Talking about faith with someone who doesn't believe is hard. Defending God, who someone doesn't believe in, is hard. Christian apologetic's isn't a perfected art of right and wrong ways to talk to non-believers about faith.
Non-believers tend to equate Christianity/all religion into humanistic and scientific terms. Thus, they analyzing religious societies based on their actions according to morals that most of the world tend to agree on (religious and non religious). They supposedly argue objectively, which is to say they have no religion to bind them. The idea is that science, where you need to have facts/proof to back up anything, is the essential way to understand the world.
At the same time arguing that faith is not needed to be a person who loves other people and sacrifices for other people (which is true). Faith in a loving God is lost on them because God is supposedly a tool to be used by humans for their purposes. Religion, then is a trend that has changed over the course of the world. The Babylonians gods are to be understood the same as The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible the same as ancient texts about ancient gods. I have faith in God, but it is much different than the faith of a Muslim or Buddhist. I believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and they believe in Muhammad's revelation and Buddhas transformation to enlightenment.
I am finding that the easiest part of the conversation is understanding the background on how we came to our conclusions/faith. Our Context. They way we grew up in the church. The way I came to accept my parents faith by challenging it and developing a relationship with my Savior. The way my friend denied his parents faith and had a "faith experience" of coming to terms with his beliefs in that process. It felt freeing to him to leave his parents faith similarly as it did for me to accept Christ's love and choose to respond to Him in my life. As weird as that sounds.
Our personal experiences, in relation to faith, (which I believe encompasses my whole life) have shaped how we understand the very fundamental aspects of the world we live in. ie. How the world was made. How history is to be interpreted. Whether or not God exists...which puts the whole conversation in a tailspin.
My friend and I care about each others well being and would sacrifice a lot to help one another out. But at the end of the day we can agree that some people believe and some people don't.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Colorado Railroad Museum
What does a history lover do when camping plans get rained out? Go to a museum, of course!
-Christine the Engineer.
-We took a train ride on a narrow rail track in a luxury car from the late 19th century.
-I was chased by an enormous snow plow attached to the front of an engine.
-Then we took a helicopter ride over the museum.
-What? You BELIEVED ME?? Come on folks...we are on a budget here.
-Christine decided she had some business to attend to...
-I paid dearly.
-The Super Chief car. It went from Chicago to L.A. and carried Hollywood elite.
-I am pretty sure Christine was a bit worried about just how enthuised I was about the railroad museum. Like a child on Christmas morning.
-Good times.
-Christine the Engineer.
-We took a train ride on a narrow rail track in a luxury car from the late 19th century.
-I was chased by an enormous snow plow attached to the front of an engine.
-Then we took a helicopter ride over the museum.
-What? You BELIEVED ME?? Come on folks...we are on a budget here.
-Christine decided she had some business to attend to...
-I paid dearly.
-The Super Chief car. It went from Chicago to L.A. and carried Hollywood elite.
-I am pretty sure Christine was a bit worried about just how enthuised I was about the railroad museum. Like a child on Christmas morning.
-Good times.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
San Diego - Easter Weekend
You find out a lot about someone when you marry them. For example, I did not know that Christine had never been further west than the Rocky Mountains (not as exciting as you thought..huh). Moving on to the pictures then.
- We flew in on Thursday night and went to La Jolla Beach on Friday morning.
-We walked around and relaxed.
-Seal Beach. Adequately named.
-Sean took us to Mt. Soledad overlooking pretty much all of San Diego
-This statue is near the retired aircraft carrier Midway and close to downtown.
-Playing Sean and Ryan's made up game by Hotel Del on Coronado Island.
-Looking across San Diego Bay (the big bay) at downtown from Coronado Island.
-Monday morning we toured Old Town San Diego.
-We took a tour of the most haunted building in the US. The Waley house. They used to execute criminals on the property. Many ghost stories, but we didn't see any ghosts.
-After Old Town we took a long stroll in Balboa Park. It really reminded me of Spain...which make sense because San Diego's roots are Spanish.
-Look closely. Do you seen anyone?
-Then we flew home to Denver. The End.
- We flew in on Thursday night and went to La Jolla Beach on Friday morning.
-We walked around and relaxed.
-Seal Beach. Adequately named.
-Sean took us to Mt. Soledad overlooking pretty much all of San Diego
-This statue is near the retired aircraft carrier Midway and close to downtown.
-Playing Sean and Ryan's made up game by Hotel Del on Coronado Island.
-Looking across San Diego Bay (the big bay) at downtown from Coronado Island.
-Monday morning we toured Old Town San Diego.
-We took a tour of the most haunted building in the US. The Waley house. They used to execute criminals on the property. Many ghost stories, but we didn't see any ghosts.
-After Old Town we took a long stroll in Balboa Park. It really reminded me of Spain...which make sense because San Diego's roots are Spanish.
-Look closely. Do you seen anyone?
-Then we flew home to Denver. The End.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Coldest Morning Blues
Of all the days of the year a work truck would stall...mine chose the coldest day of winter..this morning, a frost biting 11 below.
As my Chevy shut down, I coasted atop the SanteFe bridge On I-25 NB. I proceeded to hold up traffic on the Interstate for the next half an hour until CDOT's towing company came, picked me up, and brought me to the nearest open parking lot (speer and I-25). I sat in my truck with my cell phone, my only form of communication, which was drained from my frantic post-truckfail calls and needing a charger.
When Jason came to pick me up I had a hard time controlling my shivers, but some working-truck-heat helped me to calm down a bit. We didnt have much time to dilly dally because he needed to be on tv within the hour. So, on the way to the tv station headquarters he dropped me off at a coffee shop to warm up....which would have been perfect had the heat in the coffee shop been working. Thankfully I had my iPod touch (with-which I am currently using to write this) to find the nearest coffe shop and find warmth there. This is where the story catches up with me... At NOVO Coffee acrossed from the Denver Art Museum.
As my Chevy shut down, I coasted atop the SanteFe bridge On I-25 NB. I proceeded to hold up traffic on the Interstate for the next half an hour until CDOT's towing company came, picked me up, and brought me to the nearest open parking lot (speer and I-25). I sat in my truck with my cell phone, my only form of communication, which was drained from my frantic post-truckfail calls and needing a charger.
When Jason came to pick me up I had a hard time controlling my shivers, but some working-truck-heat helped me to calm down a bit. We didnt have much time to dilly dally because he needed to be on tv within the hour. So, on the way to the tv station headquarters he dropped me off at a coffee shop to warm up....which would have been perfect had the heat in the coffee shop been working. Thankfully I had my iPod touch (with-which I am currently using to write this) to find the nearest coffe shop and find warmth there. This is where the story catches up with me... At NOVO Coffee acrossed from the Denver Art Museum.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ahh Grace
Judas Iscariot the model of our need for Grace. Hmm...Interesting. (Near.Far.)
Judas the disciple. Judas the Preacher. Judas who cast out demons. Judas worshiping Jesus. Judas....ahh yes, the one who betrayed Jesus...that sounds more like it.
I never really thought to question church history when thinking about legacy of Judas. It just seems to be entirely accurate. Judas was evil. Judas was a traitor. Judas helped kill Jesus. Judas killed himself because of Satan's grasp on him...and went where he belonged.
I just always forget about the life he lived before he betrayed Jesus, which is slightly overshadowed when most times his name is mentioned it is followed by a "the one who betrayed Jesus". What if they they did that to the other disciples...Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times...James and John, the ones who were obsessed with their standing in Heaven...Thomas, the one who doubted that Jesus resurrected. That sounds a bit different.
Not that I mind, it's just hard to see him as an actual disciple, which he was, rather than a backstabber, which he became. and------> Just to clarify, I am not arguing that Judas should be considered faultless and hailed only for the good things God did through him. BUT
Judas as an reminder of our need for Grace. This dude was a friken disciple for goodness sake. He was lead by the Devil. He made a mistake. He felt terrible. He realized what he had done. He owned up to his sin. He tried to take it back, but he couldn't. He was helpless before God.
He betrayed Jesus. That is difficult to get over....until we look in the mirror.
We do it all the time...In the way we treat each other...In the thoughts that we have for someone we cannot stand...In the lust we have for worldly things like money, security, happiness, and pleasure. Is it really that easy for us to point the finger at Judas? My answer is yes (though it should be No)
Why? Because we tend to resort to legalism when dealing with peoples mistakes. Good old black and white legalism. (Ironically, We judge ourselves on our feelings and others on their actions)
The nature of the Kingdom of God is not based on legalism, but Grace.
Ahh...Grace.
Judas the disciple. Judas the Preacher. Judas who cast out demons. Judas worshiping Jesus. Judas....ahh yes, the one who betrayed Jesus...that sounds more like it.
I never really thought to question church history when thinking about legacy of Judas. It just seems to be entirely accurate. Judas was evil. Judas was a traitor. Judas helped kill Jesus. Judas killed himself because of Satan's grasp on him...and went where he belonged.
I just always forget about the life he lived before he betrayed Jesus, which is slightly overshadowed when most times his name is mentioned it is followed by a "the one who betrayed Jesus". What if they they did that to the other disciples...Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times...James and John, the ones who were obsessed with their standing in Heaven...Thomas, the one who doubted that Jesus resurrected. That sounds a bit different.
Not that I mind, it's just hard to see him as an actual disciple, which he was, rather than a backstabber, which he became. and------> Just to clarify, I am not arguing that Judas should be considered faultless and hailed only for the good things God did through him. BUT
Judas as an reminder of our need for Grace. This dude was a friken disciple for goodness sake. He was lead by the Devil. He made a mistake. He felt terrible. He realized what he had done. He owned up to his sin. He tried to take it back, but he couldn't. He was helpless before God.
He betrayed Jesus. That is difficult to get over....until we look in the mirror.
We do it all the time...In the way we treat each other...In the thoughts that we have for someone we cannot stand...In the lust we have for worldly things like money, security, happiness, and pleasure. Is it really that easy for us to point the finger at Judas? My answer is yes (though it should be No)
Why? Because we tend to resort to legalism when dealing with peoples mistakes. Good old black and white legalism. (Ironically, We judge ourselves on our feelings and others on their actions)
The nature of the Kingdom of God is not based on legalism, but Grace.
Ahh...Grace.
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)