
I believe that all scripture points to Christ, and this is the reason I have a hope. He is the summation and the reason for all the scriptures, and in his coming to earth and dying, he redeemed those he chose as his own, those who, by God's grace, are drawn to him, according to the witness of the Scriptures. The Scriptures are nothing but a witness to him. I believe this is foolishness to those who are being destroyed (1 Corinthians 1-3).
Blessed be his name, forever and ever. All who disagree, begin your attack, all who agree, pray for wisdom, stregnth, grace and love, and the more full representation of Christ. All who question, read the Bible, perhaps begin with John. It, by God's grace, will form those who seek him into those who know him and love him.
But now the time has come. Some structure must exist, if only the one to question from. All relativity is relative to something, all science, art, communication and thought relies and lies upon some basis and context.
I am a believer in the soverign God, creator of heaven and earth. I believe the Bible is his one and only word, and that it is the only true interpreter for life. I believe he is active and interactive in our lives, and that he has preserved through history the validity of his word, so that his sheep might hear his voice, and come to him.
I believe that we all rely upon something. We all give authority to something, be it scientists, reason, empiricism, or some other text. I believe there is nothing, no authority, so reliable as the God who has revealed himself through the Bible. He has shown in that text (Daniel, Isaiah, Matthew) to know the future that has come to pass. He has shown himself faithful to me, and the more I know of his character, the more I learn of his faithfulness and my own failing. I pray constantly that he would more fully reveal himself to me, because I can not reach him, he must reach me. I depend upon a God that I can not see, but only see the evidences of.
I believe that all scripture points to Christ, and this is the reason I have a hope. He is the summation and the reason for all the scriptures, and in his coming to earth and dying, he redeemed those he chose as his own, those who, by God's grace, are drawn to him, according to the witness of the Scriptures. The Scriptures are nothing but a witness to him. I believe this is foolishness to those who are being destroyed (1 Corinthians 1-3).
Blessed be his name, forever and ever. All who disagree, begin your attack, all who agree, pray for wisdom, stregnth, grace and love, and the more full representation of Christ. All who question, read the Bible, perhaps begin with John. It, by God's grace, will form those who seek him into those who know him and love him.
Comments:
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Hello Alex,
I just want to say that I agree with Another Appearance that the Gospel of John is a wonderful way to start seeing who Christ is. And this resource is available to all of us! It is an amazing account - and as the name implies, it is the Gospel, the Good News! The best to you, Alex, and to all who read this.
I just want to say that I agree with Another Appearance that the Gospel of John is a wonderful way to start seeing who Christ is. And this resource is available to all of us! It is an amazing account - and as the name implies, it is the Gospel, the Good News! The best to you, Alex, and to all who read this.
Akalah,
Thank you for the response. I do not mean that I am not a Christian. I am attend a Baptist church and have entered into a relationship with Christ many years ago. My life has been changed by his grace. However...
I guess the struggle I was alluding to had more to had more to do with "conviction" or "boldness" My reluctance is mostly intellectually based, having much to do with the disparity between what I've been taught about the world and what a literal interpretation of the Bible puts fourth. Evolution, vs. Creation, Young Earth, vs. Old earth etc...
Also haveing went through the secular college institutions, the postmodern notion of "no absolute truth" and nothing but total respect for all worldviews has made it hard for me to say in front of people "I believe THIS!" Especially when "this" infers that what other people believe is not truth. I understand that when it comes to world religions either they are all false, or one of them is true. The notion that all are truth is just silly, but that is what many would have you believe. But (and here is the big problem) then again, who am I to be passing off my beliefs as absolute truth? There are many more intelligent people out there than me! I just do not have the confidence to defend my position.
I can see now that I am just rambeling, so I'd best be moving on. The best to you also!
Thank you for the response. I do not mean that I am not a Christian. I am attend a Baptist church and have entered into a relationship with Christ many years ago. My life has been changed by his grace. However...
I guess the struggle I was alluding to had more to had more to do with "conviction" or "boldness" My reluctance is mostly intellectually based, having much to do with the disparity between what I've been taught about the world and what a literal interpretation of the Bible puts fourth. Evolution, vs. Creation, Young Earth, vs. Old earth etc...
Also haveing went through the secular college institutions, the postmodern notion of "no absolute truth" and nothing but total respect for all worldviews has made it hard for me to say in front of people "I believe THIS!" Especially when "this" infers that what other people believe is not truth. I understand that when it comes to world religions either they are all false, or one of them is true. The notion that all are truth is just silly, but that is what many would have you believe. But (and here is the big problem) then again, who am I to be passing off my beliefs as absolute truth? There are many more intelligent people out there than me! I just do not have the confidence to defend my position.
I can see now that I am just rambeling, so I'd best be moving on. The best to you also!
Alex,
I can definitely see your point, and sympathize with your struggle. I myself think much on the same problems. I know I am weak, I know I am unwise. Christianity reaffirms the weakness and lack of wisdom of each of us, and the wisest man on earth knows nothing compared to what is to be known. Does not God use the foolish to confound the wise?
Much of what I wrote here I drew from 1 Corinthians. It's words, not my words, are wise. Proverbs is wise, I am not. I have fixed myself upon Christ, my own wisdom is no foundation, and through constant prayer, which is the humility to say I can do nothing on my own, have I come to be confident in my Lord. I believe that the Bible can convince the intelligent, move the emotional, raise the weak and bring down the strong, because God works through his word (It will not return to him void, Isaiah 55) God also works through prayer. Cast all your hope upon God. Read his word, it makes wise the simple, (Psalm 119) and depend upon it. Love it more than gold (Proverbs) I am but a witness who has found him faithful, his word true, and his judgements just, and found that a witness is all I am.
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I can definitely see your point, and sympathize with your struggle. I myself think much on the same problems. I know I am weak, I know I am unwise. Christianity reaffirms the weakness and lack of wisdom of each of us, and the wisest man on earth knows nothing compared to what is to be known. Does not God use the foolish to confound the wise?
Much of what I wrote here I drew from 1 Corinthians. It's words, not my words, are wise. Proverbs is wise, I am not. I have fixed myself upon Christ, my own wisdom is no foundation, and through constant prayer, which is the humility to say I can do nothing on my own, have I come to be confident in my Lord. I believe that the Bible can convince the intelligent, move the emotional, raise the weak and bring down the strong, because God works through his word (It will not return to him void, Isaiah 55) God also works through prayer. Cast all your hope upon God. Read his word, it makes wise the simple, (Psalm 119) and depend upon it. Love it more than gold (Proverbs) I am but a witness who has found him faithful, his word true, and his judgements just, and found that a witness is all I am.
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